Shield of the Gods (Aigis Trilogy, Book 1) Read online

  Roxie said, “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  “Don’t you mourn for me. I’m always sad when I think of her, but she was the best woman any man could ask for. I’m so grateful she was mine, even for a short time. Napora wouldn’t want me to feel any other way.”

  “That’s very sweet,” Roxie said. Aerigo stood silently, absorbing the saddest news his friend could tell.

  “I never thought I’d be able to live without her. Even with our kids, it was hard at first. I considered suicide, just so I could get back to her. But I had a dream one night.” His face contorted. Yayu took a deep breath before continuing. “Strange things happen in dreams, and that dream will always be at the top of my list,” he said in a far-away voice. “I knew I had to keep on living—living life to the fullest—after I had that dream.” His voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. “She came to me. She came and told me we would be together again, in a different life. She hugged, kissed and held me all night, and then she told me that she would always be with me. She told me to never stop loving her—I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Yayu looked to Roxie and his voice found more strength. “Strange magicks inhabit this world. We don’t understand all of it yet. We may never understand it all. We don’t understand the magic of dreams yet, or what power they hold.” He licked his lips. “You see: after I woke up Napora was still with me. She even spoke to me some more.”

  “How is that possible?” Roxie feared that Napora’s presence may have been a hallucination caused by the extreme emotions he’d been feeling at the time, but she doubted that was the truth. This world didn’t need psychology when magic was real. Maybe it had been his wife’s spirit or ghost, or something like that.

  Yayu shrugged. “The fact that I could still see her, even after I was definitely awake, proved that it was really her and not just my imagination. However, she’d faded after my youngest child ran into my room to get me out of bed. She never came back though. But that didn’t matter. I’d already decided to fulfill my wife’s wishes. And here I am today, doin’ the best I can and enjoyin’ life to the fullest while it lasts.”

  Roxie gazed fondly at Yayu, who was staring at the floor, and decided it best not to say anything. She glanced at Aerigo, also lost in thought. Then Roxie yawned uncontrollably, which snapped both her friends out of their trance and into the present. It had been a long day, and an overly long week. Everything was catching up to her now. New worlds, meeting a god, learning she wasn’t human and could do unnatural things, magic, more gods, strange people and more. So much had happened in what? A week? A week and a couple of days, if she counted right. “Yayu, I’m gonna take a nap before dinner, okay?”

  Yayu gave her an amused smile. He’d already started chopping up what looked like pork tenderloins. Roxie headed for the loft past the living room area and ascended the ladder.

  Nexus lay sprawled in his throne-like chair, leaning to one side, his head resting on a fist. Waiting. Nexus hated waiting. But this time he knew action taken too early would be fatal to his plans. His prophecy demanded patience and careful action. His own body has forced him to waste fifteen years recovering from the last fight with his father. The last three he’d also spent organizing his allies for war.

  Finally, the giant doors to his palace swung open of their own accord, making way for a collection of minions. Leading the procession were a pair of men wrapped in dark green cloaks and blood red bandanas wrapped over their faces so only their eyes showed. Four Elves—the four who hadn’t volunteered to spy on Aerigo—followed the men. Three burly trolls twice as tall as the Elves followed, their arms swinging low and long like an ape’s. Two black dragons squeezed through the towering entrance and brought up the rear with their wings folded by their armored sides. The group crossed the open hall and stopped before Nexus. The men, Elves and trolls dropped to one knee and bowed their heads. The dragons closed their eyes and lowered their massive heads to the floor.

  Nexus rose and took a regal stance. “Welcome, my esteemed warriors. You may rise. I have a special task you must fulfill before I can initiate my war.”

  “What is it, Master?” one of the dragons said in a voice that rumbled like Leviathan’s, though it lacked omnipotent force.

  “There’s someone who must die first,” he said, pacing before them. “Kill his companion, if you feel like it, but only the one named Aerigo needs killing.”

  “He owes us his head for what he did to my people,” one of the Elves said. “Curse him and his god!”

  “He’s an Aigis,” another Elf said to the other minions. “Death won’t come easy.”

  The dragons stood silent, their fiery eyes betraying a rising sense of doubt.

  “Fear not,” Nexus said. “You will get the job done. This Aigis does not half-grasp the exceptional powers he was born with.”

  “Then why don’t you take care of him yourself?” one of the trolls said.

  Nexus stopped pacing. “Because I have a war to run and a prophecy to fulfill. I don’t have time for such things, and you’ll be well rewarded for performing this task.”

  “Well said, Master,” the troll said, bowing low in apology.

  The young god ignored the apology. “There are details that you must heed to. First, Kabiroas, Frawst, Sodo, and Dahl are to join Chionas in spying on the two for some time, with the aim of extracting valuable information about our enemies’ plans. Kabiroas,” Nexus said, addressing the lead Elf, “I know you’ve spied on him before. Be patient. Any advantage you can gain will make our victory all the better. Second, no one is permitted to attack Aerigo until I say so. I don’t want it to be too soon or things will backfire. Also, and this is personal I admit, I want the enemy to think he has a fighting chance, then steal that silly notion away at the last moment.”

