Read Online Book of Remembrance: The Forgotten Gods: Book One by Tania Johansson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tania Johansson
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started with small things,
spreading insidious rumours and lies. If they could get the gods at odds with
each other or even better, at war, it would create an opportunity for them to
gain control. The effect was slow, but
relentless. It spread like a disease.”
“Factions formed and with it,
cracks appeared and grew in society. Eventually open war broke out between the
gods. They destroyed each other and once the damage was done, the people swiftly
turned against the remaining gods that they had seemingly been supporting. Gods
may be powerful, but there is even more power in numbers. Fierce battles were
fought until one day the people woke to find them gone. The gods had abandoned
them. Overnight the face of society changed. People celebrated a great victory.
The celebration however, did not last long. Often reality does not measure up
to the dream and quickly they started to realise what they had lost. Up until
then earth had never known a day of strife. Hard work yes, but not strife.
Famine, war and worst of all, dark beings plagued them. Soon people and fae
alike were begging forgiveness, begging the gods to return. Silence was their only
answer and this is what became known as the Severance.”
She paused, looking at the
statue of the King with a faraway look in her eyes. Finally, I asked. “What do
you mean by dark beings? What are they?”
Her lips pulled tight and a
frown appeared between her brows. “There are many. Beings
that are pure evil. They come from all forms of life. And
death. There are two types; the first are the Dark Children, creations
of Rakadamon, the Master of the Dark. Born from his twisted mind and shaped by
his corrupt hands. The second are the Twisted Ones. Ordinary beings, be they
human, fae or animal that have been taken and warped by him.”
I shivered and put my hand on
the hilt of my sword as if I had to be ready to defend against these creatures.
“Why have I not heard of creatures such as these? It seems that folklore would
be filled with the like.”
She nodded. “They would be if
anyone remembered them. Rakadamon and his followers were defeated in the last
Great Battle. They were banished from this realm.”
She pointed to the massive
statue. “King Vlearian led the defence in this battle and even he has been
wiped from memory. See, often times people would
rather forget. Especially when they feel safe. When
they think the problem has been taken care of. Unfortunately for us, this time,
they were wrong.”
I frowned. “How could they be
wrong? It has been five thousand years and no one knows about these things.
They must be long gone.”
She simply shook her head. “Forgotten, but not gone and they are once
more stirring. We believe the Dark Master must be behind it, but how this is
possible we do not know yet.” She gave
me a measuring look as if she was trying to see right into my soul.
Finally, she sighed. “Much will depend on you Kadin Aken. You must
walk with your eyes open and as the wise one says, be aware that for all you
see, there is much more that you do not.”
Everything around me faded until
finally, darkness surrounded me. I looked around. “Quiniewa? Markai?” Out of the dark Markai came sauntering over
to me. She pressed her massive head
against my chin and I realised that she was much bigger than before. I stared
at her in wonder. Her shoulders came up to my chest. Suddenly she turned and
gave my hand a nip. I started and sat up in my bedroll with Markai sitting next
to me. Dawn was just breaking.
After washing my face, I
stretched and started the Shea-Rin. Once again, my body moved as if I had been
practising it my whole life, but at the end the same exhaustion enveloped me
and I all but collapsed in a heap of shivers.
Finally, I saddled Balder and
dragged myself onto her. I gave her free rein, not caring where I was going.
Markai was trotting next to us and every now and again disappeared into the
surrounding
spreading insidious rumours and lies. If they could get the gods at odds with
each other or even better, at war, it would create an opportunity for them to
gain control. The effect was slow, but
relentless. It spread like a disease.”
“Factions formed and with it,
cracks appeared and grew in society. Eventually open war broke out between the
gods. They destroyed each other and once the damage was done, the people swiftly
turned against the remaining gods that they had seemingly been supporting. Gods
may be powerful, but there is even more power in numbers. Fierce battles were
fought until one day the people woke to find them gone. The gods had abandoned
them. Overnight the face of society changed. People celebrated a great victory.
The celebration however, did not last long. Often reality does not measure up
to the dream and quickly they started to realise what they had lost. Up until
then earth had never known a day of strife. Hard work yes, but not strife.
Famine, war and worst of all, dark beings plagued them. Soon people and fae
alike were begging forgiveness, begging the gods to return. Silence was their only
answer and this is what became known as the Severance.”
She paused, looking at the
statue of the King with a faraway look in her eyes. Finally, I asked. “What do
you mean by dark beings? What are they?”
Her lips pulled tight and a
frown appeared between her brows. “There are many. Beings
that are pure evil. They come from all forms of life. And
death. There are two types; the first are the Dark Children, creations
of Rakadamon, the Master of the Dark. Born from his twisted mind and shaped by
his corrupt hands. The second are the Twisted Ones. Ordinary beings, be they
human, fae or animal that have been taken and warped by him.”
I shivered and put my hand on
the hilt of my sword as if I had to be ready to defend against these creatures.
“Why have I not heard of creatures such as these? It seems that folklore would
be filled with the like.”
She nodded. “They would be if
anyone remembered them. Rakadamon and his followers were defeated in the last
Great Battle. They were banished from this realm.”
She pointed to the massive
statue. “King Vlearian led the defence in this battle and even he has been
wiped from memory. See, often times people would
rather forget. Especially when they feel safe. When
they think the problem has been taken care of. Unfortunately for us, this time,
they were wrong.”
I frowned. “How could they be
wrong? It has been five thousand years and no one knows about these things.
They must be long gone.”
She simply shook her head. “Forgotten, but not gone and they are once
more stirring. We believe the Dark Master must be behind it, but how this is
possible we do not know yet.” She gave
me a measuring look as if she was trying to see right into my soul.
Finally, she sighed. “Much will depend on you Kadin Aken. You must
walk with your eyes open and as the wise one says, be aware that for all you
see, there is much more that you do not.”
Everything around me faded until
finally, darkness surrounded me. I looked around. “Quiniewa? Markai?” Out of the dark Markai came sauntering over
to me. She pressed her massive head
against my chin and I realised that she was much bigger than before. I stared
at her in wonder. Her shoulders came up to my chest. Suddenly she turned and
gave my hand a nip. I started and sat up in my bedroll with Markai sitting next
to me. Dawn was just breaking.
After washing my face, I
stretched and started the Shea-Rin. Once again, my body moved as if I had been
practising it my whole life, but at the end the same exhaustion enveloped me
and I all but collapsed in a heap of shivers.
Finally, I saddled Balder and
dragged myself onto her. I gave her free rein, not caring where I was going.
Markai was trotting next to us and every now and again disappeared into the
surrounding
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