Even Gods Must Fall - Christian Warren Freed Page 0,94

or death does not matter, Orlek,” Anienam told him. His voice was even, measured so as not to provoke intense feelings. All eyes turned to the blind wizard. “What we face is a moment when the world might end. These times are not cast upon with consideration. Each generation has faced challenges and turmoil. That yours should be forced to endure such is no surprise.”

“What are you saying? That we’re just puppets in a never-ending game?” Thord asked. He cast his gaze on the wizard, unable to accept Anienam was permanently blinded. The sudden change forced him to wonder if Anienam’s ability to use magic was impacted enough to make a noticeable difference.

Anienam cocked his head as if in thought. “Perhaps, but we are still given free will to make our own decisions.”

“I don’t understand,” Bahr said.

Clearly frustrated, the wizard continued. “The gods created all life on Malweir but they didn’t intervene in how that life developed. Our individual races evolved on their own accord. We became good or evil based on our own decisions. Never once did the gods step in to alter the course of that development.”

“What’s the point of having gods if they’re not going to do anything useful?” Boen asked. His eyes were narrowed with dislike.

Anienam flustered. “We don’t have a choice in the matter. They created us, not the other way around, Gaimosian. You would do well to remember that in the coming hours.”

Grumbling under his breath, Boen leaned back in the tiny field chair and let the conversation go on.

“Now, where was I? Ah, yes. The gods gave us all life, but they are not without the power to take it away. The gods of light understood that by allowing their dark brethren to continue to exist they were exposing Malweir to unyielding evil. They manipulated time and space to bring us various gifts. The Blud Hamr, for instance. These tools were designed with specific purpose. To use them would counter a specific dark power item.”

“This grows tedious,” Thord growled.

Even the slender Elf Lord agreed.

“It wouldn’t if you would stopped interrupting me. In short, we are given free will to govern our lives but every so often there is divine influence that propels certain ones of us to act on behalf of the gods of light, or the dark.”

“Anienam speaks wisely,” Faeldrin said, coming to his rescue. “My people have witnessed many great and terrible events. Certain individuals spring forth in the hour of most duress and accept the mantle of leadership. I have seen it several times. The last was in the Deadlands when Anienam’s father attempted to stop the Silver Mage. Now it appears that you are the chosen ones, though this task is greater than any in the history of the world, save perhaps the Mage Wars. The short answer to your question Orlek is yes. This is your war.”

Rebuked, Orlek glanced angrily at Ingrid. His eyes pleaded with her to take the rebels and flee back to Chadra. They’d have more of a chance in the Keep or the city proper where they had defenses to hide behind. Charging into the massed ranks of Goblins was sheer suicide. Much to his dismay, Ingrid remained passive. He could tell by the way her brows furrowed that she was lost deep in thought. So much had changed since those first few days when Argis helped inspire the people to rise up against the tyrannical Harnin One Eye. The war continued to devolve into madness. Orlek reluctantly came to the conclusion that the only reason he remained with the rebellion was for his love of Ingrid. He’d lay down his life for her and it increasingly looked as if that was what was going to happen.

“Bringing us back to the initial point. What is our best course of action to break through enemy lines and get my people into the ruins?” Bahr asked.

Thord stroked his thick beard. “Cannons. Nothing else we have is strong enough to convince the Goblins to break away.”

“We have made contact with the combined army coming in from the northeast. King Aurec is most willing to form an alliance,” Faeldrin supplied.

Bahr and Boen exchanged a curious look. Neither could believe the same upstart prince responsible for all of their woes was now a major player in the battle for Malweir. If Aurec hadn’t kidnapped Maleela in the late summer, none of this might be happening, or at least not on the level it was now. Now Maleela was gone,