Vrin_ Ten Mortal Gods - By J. Michael Hileman Page 0,1
a raised eyebrow, turned and exited.
Show him in? What was I thinking? I didn't know who this man was-- I didn't know who I was! I felt my head. There was no damage, nothing to indicate an injury. What then? Was this a mental institution? Was I a part of some psychological experiment? Had I been started on some new drug that was messing with my mind? Is that the answer? They've drugged me because I'm crazy?! No. Crazy people don’t wonder if their crazy. They’re just crazy. That’s all.
Footsteps approached in the hallway. Frantically I looked about. The colors continued to shimmer; the room shifted at odd slants. It had to be drugs! I needed to get ahold of myself! Just let things play out. Go with the flow. Don’t give anyone a reason to believe you’re crazy! Regardless of what had caused this problem, the best course of action would be to pretend there was no problem. Until an appropriate opportunity presented itself-- if I could just play along-- maybe the answers would come. The doorknob clicked.
I gathered my wits for the performance of my life.
A man entered the room, a distinguished looking gentleman in an elegant gray suit. The material was flawless, almost too perfect, and at his side he wore-- a sword? My memory was messed up, but I was pretty sure I’d never seen anyone wearing a sword before, not in real life anyway. I fought to keep my expression from revealing my confusion.
The man had a strong physique and his short black hair shadowed the determination on his face. Keeping his eyes lowered, he cautiously strode forward and reached out his hand. “Greetings, Lord Tardin. I have been sent by Vrin’s ruling house to welcome you to our world.”
Our world? I shook his hand and kept my expression neutral.
“I am Sajin Barrows.” He looked up and offered a smile. “But of course you already know this.”
I returned his smile.
“The Prime Median, Daru, apologizes for his absence, but his reason for not being here is my reason for coming. I have come to implore you to consider a matter of grave importance to my people. I have no knowledge of how your kind communicates so if I cover anything with which you are already familiar, please forgive me.”
I nodded stiffly, wondering what he meant by my "kind".
“Since the awakening we have no doubt witnessed indescribable wonders, things we never would have experienced on our own in a thousand years, and most of my people are thankful for the intervention of the gods. We believe the ancient prophecies and we believe you will one day deliver us to Ethral...”
Gods? I was immediately thankful for the quasi euphoric state I was in.
“Nevertheless, there are some who are profoundly affected by the seemingly incidental acts of the gods, and it has caused in my people a troubled heart. We want to believe, we want to trust, but it is difficult to reconcile the contradictions. We need you to lead us to reason.” He paused.
This guy was good! If he was acting, he was totally believable. Fine. If this is the game, I'll play along.
“Too which 'incidental' acts are you referring?” I said, trying to sound broody as I imagined a god would sound.
“My apologies, lord. I meant no disrespect."
"None taken. Please continue."
"It is the war which weighs most heavily on my people." He looked at me, as if I knew to which war he was referring.
"I'm sorry. You will have to give me more than that. There are many wars."
He lifted his brows. "The battle between-- Armadon and Rath?”
“Oh. That war.”
His brows then furrowed. “We know of no other war in which the gods fight."
"Of course. You wouldn't," I said, hoping to cover myself.
"Why do they fight amongst themselves? Does the ancient text of the Marathil not describe the gods as joining together to destroy the evil of chaos? Even as we speak my people are dying by the hundreds, yet the others look on with indifference. Why?” He stared at me expectantly.
His acting was impeccable. 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 hardships 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.