Part 11 (2/2)

”Yes!” Yaloom barked. ”Where are the first two pieces of the crystal ... the ones George collected on Grayham? And where is he now? And why haven't the pieces been put back inside the temple on Grayham?”

Mosley responded before Lasidious could. ”George is on Luvelles, and so is Kepler.”

”How do you know this?” Yaloom demanded. ”How could George be on Luvelles?”

Mosley snorted his disdain for the G.o.d's ignorance. ”George is a most clever leader of his pack. Perhaps you should ask Lasidious the same question.”

Yaloom redirected his stare. ”Well?”

Lasidious crossed his feet on top of the table and then leaned back in his chair. After putting his hands behind his head, he responded. ”I have no idea how he got to Luvelles. Perhaps you should ask him that question. Better yet, ask Brayson Id. I had nothing to do with it. I didn't know he was on Luvelles. I've been looking for him since the war on Grayham began.” The Mischievous One redirected his gaze. ”Mosley, are you sure that's where George is?”

Yaloom rolled his eyes and listened to the wolf's response.

”I heard Sam question Kepler's brothers before he ended Koffler. I heard Keller tell Sam that George and Kepler left for Luvelles and caught a ride with the Merchant Angels.”

Lasidious continued his ruse. ”I wonder how he made that happen? Perhaps one of us should speak with the Head Master.”

”I shall speak with Brayson,” Alistar responded. ”I would very much like to know this answer.”

”I'll go with you,” Mieonus added, ”since Brayson serves me.”

Lasidious leaned forward and clapped his hands. ”There's always a fool who's willing to serve you, isn't there, Mieonus?”

Before the G.o.ddess could reply, Lasidious raised his voice. ”So ... are there any other questions regarding the retrieval of this next piece?”

Though annoyed, Mieonus' response was brief. ”Your rules seem simple enough.” The G.o.ddess stood, adjusted her bosom to a more ample position within her royal-purple gown and then crossed her arms beneath her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. ”Are we finished here?”

Alistar also stood, ”I just want to confirm what you've said. We can choose anyone, as long as it's not one of the brothers, or anyone from Harvestom, Trollcom or Dragonia.”

”That's what I said,” Lasidious confirmed. ”You can only choose beings from the lower two worlds, and you cannot choose the brothers.”

”Anyone ... no matter what?” Bailem, the G.o.d of the Sun, interjected.

”Yes, no matter what,” the Mischievous One affirmed.

Alistar looked at Mosley. ”Are you thinking what I'm thinking?”

”I am. We need to take a trip to Brandor. But we should give it a Peak or two. Shalee has lost her cub.”

”Oh, that's wonderful!” Mieonus cheered. ”I'm glad the baby pa.s.sed. Shalee has far too much potential to be bothered by something as trivial as motherhood. It's the best thing for her, really.”

Mosley growled as he lowered to the floor, ”I disagree!”

The G.o.ddess smiled. ”Come now ... let's not let our differences of opinion spoil my moments, wolf. I wish to savor the thought of her pain.”

Mosley shook his head in disgust. ”You're the most annoying being I've ever met.”

Before the G.o.ddess of Hate could respond, Celestria appeared in front of the group. ”It's finished, my love. The third piece of crystal has been hidden.”

The G.o.ddess had cleaned the moss and filth of the swamp off of her dress-all except a small spot on the bottom, toward the back of her gown.

From where the G.o.ddess appeared, only Mosley noticed. The wolf lifted off the floor and walked around her. As he did, his keen sense of smell took note of the unique aroma. The wolf then nodded his head and the spot disappeared.

Mosley put his front paws up on the edge of the table. ”Lasidious, I shall be waiting for your disclosure of the crystal's location. Until then, I request that those on my team meet at my den. We have plans to make.” The wolf adjusted his gaze. ”Celestria, as always, it has been nice to see you. Perhaps we shall have ample moments to speak on some other Peak.” With that, Mosley vanished.

”He did not give me the chance to respond.” Celestria chuckled and then took a seat. ”How are the rest of you?”

The members of the wolf's team acknowledged her presence and then vanished. Yaloom's team was all that was left.

