Empress (Godspeaker Trilogy) by Karen Miller

Author:Karen Miller
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Epic, Magic, Fantasy, Fantasy fiction, Demonoid Upload 4, Fiction, Science Fiction, Slaves, General
ISBN: 9780316008358
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2008-04-01T07:06:56+00:00

Raklion pulled off his boots, peeled off his leggings, slid out of his tunic. There was nowhere to put them where they would not get ruined.

He did not think it wise to mention that.

With his knife held in his freshly calloused fingers he joined his high godspeaker at the altar. Picking his way across the chamber floor was a test in itself, the stone flags were slickly dangerous underfoot.

Is it permitted to ask what purpose this divination serves?

The scorpion-marks from Nagaraks last testing in the pit had never faded. Every part of the high godspeakers flesh remained blotched, painted with blood the gods fingerprints gleamed and glowed. Not answering the question, Nagarak stabbed the white goatkid to the heart with his sacrificial blade, then thrust its body at his warlord.

Warlords took no part in divinations, Raklion had only ever entered this place to hear the gods desires, not coax them from the blood and guts of sacrifices. Clumsy and uncertain he clutched the goatkids small warm carcass and struggled to remember what hed seen other godspeakers do.

Nagarak waved his knife at him. Tcha! Hold it high, warlord! Let the blood fall where it will upon the sacred altar!

Raklion swung the sacrifice above the white marble carved in the shape of a sleeping scorpion.

While you fought on the border, warlord, the god sent me difficult dreams, said Nagarak, eyes slitted as blood dripped and splotched and dribbled, a message from the god to those who could read such

things. Mijak is stirring, war is in the air.

I know it is stirring, Nagarak, I have been fighting warlords and their warriors for godmoons now! he retorted, as the hot blood splashed and sprayed. You keep me from my son and woman to tell me things I already know?

Nagarak bared his teeth, he thrust his face close. Do not sharpen your tongue on me, warlord. This is the gods house, I am warlord in this place. You are here to learn the gods desires, you are here, a man of bloodshed, to see what the blood says in the gods name!

Raklion felt his heart constrict and his mouth suck dry. The god was raging in Nagaraks eyes. High godspeaker.

You prayed in the wilderness, you thought to come home and tell me, the high godspeaker, what the god desires of you! Foolish sinning warlord, did you think I would not know? I hear all prayers to the god, it whispers to me all mens petty wantings. It whispers to me what it desires of you, that I might tell you. I am telling you now. War is stirring, your time is come.

Dumbfounded, Raklion stared at him. Aieee, god. What a terrible man. High godspeaker.

Nagarak stepped back. That is enough blood. I will divine the gods message now.

Raklion tossed the dead goatkid aside and retreated, that he might not interfere in Nagaraks sacred work.

Round and round the altar his godspeaker trod, stepping nimbly over discarded entrails, hearts and heads, his dark eyes rolled to crescents of white, his fingers outstretched above the mysterious blood spatters on the white marble.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.