Page 18 of Beasts of Briar
“Ugh, you got my shirt all wet,” he said as the water rope pulled him upward.
“I think what you meant to say is thank you,” Leoni said.
Leoni’s magic continued to pull Driscoll up the wall until he was at the top. It deposited him and then the rope dissolved, water splashing down—straight onto Driscoll’s brown pants and boots.
He shot a glare Leoni’s way while she smirked at him.
“You’re welcome,” she chirped as she turned and looked to the other side of the wall. We just needed to get down and then we’d be in the sun, safe from the shadows that lurked in the jungle. I glanced at the village that spread out beyond the wall, a single road snaking through it and leading up toward the black castle perched on the edge of a mountaintop. Dark clouds ringed the castle, an eerie feeling settling over me. Driscoll clenched his hands, the trees springing back into place, their shadows stretching over us. We all quickly dropped down and climbed the other side of the wall as the shadows lurched from the jungle and back toward the top of the wall, right to the edge of where the tree’s shadows stretched.
They stopped, hanging and staring at us, unable to come into the sun, where we were now safe. We’d have to trek through this village, reach the castle, get the nettle weed, and escape to safety before nightfall.
Just another reminder that our journey was far from over yet.
Chapter Ten
YEAR 200, ERA OF THE GODS
I’ve never been to any of the gods’ temples. Not even to pay my respects. I tend to do that in the privacy of my own home, in the altar we have by our hearth, dedicated to all the gods.
It’s always seemed like the safer option. Papa used to tell me stories about dedicated followers who would trek to the temples to ask favors of the gods. One follower made a long journey to seek out the god of fire, only to arrive on a day when the god was in a horrid mood. He ended up getting caught in the crossfires of a fight between the god of fire and the goddess of water—he was burned to death. I had no desire for such a thing to happen to me by chance.
But of course, I was desperate enough to make this journey to the temple of the god of shadows.
I made the long trek across the island to the temple, and when I arrived, I was awestruck.
A winding pathway leads to it, one that is carved into the top of a steep mountain. There are no railings on either side of the pathway. The tallest trees I’ve ever seen loom over it, dousingthe path in darkness. Small flames flicker on either side of the path, providing dim light so one doesn’t wander off the side and fall to their deaths. I walked the narrow pathway, doing my best to ignore the shadows hovering all around, staring with their bright red eyes.
I’ve seen his shadows before, of course. They follow the god wherever he goes, but having all their focus on me sent shivers down my spine.
Yet I’d traveled all that way, so I continued on toward the temple. The rectangular structure is made of obsidian, black and glittering. Beautiful. Large statues of gargoyles guard the open doors. I made it across the path and walked through the doors with my offering ready, hoping that it would be enough to summon the god of shadows, that he’d be willing to hear my plea.
Everyone knows what the gods like. The god of fire loves weapons, severed limbs, heads. The goddess of earth prefers beautiful flowers, ornate arrangements that can cost an entire month’s wages. The goddess of water loves jewelry, especially when it’s made from seagrass or shells or pearls. The rarer the better. The god of frost prefers blood sacrifices. And the god of shadows? Well, not much is known about him. Not even his name. He’s just known as Death to everyone across the land.
So I came with the only thing I have: a story. Everyone likes a good story. Bards are famous because of the stories they tell. The gods’ favorite mortals are those who can weave a good tale. It’s also the only thing I could offer.
I had one prepared. I’d practiced it over and over on my journey to his temple, expecting to have to say the words in silence, hoping they’d summon him. But as I walked inside, I was surprised to see the god of shadow already there. And he wasn’t alone. Khalasa, the goddess of stars, was with him.
I immediately tensed. I was worried, understandably, that they were fighting, that my fate would be the same as that poor soul my papa had told me about who’d visited the god of fire. But the god of shadows slumped, sprawled over his black throne that sat at the end of a long pool in the middle of the temple. The water was so dark it looked like blood. Maybe it was. The blood of all the souls he’d killed over the years. He wasn’t known as Death for no reason.
The goddess of stars stood beside him, her purple dress flowing around her, translucent in certain places to show her pale skin that looked like it had been kissed by the moon. Her long black hair flowed around her shoulders, full and luminous. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I’d never seen the gods so close before, and she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever set my gaze upon.
I approached the gods with a bowed head, reverent and respectful, careful not to make eye contact until they addressed me. How my heart thundered and my hands shook.
The goddess’s laugh tinkled through the air. “What a good little mortal,” she said. “You can look up, you know. We won’t smite you. Well, he might.”
All I heard was a grunt in response.
My head snapped up at that, and I arrived before them, bowing low, then straightening.
The god of shadows didn’t speak, just looked at me through his whirling black shadows, always in his presence. No one knows why these shadows are always with him, but there are rumors.
The goddess smiled, eyes twinkling, and she asked me to solve an argument they were having.
My blood ran cold. These were the types of games gods played, mortals their pawns. If I sided with her, would itdisplease the god of shadows? If I sided with him, how might she react?
I waited, silent, for her to continue.
She jabbed a thumb at the god of shadows, who scowled at her. She told me that Ragar, the god of fire, wanted the god of shadows to punish a village that had displeased him. The god of shadows thought that the other nearby villages might rebel if he did this. But Khalasa believed they respected the gods, would understand that if a village was destroyed, the gods must have had good reason.
