James Galloway - The Tower of Sorcery

"Why would she?" Tarrin challenged.

"It's the symbol of another Goddess."

"Are you going to start worshipping her?"

"No!"

"Then you have nothing to worry about," Tarrin shrugged, his voice dismissive in its practicality.

Allia looked up at the sky. "It's almost dinnertime," she noted. "I'm hungry, too. Let's go."

"You go on ahead," he said. "I want to stay a few more moments."

Allia gave him a deep look. "I'll see you in the dinner hall then," she said. He watched her take her leave, and gave her a few moments to get out of earshot.

He looked up at the statue's face, studying its serene, perfect features, again marvelling at the hand that could, with hammer and chisel, sculpt such incredible detail and beauty. He reached up and cupped that face in his huge paw. "Sorry I was away for so long," he told the statue, "but I wasn't myself for a while. But I'm better now. It must be lonely in here alone all the time, so, to let you know, I'll be visiting you again."

Believ e .

Tarrin's ears perked up, responding to the voice that had no sound, a choral voice that echoed soundlessly through the courtyard, through his mind, dancing across his awareness like ripples on the surface of a still pond. There it was again!

For there to be faith, you must believe .

"Believe in what?" he called curiously.

Believe in me .

That completely baffled him. "Believe in you? Who are you?"

Believe in me .

The amulet around Tarrin's neck suddenly was very heavy. It felt hot against his skin, then cold, then hot again.

The amulet, the symbol of the katzh-dashi .

The amulet, the symbol of the Goddess whom they served. Just as the brand on his shoulder was the symbol of Fara-Nae

The Goddess.

Goddess!

Tarrin gasped in shock, staggering backwards, and then fell into the pool. He sat up, water streaming off of his face, staring up at the nude statue in utter shock. "Goddess!" he gasped.

There was the most unusual sound. It took him a moment to realize that it was cascading, silvery-bell laughter. Oh, do get up, the voice called in amusement. You look like a drowned rat .

"You, you, you," he stammered, totally at a loss for words. He quickly rolled over and knelt in the water in front of the statue, the idol-image of the Goddess of the Sorcerers.

Don't do that! the voice called tartly. I hate it when people do that!

"Forgive me," he said in meek supplication.

And don't do that either! she snapped. You talked to me normally before. You can do that again.

"I, I didn't know who you were, Goddess," he explained.

It doesn't really matter who I am, the voice called. I don't demand that people act like fools for my benefit. As long as I know how you feel in your heart, I can do without all the bowing and scraping and carrying on. Are you quite finished swimming in my fountain?

"Uh, yes, Goddess," he said, standing up and keeping his eyes averted.

What's the matter now? she asked crisply.

"I don't know what to do," he said quietly.

Talk to me, she said winsomely. I didn't drag you out here just to have you fawn on me. It doesn't become you.

"Drag me out?" he asked.

You think you wanted to come out here yourself? she chuckled. I need to talk to you, my kitten. Away from the others. There are some things you should know.

That got his attention quickly. "Like what?"

That's better. Talk to me as you talk to anyone else. As far as answering questions, nothing that you want to hear, I assure you, she said. For now, I wanted you to know that I exist. They'll teach you all about me in the Initiate. To enter it, you have to swear an oath of obediance to me. I know how your mind works. You'd reject such a vow outright. He had to agree. His Cat nature would not allow him to willingly subject himself to the will of another. What I want you to know is that I don't want your obediance, kitten. I want your love.

"What?"

I want your love, she repeated. I don't expect it overnight. You've never been what most would call religious, so the concept of loving a deity is new to you. That works both ways, my kitten, she said, her choral, powerful non-voice warm and intimate. I already adore you.

What that means for the immediate future is this; I won't demand you to uphold the vow that you'll speak to me tomorrow. I'm giving you permission to lie. Just mouth the words to satisfy the Council, and don't ever even think about it again. Oh, and don't think that this will be a common occurence, she said, her voice amused. I do have other things to do.

"You do this with all Sorcerers?"

To one degree or another, yes, she replied. I don't directly speak to most of them, but I do listen, and I try to answer as best I can. Just like Allia's Goddess, Fara-Nae, I'm very devoted to my worshippers, so I can afford a bit of personal attention here and there. I couldn't actively talk to you, like we are now, until you believed that I existed. All I could manage were a few words here and there. Are you done asking questions?

"No, but I think you're done answering them."

She laughed, that same choral cascade of bells. You are such a joy, my kitten, she told him. My life will be so much richer with you in it. Just speak the words tomorrow, Tarrin. You don't have to believe them, and know that, on my word and bond as a Goddess, I will not demand you to uphold the vow you will give. I will ask it of you, but I will not demand it of you.

"Why me?" he asked suddenly. "Why this attention on me?"

Because you are very special, she replied instantly. Very special indeed. In fact, at this very moment, half the world's interest is set directly on your shoulders. Not all of that interest is friendly…as you may have noticed. Don't even bother asking why, because I can't tell you.

Just know this, my kitten, she said, her voice sincere and loving. I am here for you. Believe in me, and I will provide for you. Put your trust in me, and I will watch over you. Give your love to me, and I will return it to you tenfold. Have faith in me, and you will never be alone.

Those words struck him to the core.

I must go now, she called. Be well, my kitten, and think about my words. I know that you know that I would not lie to you. So think of what I have said, and make your decisions. I will welcome you. The road ahead is long and dangerous, but with my love in your heart, you will never be alone.

And then the sensation of her power faded, leaving the courtyard dark and strangely empty. The dazzling sparkle in the eyes of the statue seemed to fade away, leaving nothing but the dull stone behind.

To: Title EoF

Tarrin didn't sleep at all that night.

The words of this mysterious goddess of the Sorcerers had struck a chord in him that went deeper than he ever thought. She had been right; Tarrin had never been an overly pious person. The concept of actually believing in the gods was quite new to him. Oh, he believed they existed, and his family paid homage to several gods, but didn't actively worship any of them. Now he suddenly had been exposed to the real power and presence of a god, and it had shifted his theological positioning quite profoundly. Not quite believe in her, but have faith in her.

And she talked just like a person. A real, non-divine person. She seemed to have quite a sense of humor. He rather liked that.

He'd spent that first night back sitting on his bed, watching Dar sleep, musing over his visitation, thinking of Janette, rubbing the spot where Allia had popped him, and thinking about Jesmind's activities. They had placed a spell on her to guarantee her cooperation. Tarrin could understand that. But the way she looked at him when he'd sided with her against the Keeper made him more than a little nervous. Tarrin's feelings over Jesmind were never quite set in stone no matter what. One second he could miss her, and the next want to wring her neck. She'd spent the entire two months he'd been missing hunting for him. That surprised him. He'd have thought that she would have given up after the first month.