A Plague of Giants (Seven Kennings #1) - Kevin Hearne Page 0,155

never see them, so that cup will always be there along with a bucket full of denial. But as time passes with no word and no spice shipments, I will have to confront that cup and bucket as the lies they are. And then what will I do, alone and shortly to be penniless?

Cry. Drink myself into oblivion. These are already attractive to me. Since I have to pack a bag and walk to Tömerhil, having no horse, I might as well fill it with liquor and money to buy more, all the money I have on hand. Strange how easily all other considerations slough away when it’s just yourself to care for and you don’t care much for the duty. So it’s the road south for me, and if I don’t receive some hopeful sign that my family may be alive after all, I’m off to Pelemyn. Long ago, when I was a young lad, before my business flourished and I met my wife, I was tempted to dive into Bryn’s Lung. My commercial success and marriage banished that inclination, but I see no reason why I can’t keep the date now. I have every reason to do so. And I think it’s calling to me, that sound like crashing surf in my ears that no one else seems to hear.

Except perhaps some do hear a song similar to mine. When I reach the road south, I join a stream, a river of people flowing that way, their faces stunned like mine, feet going one way and their minds going in myriad others. We are wrecked survivors adrift in the flotsam of memories, incapable of rescuing or being rescued, waiting for the inevitable return to the water.

—

“Culland’s journey has a spectacular end, and we’ll return to him later in the week, when he gets to where he’s going. Down in Kauria, Gondel Vedd has his own journey to undertake.”

My translation of Zanata Sedam is finished, or anyway, I’ve finished what I can. It’s still full of holes, and it’s time to return to the dungeon for Saviič’s aid. The couple of days off with Maron had done me much good, and I returned to my work and temporary lodgings at the palace feeling refreshed and excited. It will be satisfying to finally get a firm grasp of the text. I have found several words that look as if they might be names for the Eculan deity but cannot be sure from context if they refer to gods or mortal heroes, and I’m quite curious about their version of the Rift legends. What I can be sure of is that this Eculan religion seems preoccupied with suffering as a purifying force. Pain, discomfort, starvation; these are all visible signs of devotion to their faith. It explained why Saviič looked as he did and refused comfortable clothing. He was a pious man and as such could not look or feel anything but starved and miserable. And the promised reward for such piety—if I am correct—will be a remaking of the world in the Eculans’ favor. The triggering event for that upheaval had something to do with the Seven-Year Ship that Saviič was looking for. And just as I was thinking I needed to inform the mistral that these people prepared all their lives for war when we devoted all our lives to peace, I was summoned in the midst of my early-morning bladder evacuation and made a horrid mess because I was so startled by the pounding on the door. It was no ordinary lackey sent to fetch me; it was Teela Parr herself, exhaustion painting her skin a dark purple underneath her eyes.

“We need you right away,” she said, then frowned. “But take a moment to make yourself presentable.” I privately thought she asked for the impossible, but I tied my hair in a queue and found a stain-free tunic while she stood out of sight behind the doorway and briefed me, her voice carrying around the corner.

“We’re getting reports that Rael and Brynlön have been attacked and have lost several cities already. The description of the invaders sounds like our prisoner in the dungeon.”

Reinei bring us peace. “When was this?”

“Three days ago. The mistral was just informed through the Fornish ambassador.” My hurried dress accomplished, she walked me through the halls and laid it out: Bennelin, Möllerud, Gönerled, and Festwyf all lost, and more to follow because the armies had moved on to the interior. They had used a