[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Jingten, describing the confrontation between Shan and Onja in which Onja had
relented and Shan had been unharmed. Dreibrand added without prompting that
Shan had saved his life when Onja assailed him with her magic.
The King whirled on Arshen.  Tell me priest of Onja, why does your
Goddess only rule here? Is she not jealous of the many Gods and
Goddesses who are worshipped in the east? We are allowed no idol or belief
outside of her.
 The mind of the Goddess cannot be known, Arshen responded dogmatically but
the conviction was ebbing from his voice.
 I ll tell you why because it is far away, Taischek cried.  If Onja was a
human, she would be no greater than the ruler of the Empire where
Dreibrand Veta is from. But instead she is an evil and corrupt rys who would
make us worship her.
Arshen s mind scrambled a defense and he regained his venom.  You would let a
stranger fill your head with lies. All humans must do Onja s will or pay for
their disobedience with their souls, he said.
 I doubt she has that threat over you, Taischek hissed so that the crowd
could not hear.  Stay stubborn, Arshen. It would not ruin my day to execute
you.
 Kill me and your domain will rise against you, Arshen warned.
 I don t think so. Nobody complained while you were in prison,
Taischek said.
Shan cut them off. He knew that Taischek and Arshen would degenerate into
bitter name-calling if left to do it.  Arshen, there is no question what
Onja has been capable of, but her power no longer reaches the lowlands.
She demonstrates this by placing a bounty on my head. Why would Onja have to
pay humans to hunt me?
 The bounty is to warn humans that you are the enemy, Arshen answered.
 It is because she cannot hurt me here. She cannot hurt any of us,
Shan persisted.
 Arshen, recant your belief in Onja as Goddess. Set the example for the rest
of the rysmavda of the Temu Tribe. Deny Onja and declare your only loyalty is
for your tribe, Taischek ordered.
 No, Arshen said.
 You know what the stakes are, Taischek warned.
 Never! Arshen shouted and the other rysmavda jingled in their chains
with agitation.
Taischek had predicted that Arshen would refuse, but the King would not
relent. He glanced meaningfully to Shan before he continued,  Arshen, do not
throw away your life for an evil sorceress. Come back to your tribe that wants
you. You can t expect the people to worship evil.
 The Goddess is not evil. Onja protects all of Gyhwen. The Temu Tribe must not
turn from her. Has the story of the Deamedron grown so old?
Arshen pleaded, trying to get the people to believe. It was hard for the
Prime Rysmavda when no supporters cried out from the sea of people. He knew
they believed in Onja s power. It was a fact. But the tribe was on the side of
Page 182
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Taischek and Shan.
Will I have to die to make them believe? Will we all have to die?
he thought.
As Arshen s hungry eyes looked for support, Shan went to get Miranda.
She saw him coming toward the doorway and she knew it was time. All of her
nerves buzzed like hummingbird wings.
Before Dreibrand had left her, he had tenderly put his lips close to her ear
and whispered that she should pretend like she was mad at him so everyone
could hear. She loved how he encouraged her and his little joke helped her in
this moment of terror.
Miranda followed Shan outside. She had tried to prepare herself for the crowd,
but being the center of its attention was much more intense than looking at it
through a door. The crowd seemed to become especially attentive, and Miranda s
mouth felt especially dry. Luckily, she did not have to speak right away as
Shan introduced her.
 Tell us what Onja did to you, Miranda, Shan prompted.
Miranda cleared her throat. Everyone was looking at her. The King, Shan,
Dreibrand, General Xander, countless Temu warriors, the spectators, and the
prisoners. She looked at the grizzled priests and remembered that Shan had
said she must help convince them to recant. If they did not, the executions
would start.
With a deep breath she found her voice. The words were halting and soft at
first, but they quickly became stronger. Suddenly Miranda wanted everyone to
hear her.
 I came west with my children. I have a six-year-old daughter and an
infant son. Onja took them from me and said I had to be her slave. I said I
would not do this, and she tortured me and left me to die on the icy
mountains. Lord Shan saved me from freezing with his magic. My children still
are in Jingten. I will help Lord Shan become King in his home because he will
give my children back.
Her nervousness caused her emotions to surge and she directed her anger at
Arshen.  Why do you tell your people to worship Onja? She steals children and
tortures people.
Arshen had no answer, but Taischek pressed him.  Arshen, how do you expect the
Temu to tolerate this behavior from Onja. Will she start to demand our
children with the tribute?
 I do not know the mind of Queen Onja, Arshen defended.
 Do you think we can have no better Goddess than a rys sorceress who steals
children? Taischek asked.
 I cannot judge the actions of the Goddess. It is our place to obey,
Arshen said.
 Enough of this, Arshen. Onja is old, and the Temu must join with Shan to get [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]