The Tree of Life (Lost Civilizations: 3) Read Free

to be believed.
    “Unfortunately, the wealth has brought strife between the estate families who farm inland, and the merchant-princes. The estate families hired an army of mercenaries and set their sons as officers in that army. The force was needed to keep the primitives of the interior awed and quiet, allowing the farmers to plant and sow in peace. The merchants-princes grumbled, as they helped pay for this army. Realizing it gave too much political authority to the estate families, they attempted to counter-balance by increased sea-trade. So they created new crafts. Their workhouses dyed wool, spun pottery and forged shovels, swords and nails. As their coffers filled, their prestige increased.
    “Now, the people are divided into factions. Some wish to remain as artisans and merchants. Others want to become conquerors, and carve an empire from the interior. In other words, the city is ripe for Gog-driven dissension.”
    Adah had been listening closely. Her head twitched now as she spied a dolphin. It leapt into the air and dove down. She smiled at its grace, at its beauty. Other dolphins swam just under the surface, their dorsal fins occasionally flashing in the air. Adah gasped, and her hand flew to her mouth. The last time she’d seen dolphins, the sea-creatures had been fleeing from Nidhogg. The great beast had sped toward their former ship, the Tiras . Joash—
    Adah shut her eyes. Joash was likely dead. How could he have survived Nidhogg? Her eyes snapped open as she stared up at the sky. Then she studied the dolphins sporting around the ship. Joash had loved watching them. She shook her head. It was too painful thinking about Joash. She turned to Lord Uriah, focusing on his lips, listening to what he said.
    Lord Uriah spoke about Carthalo and Gog. Gog ruled Shamgar. Gog the First Born, son of Magog the bene elohim —she shuddered. Gog was like Yorgash of Poseidonis. First Born were worse than Nephilim, possessed of greater power and ambition.
    “Carthalo isn’t that far from Shamgar,” Lord Uriah was saying. “Therefore, Gog surely desires its subjugation. Pildash and Dishon have certainly fallen under his sway.”
    Adah nodded. Shamgar was situated on the eastern end of the Suttung Sea. Then, like a string of pearls along the southern coast, were Pildash, Dishon, Carthalo and Bomilcar. Further Tarsh was on the western end of the Suttung Sea. If one kept going west inland, he soon came to the plains of Elon, where Lord Uriah ruled.
    “If Gog can disrupt Carthalo,” said Lord Uriah, “his pirate galleys would control the Eastern Suttung Sea without any contention. Then Gog could likely prevent League of Peace galleys from stopping Tarag.”
    Adah took a deep breath. Stopping the strange First Born Tarag, the terrible enemy they’d faced in Jotunheim, was the reason the rowers strained at the oars.
    She asked, “How great is Gog’s influence in Carthalo?”
    “Nar Naccara spoke to me at length last night. League spies have discovered that several ranking merchant-princes went to the Oracle last year.”
    Adah stirred uneasily. Like a hidden spider, Gog wove a secret web. With his semi-divine blood, he could peer into the future, not well, but he could catch glimpses. Thus, many folk went to him, offering sacrifices or alliances. In turn, they desired he prophesize for them. With such power, Gog could often foil those who plotted him harm. Tarag and Gog worked together, hoping to win godhood over humanity.
    “Just as bad,” Lord Uriah continued, “a few of the estate families, hoping to gain a hidden ally, also traveled to the Oracle. The outcome of these clandestine meetings is that mobs have surrounded League of Peace buildings. They demand the League leave Carthalo. However, others in Carthalo rose up and beat the paid agitators, driving them away.”
    “Paid?”
    Lord Uriah nodded glumly. “So says Nar Naccara. But one wonders if he reads the city correctly.”
    “How can the merchant-princes and