Read Online Aegis of The Gods: Book 02 - Ashes and Blood by Terry C. Simpson - Free Book Online Page A

not always what it seems.”
    “Good,” disembodied said. “A Raijin must see what others cannot.”
    “Do you understand why we do what we do? Why the values of Streamean worship is so important?” All the voices rang out in a chorus.
    Irmina almost smiled. “Unity.”
    “Why?”
    “It’s the basis of the greatest strength. The togetherness of the gods, the religions, and man are the way for survival and prosperity, so is the unity of mind, body, and Mater.”
    The room became quiet. Slowly, the silence grew to something palpable in Irmina’s chest. Then the voices began to whisper. Unrecognizable, the conversation flitted back and forth.
    “There’s another issue before us,” the Exalted said in concert.
    Irmina waited patiently.
    “High Ashishin are taught to plot against each other. This is one of the ways to see who is worthy of becoming Exalted. But none has been so bold as your High Shin Jerem.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “He plots against the Exalted themselves.”
    “I know nothing of his plans.”
    “What would you do if you were in our position?”
    “Dispose of the threat.” She pictured eyebrows rising at her suggestion.
    “What of the belief we teach in avoiding violence? The harmonies between man and his world?”
    “Such a balance will take care of itself.”
    “Good. A Raijin must know when to look past any supposed rules to strive for the greater good.” Again this came from all the Exalted.
    Another lull followed in the questioning as they resumed the quiet conversation between themselves. Strain as she might, Irmina failed to make out any words or individuals. The whispers reminded her of those at the edge of her mind when her emotions rose to a boil and she attempted to touch her Matersense. But those voices goaded, begged for her to kill in order kill to appease them. The Exalted’s whispers lacked a comparable malevolence.
    “Irmina Nagel, your people in Eldanhill joined in the recent uprisings against the Tribunal. They have not gone as far as some of the others in Granadia, rebuking Streamean worship altogether, but their rebellion must be dealt with. An example must be made of their leaders.”
    Irmina’s lips quirked, but she held in her smile. “As you wish. I am but the bladed extension of your will.”
    “Good. A Raijin’s loyalty is to Ilumni and the Exalted first, the Tribunal second. All else is of no consequence.”
    Profane, placing yourselves on the same level as a god. She almost asked where the people themselves fit in. Instead, she bowed in acquiescence.
    “Raijin Nagel, what did you discover of Ryne Waldron … or Nerian, if you prefer.”
    Irmina held in a gasp at their mention of her title. Not throwing back her head and laughing in exultation was only made possible by the Eye. “Beyond that he may be descended from the Eztezians, and he wields a power unknown to all, not much. He now has some strange link between himself and someone I once knew in Eldanhill. When it happened, I felt it. It was as if the entire world and all its Mater were interconnected through them. When I left him, he was headed to Eldanhill. His bodyguard turned out to be a netherling. He—” She cut off as the voices rose so loud she could barely think. They rasped, tinkled, thundered, dripped and everything else in between.
    “Raijin Irmina. You have your first task. Kill Ryne Thanairen Waldron, whoever he has linked with, and the Eldanhill Council.”

C hapter 7
    B y the time they reached Eldanhill’s walls, several guards had already come to escort them. The soldiers cupped their hands over their mouths and noses and glanced back at the giant who now lay on a two-wheeled dray drawn by two horses. The flatbed cart trundled through the ankle high slush covering the Eldan Road’s cobbles. Boots squishing in the muddy snow, Ancel strode next to the stranger, pointedly ignoring the curious looks from townsfolk. Several dogs chased the dray for a moment, barking at the