  He paused as his private army bellowed a few grunts and cocky laughs of approval. “Kabiroas, take the spies I assigned and go. You know where they are.” The Elf nodded. “The rest of you are to wait until I give the command to kill.”

  One of the men looked a little confused. “I beg your pardon, Master, but why are there so many of us to get this one little murder done?”

  “I’ll tell you,” Nexus said in an excited whisper. “Just because you asked nicely.” He sat in his throne-like chair with his arms on the armrests. “The Elves will appreciate my plan the most. You remember Phailon?”

  “Burhdeorc! The city that was stolen from us!” Kabiroas clenched the handle to a rapier under his dark cloak. “It’s been over a thousand years since Aerigo helped the humans steal it from us. I and my people wish to see Phailon razed to the ground. Leviathan destroyed its beauty by turning the stone from black to white.” The other Elves muttered their anger to one another.

  “Vancor filled me in on the horrid details,” Nexus said. “Now’s your chance. And I’ve provided you with some help.” He spread his hand towards the monsters standing behind the Elves.

  “But what’s the purpose of destroying Phailon now? Your war is nigh, Master.”

  “It’s a dual-purpose trap. We’re luring our enemy to where we want him. Without a doubt, Aerigo will play the role of hero and try to save the city. He’ll be left exhausted and weak, making things just right to deal the deathblow. And the one who kills Aerigo will get a special reward.”

  Roxie rolled over in bed and woke up. She opened her eyes to see a window beyond her feet. It was a cloudy morning, but the sun was up and it smelled like it had rained all night. She loved that smell and breathed in deeply, knowing it would be another fine day in Sconda, like the last few.

  She yawned and stretched, then sat up and looked at Aerigo, who was still fast asleep. He looked so young and relaxed sprawled out on his back in his navy-blue boxers, the bed sheet only covering one leg.

  She felt a pang in her heart that had become familiar ever since the first time she saw him without a shirt. Her breath tightened. The reaction was unexpected, but she liked it. Aerigo always made her feel more at peace with herself an
d the world around her. He made her feel safe, protected. She wanted to shout her feelings to everyone on Sconda, but only so long as Aerigo wouldn’t hear.

  Aerigo shifted and kept on dreaming. It was odd for him to still be sleeping longer than her. He’d always been up and about before her. Even on the cruise ship. Still, she let him rest.

  Beads clicked as Yayu entered his front door, carrying jugs of water. He glided to the kitchen and set them on the counter. He looked up at her and smiled.

  “Good morning,” Roxie said.

  “Good mornin’, my dear.”

  She headed down the ladder to help prepare breakfast.

  It wasn’t until they had the table set that they heard Aerigo stirring in the loft. The timing was rather convenient, Roxie thought, as she climbed the ladder and sat on the floor next to him. She watched his muscles flex as he stretched his limbs like a cat, his eyes still closed. He sat up and rubbed his face. “Hello, Rox,” he said pleasantly, looking at her with one uncovered eye.

  “Good morning to you, too.” On a sudden impulse, Roxie leaned over and gave Aerigo a hug. He returned it, gentle and solid, his touch very comforting. She let her head rest against a broad shoulder a moment before letting go. She felt her eyes start glowing with fear. She looked away and started for the ladder, trying to ease the sudden tension in her limbs. I so shouldn’t have done that.

  “What’s wrong?” Aerigo asked, getting up and pulling on a shirt.

  Roxie took a deep breath and peered over the top of the ladder. She shook her head and dropped to the floor, landing with a minute thud. “Nothing.” I can’t afford to fall in love with you. Not now. That’s what. With effort, she turned her thoughts to the pancake breakfast she’d helped prepare, which had filled the house with their sweet scent. If Aerigo had snatched a glimpse of her glowing eyes, he kept silent about it, to Roxie’s relief.

  Yayu brought over more energizing tea and filled three mugs. Roxie thanked him and took a sip. Aerigo put on some pants, then dropped down the ladder and joined them. He seemed to be in a particularly good mood, having apparently forgotten about Roxie’s strange behavior a moment ago.

  “Today’s the last day of spring. You remember what that means?”

  She swallowed. “Already? I thought I had another day to prepare.”

  “Nope. You’ve been here five days already.”

  “It’s only felt like three,” Roxie admitted.

  “The two of you have done nothin’ but eat, sleep and train the entire time. I’m not surprised you lost track.”

  “Aerigo, do you think I’m ready?”

  “We’ll see.”

  Roxie gave him a flat stare. “You’re supposed to say ‘Of course you are, Rox’ so I don’t faint when I see the billion people I’m up against.”

  “Oh, you’ll be fine,” Yayu said. “Besides: you’ll be meetin’ my kids today, along with my grandchildren.”

  “Grandchildren?” Aerigo said in disbelief, “I have been gone a while.”

