to your people. You will not enjoy life beyond the wall.” “Nevertheless, we will not relinquish being gods,” they replied.
So they chose to live in the House of the Gods as my Son and my Daughter, yet soon they began to miss the freedom they once enjoyed. Beyond the wall, Stella, life is different. You do not face uncertain choices. I knew they were discontented, yet I was bound not to interfere, save offering advice.
What was I to do with Keppia and Umu? They were not content to pass their time in the House of the Gods. So I sent them to whisper to their people, to offer them guidance, to assist the weak and the downtrodden. Of course I knew they would likely interfere, but I had no choice. To prevent them interfering was to interfere myself.
They interfered. My beloved children raised vast armies and laid siege to the House of the Gods, demanding my surrender. Their solution to the problem of the Wall of Time was to drive me beyond it, and to take my place themselves.
I need not have fled. I could have remained. But then there would have been slaughter, and my supporters, innocent of any crime, would have been wiped out. I had been left with an impossible choice. Remain and witness the death of those who followed me, or leave and so forsake the Amaqi, the children of the earth. So I left, and travelled north to Faltha to provide my followers with a new home.
My leaving, however, cracked the Wall of Time. Keppia and Umu saw this weakness and, desirous of a full return to the world with their god-like powers, have been trying ever since to exploit it. I attempted to raise a champion among the First Men to oppose their interference, but I failed. Kannwar was the result of a thousand years of careful instruction and breeding, yet he exercised his freedom and opposed me. Ever have the children of the earth had such refusal in their power.
And I cannot say he was wrong, Stella. I had such hopes, and my heart was filled with love. I thought he would embrace my plan. I allowed my love, my trust and my desperation to cloud my judgment, yet I would do it again. I must trust my children; otherwise, if I limit them—
I know, Stella said. You will breach the Wall of Time, and creation will end.
Kannwar turned against me. He decided to reveal my offer to his fellow First Men by partaking of the Water of Life, the water I had planned for him to take gradually over many years, just as Keppia and Umu did. But, as you know only too well, your bodies are not able to bear such a dosage of the Water of Life. Kannwar wished the First Men to become gods, but despite my warnings he partook of the Fountain.
Then you interfered, didn’t you? Stella said. You punished him, and all the First Men.
Yes. I had made the mistake of introducing a command into the lives of my children. Something they could disobey. When they disobeyed, I was forced to act. And in acting I further weakened the Wall of Time. I reached through to Dona Mihst and cracked the earth, causing a great earthquake and flood.
Since that time I have been very careful, only exercising my power when invited, and then only through the will and bodies of others.
Like Hal, said Stella. And Leith.
And yourself, the Most High added. Among others.
Kannwar, said Stella.
Yes. After running from me for two thousand years, he is very unhappy about it.
Do you think he will remain true to you?
This was not the question she most wanted to ask. Under her superficial thought lurked the question: Will he remain true to me?
The Most High gave her an answer. I do not know. It is his choice. He will betray us. He has a history of deception.
Yet he surrendered himself to me, allowing me to use him to drive Keppia from the House of the Gods and the body he inhabited. He could have betrayed us then, but he did not.
What sort of god are you? Stella asked angrily. You choose not to see the future, you refuse to interfere, you withhold miracles. Are you any use at all?
I am a reluctant god, he said.
Conal awoke from darkness as thick as tar. His remaining eye was stabbed by daggers of light, forcing him to blink rapidly. Dirt ground itself into his