Blood Finale (God Wars #5) Read Free Page B

One, who'd separated his particles after a very long life. Garegar had taken his place and convinced Lanigar to remain as his Protector.
    Merrill, Adam and Kiarra came to join Tybus and me at the long table I'd chosen. Ry, Nissa, Toff and Trik came next, followed by Karzac, Grace, Devin, Dragon and Crane.
    Trajan and Trace appeared last of all, with Bill Jennings, Kevis Halivar, Bear Wright, Amos and Flossie Thompson, Kay, Opal Tadewi and Jayson Rome. Yes, I was shocked when Jayson appeared—in the past he'd given up that identity and assumed that of Matt Michaels, who'd eventually take Bill's place as Director of the Joint NSA and Homeland Security Department. Here he was, however—no longer in disguise, and that defied logic.
    Everyone talked quietly—this was a library and an Archive, after all, which lent itself to quiet study and contemplation. "May I have your attention?" Conner spoke. Silence fell on the crowd.
    "I have several announcements to make, but first, the others of my kind will join us."
    The others of her kind? Gavin, who'd moved others aside so he could sit beside me, sent mindspeech.
    No idea , I returned. I knew she could transfer the dead to the other side, or call back some to deliver messages to those left behind, but it was the first time I'd heard her make an announcement like this.
    Conner, Kiarra's half-sister, was just as beautiful as Kiarra, but her hair was a honey-blonde instead of platinum, and she had a lovely Southern accent.
    "We are here."
    I stared—two more had come. There was no mistaking The Ear—I'd seen him once before. The Eye—I wasn't sure anyone in the crowd had seen him. "I am The Mouth," Conner announced to dead silence. These were the Shining Ones—those who spoke and acted on behalf of the One. I think my breath caught—I can't recall.

Chapter 2  
     
    Lissa's Journal
    "Before Wisdom, Strength and Love were reunited, a task was assigned to us," Conner went on. She was the only one of the Shining ones who maintained her appearance—the other two glowed softly in the Archives. Larentii dotted the large space, as if they were guarding those present.
    "That task," Conner said, "was simple—we were instructed to form an army. For the One—who is also the Three."
    "As you know," The Ear began, "many rogue gods were eliminated by Love—whom you know as the Mighty Heart. She has chosen one-third of those present."
    "I was instructed by Strength to approach another third of those present—to replace what was lost with those better, stronger and more resolved," The Eye added.
    "And I was directed by Wisdom to choose the final third," Conner—The Mouth, said. "That is why you are here. If you choose to decline the invitation you are about to receive, there will be understanding and no recrimination. The choice is yours to accept or not. Should you choose to accept, then you agree to hunt the enemy in all its forms and destroy what you hold the strength to destroy."
    "You are held to the normal requirements—no killing of the innocent," The Eye said. "No unnecessary interference. No intentional tampering with timelines."
    "Here are the invitations." The Ear held out a glowing hand. Envelopes appeared and plopped onto tables before all of us. They were cream linen—exactly like the one I'd gotten recently that held the bracelet and the note.
    With shaking fingers, I lifted my envelope. It wasn't sealed—perhaps there was no need. I pulled out the enclosed card.
    Should you choose to accept,
    the title—and honor—of being a member of the Al'Riyu is yours .
    My breath caught again.
    * * *
    Reah's Journal
    All around me, envelopes were opened. Farzi and Nenzi showed me their invitations—they'd been selected as Nameless Ones. I hugged both of them. Their brothers, with the exception of Chazi, received the same. Chazi turned his invitation around so I might read it, his eyes huge in surprise—he'd been selected as Pan'Warha, a level above the Nameless Ones.
    In most