Part 1 (2/2)

His acting was impeccable. impeccable. His expressions and tone of voice completely believable. There was no hint of pretending as the fairy-tale words fell from his lips. His expressions and tone of voice completely believable. There was no hint of pretending as the fairy-tale words fell from his lips.

It wasn't hard for me to stay in character.

”I am very sorry for the hards.h.i.+ps your people have faced.”

He straightened himself with resolve. ”Then you will help us? The others are unwilling to help. You may be our last hope.” Again he stared at me expectantly.

”And-- what makes you believe I am any different from the others?”

”But why would you refuse us?” His voice held a hint of desperation.

What was I supposed to say to that? How long was this little experiment going to last? ”--Ah, things are a little confusing confusing for me at the moment.” for me at the moment.”

”We are desperate people. Surely you can see that.”

”You don't understand...”

”Then help help me to understand!” me to understand!”

I wanted to scream at him. I I don't understand! All I had were questions-- questions I didn't dare share with don't understand! All I had were questions-- questions I didn't dare share with him-- him-- for fear of who might be studying me, for fear of who might be studying me, if if there even there even was was anyone studying me! The asylum concept was growing sketchier with each pa.s.sing sentence. None of this made anyone studying me! The asylum concept was growing sketchier with each pa.s.sing sentence. None of this made any any sense. Crazy people don't have sense. Crazy people don't have meetings meetings in large expensive studies with butlers and strange men with swords! in large expensive studies with butlers and strange men with swords!

”Will you help us, lord?”

Was this guy for real? ”I...”

The sound of breaking gla.s.s startled us and I twisted around to see a man dressed entirely in black crouching before a shattered window. In his grip, was a crossbow, and upon his features, a look of vengeance. Slowly the man rose from the debris, carefully aimed the weapon at my head, and began a slow advance.

”Put that down, Dirm! You cannot harm him, he is one of the Ten!” came Sajin's voice from behind me. You cannot harm him, he is one of the Ten!” came Sajin's voice from behind me.

”They die!” die!” His voice dripped with hatred. ”And I will prove it!” His voice dripped with hatred. ”And I will prove it!”

Was this for real!

I had to think fast. Think! These men actually actually believe I'm a G.o.d! Okay. believe I'm a G.o.d! Okay. But am I indestructible? But am I indestructible? The man with the crossbow apparently had his doubts. If I gave him any reason to trust those doubts he The man with the crossbow apparently had his doubts. If I gave him any reason to trust those doubts he would would kill me! ”Do you love your family?” I found myself saying, with a tone of warning that shocked even me. kill me! ”Do you love your family?” I found myself saying, with a tone of warning that shocked even me.

I must have struck a chord, for my would-be a.s.sa.s.sin paused his advance. ”What do you mean by that? Demon!” that? Demon!”

With all my strength I suppressed my fear, put on my best poker face, and looked the man dead in the eyes. In a cold calculating tone, I asked, ”What kind of terror would a demon unleash on your family, should your a.s.sa.s.sination attempt fail?”

Sajin's voice was near panic. ”Listen to him, Dirm! You have seen what they can do!”

I kept my countenance solid and my eyes locked on those of my adversary. I sensed this was not the first time I had stared down an opponent, and something told me I was good at bluffing. Very good.

His hand remained steady on his weapon as he searched my face for a hint of fear. But he found none. Slowly the tension in his stance visibly melted away. His body went limp with despair. With a m.u.f.fled curse he lowered the crossbow and held it loosely in his grip.

Sajin stepped forward and relieved the man of his weapon. ”We told you to stay out of this,” he said in a low voice. ”It was agreed we would seek aid, not incite war. I know your son is dead, but this will not bring him back. Nothing can bring him back.”

”Nothing?” The man's eyes lifted, he glared at me with contempt. ”Can The man's eyes lifted, he glared at me with contempt. ”Can they they not bring him back?” His inflection was filled with bitter distrust. not bring him back?” His inflection was filled with bitter distrust.

Sajin turned to me. ”My humble apologies, lord. We had no way of knowing he would act in this manner.”

”No harm done,” I said, trying desperately to keep my voice from shaking.

”You can be a.s.sured he will be severely punished for his actions,” he said, gripping the man by the arm.

”Please, don't,” I said.

Both men looked up, surprised.

Sajin bowed, ”You are very merciful.”

”It is not mercy. His anger is justified and not deserving of punishment. However, I'd like to a.s.sure you, I had no part in the events which claimed his son's life.”

”Our understanding is limited. We do not know the workings of the G.o.ds, we can only judge by what we've seen-- and there has been much pain. Pain which has blossomed into this violence. Thankfully it has ended here. If he had succeeded your death would have no doubt caused a revolution.

A revolution? Against G.o.ds?

Sajin sighed. ”My people are painfully divided. I wish it were not so.”

”Have we caused only hards.h.i.+p?” I said, surprised to note it was a genuine question.

”It is mixed, lord. Some have been generous, picking up the pieces where the two have done battle, but others protect their own interests, or stay out of the affairs of man altogether-- unless they are directly affected.”

”I see.”

”If only we could speak with Gaza,” he said, almost to himself.

I paused a moment, contemplating his statement. ”You think Gaza can change this?”

”He is the Maker, the G.o.d of birth. The great book reveals that none among the G.o.ds are more powerful than he, with all due respect, lord.”

”You speak highly of my brother Gaza,” I said, now irrevocably submerged in my role.

”As your leader, does he not decree the conduct of the G.o.ds?”

I dodged the question. ”He does as he pleases.”

”Would you consider waking him to ask if he will give our Prime Median an audience in his court?”

”This is all you ask, a meeting with Gaza?”

”Yes, lord.” He bowed.

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