The Black God's War Read Free Page A

stone path, then sat on the hard clay and stared at the pool.
    A ray of sunshine burst through the smoky air and landed on Caio and the two statues beside him. The vines adorning Mya and Oderigo miraculously grew down the statues, onto the floor, and crept toward the boy. The vine from Mya wrapped around his left forearm; the vine from Lord Oderigo wrapped around his right.
    “Havah ilz avah Haizzem!” The Exalted shouted, and the crowd repeated the chant ten times.
    Lucia realized that either Caio had just chosen two deities or they had chosen him. Mya and Oderigo, brother and sister, like the goddess Ysa and Lord Danato. The vine-blessed followers of Mya and Oderigo rose to their feet and cheered as Caio stood, many of them weeping and wailing with joy.
    “My dearest Lucia.”
    That sick voice again.
    From behind the statue of Lord Danato, the black god himself appeared, tall as his likeness. His coal eyes froze her with terror. She couldn’t feel her body.
    Lord Danato walked in front of Ysa’s statue.
    Stop him, my goddess! Ysa!
    The vines trailing from the statues of Mya and Oderigo seemed to be holding Caio’s tiny body in place. He giggled, playing to the crowd, and the people filled the atrium with their laughter again. Their chuckling sounded like mockery in Lucia’s ears.
    Danato walked in front of The Lord of Miracles.
    You’re jealous he didn’t choose you!
    Lucia came to her senses and ran past her father, past Tiberio, past the statue of the goddess Jacopa. “Stop him!” she screamed. “Lord Danato’s going to kill Caio!”
    Caio looked at her with his mouth wide open.
    She ran in front of Lord Oderigo’s statue just as Danato stepped behind the vine-covered goddess.
    A hand gripped one of her upper arms. “Lucia!” her father said through clenched teeth. “This is no time for jealousy.”
    Lucia struggled to breathe. I’m not , she wanted to say.
    “Warpriests, take her away. This is the Haizzem’s day.”
    Lord Danato stepped behind Caio. “Sweet Lucia, do not fear your Lord.”
    “Get away from him!” she yelled back.
    Two bald warpriests lifted her from under her arms. She struggled at first, but it was no use fighting them.
    Goddess, please save my brother. Please save him!
    The men carried her back through the crowd. She swallowed her voice and strained to see Caio through the throng. Once they lifted her to the top of the stairs, she saw Lord Danato again, staring up at her with his hand resting on top of Caio’s skull. Caio didn’t seem to notice. The warpriests carried her into a hallway, out of the public’s view.
    She squirmed. “Let me down. Let me walk.”
    They released their grips and one said, “Then go on to your chamber. We’ll follow you there.”
    The military Strategos with curly hair entered the hallway. His eyes shone with concern above his rosy cheeks. “Is everything all right, Lucia?”
    “No! Caio isn’t safe.”
    “He’s absolutely fine,” the man said. “Perfectly all right. Can I walk with you?”
    Lucia clenched her jaw and stared at him.
    The Strategos put his hands on the shoulders of the two warpriests. “Let me handle this.”
    They bowed to the older man and stepped back toward the stairs, watching her as they exited.
    The Strategos put his hands together near his solar plexus. “My name is Duilio. I’m sorry you’re upset.”
    “Lord Danato intends to kill my brother. If you want to help me, go now and protect him.”
    “Your father and the warpriests won’t let that happen. I promise you, everything will be fine. I will walk with you, Lucia. Let’s talk.”
    She squeezed her fists, wondering if she could run past him to get another look.
    “Lucia, don’t make your father angry again. Let’s walk together please.”
    She spun around in defeat and began walking toward her chamber. They passed two statuesque soldiers. Lucia kept her gaze down.
    Outrage and embarrassment boiled inside her.
    She erupted, turning and pounding her fists