  Chapter 16

  The Race

  After eating, they all changed apparel and headed out. The clothes they put on made them look like Olympic athletes, consisting of runner’s shorts with a slit on each side, spandex shorts underneath that were twice as long, and tank tops covered with curve and line patterns. Roxie’s own shirt looked more like a sports bra and she felt quite self-conscious in it until she saw other women in Ormolu wearing the same thing. She went from feeling self conscious and nervous, to just really nervous.

  “Relax, you’ll do fine,” Aerigo said.

  “I don’t stand a chance against these people. Even you are way faster than me!” She imagined herself having to crawl over the finish line because she was so tired, with all the other racers standing or flitting around nearby, and then them pointing and laughing at her as she passed out from embarrassment.

  “You’re faster than you realize. Just trust yourself.”

  “But what if I can’t finish? Yayu mentioned something about this being a really long race. I never did distance events in high school track & field.”

  Taking one of Roxie’s arms, Aerigo brought them both to a halt. Once Yayu out of earshot, he said, “Look: you need to start acting more adult.”

  “I’m almost eighteen.”

  “That’s beside the point. You can’t afford to keep acting like a child. We have to give people hope. That’s all we have to offer them right now.”

  “What hope can I give anybody?” Roxie asked Aerigo’s bare feet. She couldn’t look him in the face. “I’m scared of fighting in a war.” She felt her eyes shift from yellow to blue.

  Aerigo lifted her chin with one hand and took her shoulder with the other. “I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  “But what if something happens to you?”

  Aerigo flinched involuntarily.

  Roxie hadn’t expected that question from herself either. It just kind of came out before she understood what she was asking.

  Aerigo placed both hands on her shoulders and looked into her glowing eyes. “Nothing is going to happen to me.”

  “Promise?”

  He opened his mouth but before he could answer his body froze. He didn’t even blink. His blue eyes continued to look into hers, but Roxie suspected he wasn’t seeing her. His grip on her shoulder slackened.

  Aerigo blinked, took a shaky breath, then slowly exhaled.

  “What’s wrong? You were about to say something and then you just… froze.”

  He gazed into Roxie’s face, this time seeing her. “It’s nothing.” He dropped his hand from her shoulders. “Let’s catch up with Yayu.” He started walking.

  “That was definitely not ‘nothing,’” she said as she fell in stride alongside him. “You looked like you were in another world. What happened?”

  They jogged out to an open section of the community, part of a giant circle outlining the middle of Ormolu.

  “I had a—” Aerigo searched for the right word “—vision... of some sort. I saw a phoenix and a flaming tree, but I don’t know what it means.”

  “A phoenix often represents death and rebirth,” Roxie said, thinking of dream symbol interpretations, “along with transformation, but not necessarily on a literal level. To me, it symbolizes change.”

  “Makes sense,” Aerigo said.

  “A tree can be life, roots, heritage, steadiness, or even being stuck in place—any or all of those things. Fire brings both life and death. It consumes and offers warmth. Combine the two symbols and your gut will tell you what makes the most sense.”

  “How do you know all this?”

  “Carl Jung and my high school psychology class. I bought a dream dictionary and read it for fun.” Roxie didn’t remember her dreams often, but she found it fascinating that some people would pour so much meaning into something that others insisted was just a bunch of nonsense. “Now, do you promise not to let anything happen to you?”

  Aerigo studied her. “You have the same eyes as the phoenix.”

  “Okay,” Roxie said, her stomach twisting with a wave of fear. “I’m officially freaked out now.” What the heck do you say to something like that?

  “I had the vision once before I met you. It could just be coincidence.”

  My shapely ass! The phoenix had to do something about her transformation process into a proper Aigis. She just knew it beyond logic’s ability to either prove or disprove it. Since Aerigo just had the vision again, her transformation process clearly wasn’t done. But what about the flaming tree? Bad fire. Whatever it was, it didn’t bode well. “I say we worry about it later. We’ve got a race to run.” Bad, bad fire...

  “Sounds fair.” They jogged a little faster.

  “So do you promise or what?” Roxie asked, determined to make at least one thing certain.

  “I promise nothing will happen to me,” he said. “Or you.”

  Roxie stopped walking and put her hands on her hips. “Hug on it,” she commanded in a ton
e so much like her grandmother’s authority. Aerigo stopped and faced her. Roxie wrapped her arms about his neck. He put his arms around her waist. Roxie would have loved to stay in his arms all day, to just enjoy his gentle comforting touch, but she let go. “Thank you.”

  They caught up with Yayu near the starting line, which lay between the village and the Oromo River. The starting area was packed tighter than a pickle jar. What Roxie could see of the dirt race route was lined with colorful pennants atop tall poles. The pennants waved about in the breeze. Once the two Aigis met up with Yayu, a veritable sea of hair blocked the dirt track out. Nearly all the adults were taller than Aerigo, but if most of Sconda’s natives were to stand on their heels, they would be at about eye-level with Roxie. The vast majority had flaming red hair, and while a few had blonde or silver hair, none were brunette or raven-haired. And everyone’s hair looked as if it had never met a pair of scissors. Most let theirs flow freely. Others used ribbons to tie it back, wore braids, hair bands, woven beads or other stylish hairdos.