The Slayarians - Book One - JM Barnes (different e readers txt) 📗

in safeguarding a soul she was saddened by her fellow god’s loss. To her love in so pure and powerful a form was to be celebrated but instead she was forced to snuff its flame. She knew then that she would not be able to stop six of her brethren and her treasonous musings did not seem practical in the least. It was as she pondered these thoughts when the lady of love heard the voice.
"Come now sister, don’t look so sad." Stingara confidently stepped from the shadows that so filled the heart shaped chamber. Kleana tried not to show any expression and hid her thoughts away from Stingara but her irritation at her sister’s unannounced entrance was still obvious.
"Stingara, I have told you how I deplore your stalking about my chambers." Kleana said coldly.
"Of course," Stingara nodded in respect toward her, "I forgot my manners in my need to speak with you. May I have a few words with you, dear sister?"
Kleana simply nodded her assent, all the while watching Stingara's every move. Dagger flipping in one hand Stingara slowly paced before the throne, pondering her next words well.
"I am well aware of your stance on the matter of the Demonslayers so I will not waste my time or yours on needless cajoling. Instead I will simply ask that you stay out of my way for both our benefits." The night goddess said.
Kleana's hands clenched into fists as she nearly snapped in anger. Surely the thief goddess did not think she would stand idle while a decision pivotal to her domain was made?
Stingara sensed Kleana's rising anger and said, "I assure you, no matter what you do I have gained the voices of four of our fellows. Majority rules dear sister so I ask you to consider what you might gain by aiding us."
This piqued lady love’s interest, she hadn’t thought she would truly gain anything either way.
Stingara continued, "You see, I am well aware of your desire for a guardian of the dead and I am privy to certain information that proves only a living Demonslayer can be initiated to the demi-god status necessary. Therefore I point to this truth in my case that a mass revival is in order."
"Mass revival?" Kleana suspected Stingara would attempt such a thing but was still shocked when the words were spoken.
"Yes. Perhaps a few hundred of the most devoted souls." Stingara purred.
Kleana was aghast, never would she allow such a thing and surely her mad sister knew that. Never could such a thing occur and she knew that she might end up fighting her brethren over this point. She’d often pondered what toll a return to life would take on the souls she tended. She knew for sure that the zealousness in which the Demonslayers took to their callings would increase tenfold if they were aware of the paradise that awaited them in death. They may even become reckless and hurl themselves into foolish acts that would send them prematurely into their final home.
She answered the scheming goddess in a threatening tone. "Know you this, sister. I will fight a war of gods and soul armies between my own kind before I allow such a thing to be."
Stingara seemed to expect this and smiled demurely, "Of course, sweet sister." She then spoke to no one Kleana could see. "So you now witness, it is as I have told you. Kleana would rather send all the souls of our charges into battle and chaos than simply restore their lives which were so wrongly taken from them."
Then a firm and vengeful voice rang out through Kleana's halls, "We have witnessed and noted. Your reluctance to side with us reflects your self-absorbed nature. Know you that we will not abide your interference and thus we condemn you for the next day to an abyssal void from which even Astnalia cannot return you."
Rising from the floor a mist snaked swiftly about Kleana's legs. She began to scream in anger but instantaneously disappeared. Silence followed and several of Kleana's unseen servants could be felt to pass by the spot where she’d been sitting and then exit the chamber. Outside the monolith of death and love a soul just about to enter its massive doorway was halted as solid stone suddenly filled the opening.
Again the voice echoed throughout the halls of death. "None will report what has occurred and Kleana shall not interfere for at least this meeting."
Stingara nodded in understanding and tossed her dagger ever higher in glee. Her plans were coming to fruition and she would soon be observing the resurrection of a fallen race. She knew Astnalia would be angry with her when her methods came to light but stealth and subterfuge were the only methods the goddess of night knew how to employ. Returning with a whim to her forever night kingdom, she prepared herself for the fateful meeting that was about to occur. She changed her usual roguish attire to a flowing, sheer, shadowy gown. Showing enough to entice even a god yet withholding enough to not offend the pure All Mother. Placing on her magnificently lovely and softly glowing face a demure smile she then disappeared from her monolith to reappear in the hall of law.
The hall was within the domain of Halren and all the godly meetings were held there. Seven thrones were carved into the very walls at either side of the long chamber. Intricate mosaics covered the walls in between the thrones and the floor upon which stood several statues. Each statue appeared most lifelike in its depiction of one of the more beloved Demonslayer hero’s it had been sculpted to honor.