Lasidious looked at Yaloom. ”I can't believe Mieonus would allow you to retake control of your team. Your last display of leaders.h.i.+p was void of any form of real thought. I have no doubt you'll waste this opportunity as well. Vexatious is as vexatious does.”

Yaloom grumbled, ”Hmpf, I can handle this with ease. You underestimate my ability.”

”I doubt it. Face it, Yaloom, you're an idiot. I would wager that you're dumbfounded. Your team has no idea whom they'll choose. But that doesn't surprise me. I would've expected as much, considering your inability to lead your team to an informed decision. I'm sure you'll-”

Yaloom cut the Mischievous One off. ”Lasidious, you've made this an easy choice. We shall choose George, your pet creation.”

As soon as Yaloom finished speaking, the Book of Immortality lifted from the table and sent a brutal wave of power that flew across the table and smashed into the G.o.d of Greed's chest. The deity was thrown backward and crashed into the marble wall. His body hit so hard that his spine cracked as he fell to the floor.

Gabriel floated overtop of Yaloom and relieved the screaming G.o.d's pain. Once his cries subsided, the Book spoke. ”Your words have broken the Rule of Fromalla. You are now a mortal being. You'll no longer be allowed to stay on Ancients Sovereign. This will be the last series of moments your eyes will bear witness to the glory that is this world.”

Yaloom began to sob. He realized what he had done.

The others, however, were astounded and confused. They began to shout questions.

Mieonus, on the other hand, knew full well the promise Yaloom had broken. She was present in the Royal Theatre of Brandor the Peak that Sam disemboweled Double D. It was on that Peak that Lasidious, Mosley, Yaloom and the G.o.ddess entered into the pact of Fromalla.

Now, fellow soul ... in case you have forgotten, Fromalla was a rule, or rather, a law that was voted into existence by the G.o.ds and written on the pages of the Book of Immortality. It was created due to the overwhelming lack of trust that was growing within the Collective after the G.o.d Wars ended. Though the G.o.ds had fought at each others' sides, a battle of a new kind started once the wars were over. Each deity needed followers to increase their power when the worlds were populated. While building this group of wors.h.i.+ppers, the G.o.ds would reveal each other's secrets to undermine each others' campaigns.

It was Ba.s.sorine, the late G.o.d of War, who called a meeting where he suggested they vote to pa.s.s the Rule of Fromalla. The law was long and covered most any angle, but it basically meant-if two or more G.o.ds shared a secret under Fromalla, they could not divulge the information disclosed within the pact to any of the others who were not present without penalty of being made mortal.

The Book of Immortality was made responsible for enforcing this rule. It did not matter if the slip of information was subtle or accidental-the rule was clear-information shared under the Rule of Fromalla was sacred.

Mieonus held her hand up to silence her team, ”There's nothing to question. I was there when Fromalla was invoked. Yaloom has broken our sacred law. From now on, I shall lead our team. Let's meet at Yaloom's old abode. I claim it as my own.”

Mieonus turned her attention to the fallen G.o.d. ”No offense, but I'm not sad to see you go, Yaloom. You did us all a favor. We no longer have to deal with your incompetence. I'm so going to enjoy my new home. I've always envied the way the water runs through it. Now it is mine.”

Yaloom screamed, ”This isn't over! I'll have my revenge, Mieonus!”

Lasidious walked over, leaned down and smiled. His eyes turned red and his teeth to sharpened, fine points. He hissed with an evil that made those in the room tremble. ”Oh, but it is over! You've lived more than 930,000 seasons. In a few Peaks from now, you'll be nothing more than a pile of dust. No one will remember your name once I personally see to it that every trace of your existence has been erased from the worlds.”

Lasidious stood and took Celestria by the hand. The last thing the Mischievous One heard before he teleported them home was Yaloom's sobbing.

Mieonus dismissed herself. ”I trust I'll see the rest of you in my new home shortly.” She vanished, leaving behind an echo of laughter. Moments later, the rest of Mieonus' team disappeared without even saying goodbye to the fallen G.o.d.

The Book of Immortality looked down at Yaloom. ”How could you make such a mindless mistake?”

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