Page 71 of Queen of Legends and Lies
With trembling hands, I turn back to Hallr’s glistening mass and present the precious stones with a respectful bow. “Please, accept this offering.”
A second passes. Then another. A few more.
“Acceptable.” The gems vanish from my hand.
I let out the breath I was holding. But anxiety still prickles my skin. Why is Hallr here? What could the God of Stone and Mountains possibly want from me in the middle of the night?
And why does Sterling never wake up when things like this happen?
I glance over at him, still slumbering, his silky black hair tousled across the pillow. He’s out.
Steeling myself, I spin back around to face the towering stone god, determined to find out his purpose before he goes on his merry way to…wherever he resides. I can only hope my meager offering is enough to appease his volatile nature.
“In the northernmost reaches of Aclaris,” Hallr’s gravelly voice breaks the tense silence, “where the mist clings thick as a burial shroud, there’s a labyrinth of caves.”
This could be the key I’ve been searching for. Is that why Hallr appeared? To help? “What kind of caves?” Back when I knew Sterling as Instructor Thorne, we fooled around in a cave, but I had no idea Aclaris had an entire cave system.
“Vast. Ancient. Riddled with secrets long forgotten by mortal minds.” There’s a hint of reverence in his words. “They delve deeper into the bones of the earth than any human has dared to venture.”
I commit every word to memory, mind racing ahead. “These caverns, they’re more extensive than anyone realizes?” I might finally have a way forward.
“Nature’s mysteries run deep, little human. Far deeper than your kind can fathom. But for one who bears the blessings of the gods…perhaps a path shall be revealed.”
Blessings of the gods.
A reckless question spills from my lips before I can stop it. “Why are you telling me this? Why are you helping me?”
A long stretch of stony silence ensues. I fear I’ve overstepped, offended him with my impertinence.
Tension squeezes my throat until he exhales. “The night goddess conceals much, even from her fellow deities.” Hallr’s delivery is so abrupt, I can almost feel his scowl. “She did not intend for me to know, but your visions are Mar’s doing.”
Shock jolts through me, followed by a swell of overwhelming gratitude. Mar, the one goddess firmly on my side, is secretly guiding me forward. And now Hallr, too, albeit for reasons I can’t begin to guess.
“I…I don’t know what to say.” I clasp my hands to steady their trembling. “Thank you. Truly. But I have to ask, why do you care what happens to me? To us? Why are you assisting us when Nyc no longer will?”
“Careful.” A note of warning enters his gravelly voice. “The ways of the gods are not for mortals to question.”
I force down the frustration that bubbles up inside me at Hallr’s condescending tone. Eons-old deities and newly crowned queens make for unequal verbal sparring partners.
Instead, I paste on my most placating smile and hope it’s convincing. “Of course. I would never presume to understand the will of the gods. I’m grateful for your help and eager to heed your wisdom.”
Hallr’s snort could trigger a landslide. “Humans always want attention. Then, once they get it, they’re upset.” His mocking drawl sets my teeth on edge, but I hold my tongue.
Moody indeed.
I dip my head, chastened. “I’m sorry. I meant no disrespect.”
Best not to push my luck, not when Hallr has just handed me the opportunity I so desperately need. Whatever his motives, I cannot afford to alienate him.
After a slow breath, I refocus on the revelation at hand. The caves, the path south, the chance to destroy Narc’s body and fulfill my obligations to Nyc. At last, a flicker of light in the darkness.
As blasphemous as that might be.
“I know this is how humans operate because we are always watching.” Hallr’s words slam into me like a physical blow, stealing my breath.
Always watching. My mind reels at the implications. Every moment, every secret, laid bare before the eyes of the gods.
The thought is disturbing on so many levels, but I’m not about to comment and risk pissing him off. “I assure you, I want nothing more than to follow the path you’ve shown me.” I keep my eyes downcast. “Please, if there’s anything else you would have me know…”