Six of the seven thrones became occupied in the exact same moment and only Anghar seemed disconcerted by Kleana's absence. The others simply avoided looking at her throne. At the head of the hall of law a powerful illumination soon took shape from a flickering candle’s flame. This end of the hall was also covered in mosaics but these were different. Different in that each of the other gods seemed to reflect the images around them. This one depicted a myriad of visions that were all at once pleasing and mind numbing to any who pondered them. The face of the All Mother was that of everything and of nothing. The images did reflect the awesome aspect of life in all its myriad incarnations.
Forming from light itself she was at once young as a child and as ancient as the very earth. She was the most splendid thing for any man or beast and god alike to ever witness. As the All Mother looked upon her favorite children she smiled, and that small gesture brought tears to the eyes of every god present. Even grim Anghar whose eyes trickled hailstones that pinked when they hit the floor.
All ears waited to hear her exquisite voice as she opened both her arms as if to embrace her children with a gesture.
"My children, I have called you all here so that I could explain to you my plans for the future. Instead it seems my need to apologize has taken precedence. I have been so preoccupied lately I have neglected to tell you my reasons for allowing the beloved Demonslayers to decline."
Astnalia paused a moment and looked each of her beloved children in the eye. Unnoticed by the others, Stingara nearly stood and spoke but found herself unable to move. There was no interrupting now, no matter what one might intend.
Astnalia continued, "I bid you all to recall the world of Kole where we had sought to place a seat of power ages ago. Recall the expanse of its lands, its adversity of life, culture and religion. We are not the only ones to have coveted the lands upon the world of Kole. Most every pantheon of Earth has a foothold there now, as do many more gods unknown to me. Now look upon our small world here. You've all noticed the decline of magic and fey folk. So I now ask you to envision it centuries and even millennia into the future."
As each god followed her instructions, one by one they spat in disgust for what was one day to come. Soon there would be no sentient races other than humans and these no longer respecting any true religion. Overpopulation would bring such things as extinction of most animals and destruction of the Earth itself. Slowly, humans would defile the very body of the All Mother and desecrate the memory of her and all the pantheons.
It was Halren who stood from his throne then, landing on his knees with a great boom. Hands outstretched before him he beseeched, "Sweet Gaea, please tell us how this might be avoided!"
Then it was Aeleostrimine, goddess of change and mistress of nature, who replied, "Save your tears, Halren. Nothing can stop change."
Astnalia smiled and said, "Aeleostrimine is correct. Yet change can be avoided if one knows the way to do so. Kole is that way."
Anghar spoke up this time with exuberance clear in his voice, which was so uncharacteristic of him that even the All Mother seemed surprised.
"Of course! It is as I have hoped. Gaea, surely you’ve known how not only the Demonslayers have been in decline but also several other folk have begun to fall as well. Their own gods have mostly left their followers to Aeleostrimine's hand. I have seen this and have pondered where these poor souls will go upon their deaths."
Astnalia answered this sadly, "They will be left to the astral plane where they will drift for eternity, unfulfilled and confused."
"Then I ask you, mother, why can we not invoke the caress of Astnalia and bring these abandoned people to our ways? They will be the new Demonslayers! Together with the few remaining true bloods they will gather many more willing humans as well. All that needs be done is returning the Flask of Kings to the remaining high priest." Anghar could not conceal his enthusiasm.
He then slid off his throne and fell to his knees as Astnalia graced him with a very personal smile. “Anghar has followed the path of enlightenment. Have any of you done so as well?”
The All Mother smiled and allowed the others to feel their guilt for a small moment before she continued. “I sense some misgivings among you and guilt among others. Feel not lone responsibility for you have only followed your nature and I am pleased. Kleana, I am sure, bears no ill will toward any of you.”
With a gesture towards the goddess of love’s throne Astnalia returned Kleana to her rightful place.
The grim death queen looked to her misguided brethren and said, “I do forgive you all. My love for you is no less.”
Halren was so ashamed he could only stare at his silver boots. Aeleostrimine, Throngaer and the rest looked to Kleana and smiled. All of them loved Kleana immensely and could not quite recall why they’d allowed her banishment in the first place. Stingara though, had without being seen, moved to stand before the All Mother.
She explained her motives saying, “I have not a single follower left. What am I to do? Why should I still be here at all if I have no purpose to strive for? Please, mother, help me.”
Astnalia smiled warmly, basking the queen of night in the rays of her awesome brilliance. “You are forgiven, Stingara. You act only as you can, as you must. Thus I bid you pay heed to the logic of Anghar and know that worshippers are even now being moved toward you. Ask Anghar what he watches in that shield he carries and