The Broken World Book One - Children of Another God Read Free Page B

glare,
then looked away with watering eyes. Ashmar. Chanter had used the
Power of Air to change into a creature of that element.
    Mishak shook
his fist at the dwindling dot. "You bring my son back, you
scum!"
    This was the
main reason Truemen hated Mujar. They commanded the elements, and
could perform feats that Truemen would describe as magic, yet they
had the souls of beggars. They lacked pride, ambition, and even
self-respect. Nothing could hold them. They vanished whenever they
chose, taking on the form they required, for the only thing they
seemed to value was freedom. They did not love, nor did they have
loyalty or honour. They did not use their powers for good or evil,
but lived their hundred years without purpose, content never to use
the magic Truemen so envied.
    Hill clans were
the only people who sometimes struck bargains with Mujar when they
found them. In return for food and shelter, Mujar would work in the
fields or do menial jobs such as digging cesspits and graves. They
would not fell trees, but they were not averse to chopping dead
wood. Mujar seemed content with this dull existence, and would live
out their lives without ever using their powers.
    Mishak banged
into the house, angry with himself and Chanter. Envy could eat a
man's soul. He considered what he could do with just a tenth of a
Mujar's power, and wondered why it was wasted on these pitiful
unmen. When the first Mujar had appeared almost three hundred years
ago, begging in towns and digging in the rubbish for scraps,
Truemen had pitied them and given them food and shelter. Then some
mishap had caused a Mujar to use his power, and pity had turned to
fear.
    Mishak brewed a
pot of tea and settled before the fire. Their fear had lessened
when people had discovered that Mujar were harmless. Unless abused
or tortured, they would not use their powers against a Trueman. Nor
would they help people, however. No amount of riches could buy
their aid, nor did blackmail work, and even torture had failed.
Some people had given Mujar comforts and earned Wishes, but they
were scorned as traitors who became servants of the soulless yellow
scum and worked for their favours. Trueman pride had bred envy and
hate, and Mujar were chased from the cities.
    Women had tried
to conceive children with Mujar powers, but their bellies had
remained empty and Mujar were reviled for this too. Deemed a burden
to society, Mujar were beaten until they fled. They had returned
again and again, however, moving from city to city like a plague
Truemen could not cure. Attempts to kill them had proven futile,
and their unwanted presence had continued until someone had thrown
one into a Pit. That had been the beginning of the end of the Mujar
scourge.
    Mishak sat back
and sipped his spicy tea. The little luxury calmed his hatred and
restored his good humour. At least he had one who now owed him.
Only a Mujar could save his son, and if Arrin lived, Chanter would
bring him home.

 
     
    Chapter Two
     
    Talsy crept
through the forest, her eyes scanning the undergrowth for her
quarry. The snow hare had come this way. Its tracks wandered
amongst the trees, small marks that must lead to their maker. A
snow hare would make a good meal for herself and her father. She
pushed through a clump of frozen bushes, flinching at the icy
leaves' chill touch. A thick fur jacket and leather leggings kept
her warm and protected her from sharp branches, but her fingers
were stiff and her feet numb with cold. As soon as she had killed
the snow hare, she could return to the cabin's warmth to
defrost.
    Emerging into a
clearing, she followed the tracks across it, then froze as the hare
appeared on the far side, nibbling the withered grass that poked
through the thin layer of snow. Notching a hunting arrow into her
bow, she took aim and loosed it with a soft buzz. The arrow impaled
the hare with a thud, and it screamed piteously, kicking up puffs
of snow. She headed towards it, stopping as low humming whine came
from