Read Online Fragments of your Soul (The Mirror Worlds Book 1) by E. S. Erbsland - Free Book Online
Authors: E. S. Erbsland
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wish I could buy you decent shoes, but unfortunately that’s very expensive. Money is tight, now that you’re staying with us.”
“Oh,” said Arvid, affected. “I’m sorry, I… If I can do something, then…”
“No, no,” Thoke parried hastily. “Don’t be sorry. Asgard will send Falla an indemnity. Falla’s son is a wealthy runesmith from the capital; he also pays for my studies. If he knew that you’re staying with us, he would have helped us, but it takes days for a letter to arrive in the capital.”
Arvid was suddenly pushed aside by a man who made his way to a small group of people. Slightly irritated, she turned around and saw that everyone was staring at an eye-catching poster with a red border. It was obvious that it was not one of the official notice boards, because it was very different in size and appearance.
“That must be extremely fascinating,” Arvid said.
Thoke slightly pulled her to one side, as more people approached. “A poster from the ‘Brotherhood of the Seeing’, as they call themselves,” he said. His face had darkened. “Utter nonsense. The City Guard constantly removes the posters, but new ones keep appearing.”
“What are they writing?” asked Arvid. The bystanders’ faces looked worried, almost fearful. Some talked in an excited tone.
“Oh, all kinds of things,” he sighed. “They are trying to scare people. Almost everything Asgard announces in the official notice boards is almost immediately followed by a negative interpretation of the brotherhood—supposedly with additional information Asgard keeps a secret from people.”
“And is it true?”
Thoke chuckled. “Hardly,” he said. “They spread lies in order to put the gods in a bad light. A few weeks ago a small village was attacked by demons. The brotherhood promptly stated that it was the fault of some gods who had carried out some experiments nearby.” Thoke rolled his eyes. “Nothing but lies; besides, it’s outrageous. Just how can people be so ungrateful?”
Arvid did not say anything. She had learned that Thoke and Falla’s reactions could be boisterous whenever someone dared say something negative about the gods. Nevertheless, Arvid could not resist a touch of malicious joy at the thought that these stories probably clouded the noble and infallible image of the gods a lot of people seemed to have. She hadn’t overcome her grudge against Asgard, which was not able to bring her back into the Light World. The “Brotherhood of the Seeing” claimed the gods had experimented with ominous spells. Arvid wasn’t so sure it was all lies. Had it not been something very similar that brought her here?
Later that evening they sat down at a lake surrounded by a wall, located at the southern end of the town. In the tall grass on the shore gleamed occasionally with lightning bugs. Here and there you could see the outlines of greenish fish in the water.
“Why do the demons attack people anyway?” said Arvid. “From what I’ve heard, it doesn’t seem as if they behave like wild animals, just trying to hunt down their prey.”
“No,” Thoke said, “they are not just trying to find prey. Some say that they’re simply evil. They like to kill, especially people. Just like the devil, you know?”
“I don’t believe in the devil,” said Arvid. “Besides… Isn’t the devil someone who works with cunning plans? He leads people into temptation and lures them into their own destruction, without having to get his hands dirty.”
“Maybe,” Thoke conceded. “I don’t know much about the demons. Actually, no one does. Everyone knows, however, that they are attracted by the world transitions.”
“Really?” said Arvid.
“Like moths to a flame. And they make them aggressive. Therefore the City Guard moves out as soon as a transition is spotted.”
“The circle of protection seemed to work quite well.”
“If they are particularly incited or hungry, they still break it,” Thoke said
“Oh,” said Arvid, affected. “I’m sorry, I… If I can do something, then…”
“No, no,” Thoke parried hastily. “Don’t be sorry. Asgard will send Falla an indemnity. Falla’s son is a wealthy runesmith from the capital; he also pays for my studies. If he knew that you’re staying with us, he would have helped us, but it takes days for a letter to arrive in the capital.”
Arvid was suddenly pushed aside by a man who made his way to a small group of people. Slightly irritated, she turned around and saw that everyone was staring at an eye-catching poster with a red border. It was obvious that it was not one of the official notice boards, because it was very different in size and appearance.
“That must be extremely fascinating,” Arvid said.
Thoke slightly pulled her to one side, as more people approached. “A poster from the ‘Brotherhood of the Seeing’, as they call themselves,” he said. His face had darkened. “Utter nonsense. The City Guard constantly removes the posters, but new ones keep appearing.”
“What are they writing?” asked Arvid. The bystanders’ faces looked worried, almost fearful. Some talked in an excited tone.
“Oh, all kinds of things,” he sighed. “They are trying to scare people. Almost everything Asgard announces in the official notice boards is almost immediately followed by a negative interpretation of the brotherhood—supposedly with additional information Asgard keeps a secret from people.”
“And is it true?”
Thoke chuckled. “Hardly,” he said. “They spread lies in order to put the gods in a bad light. A few weeks ago a small village was attacked by demons. The brotherhood promptly stated that it was the fault of some gods who had carried out some experiments nearby.” Thoke rolled his eyes. “Nothing but lies; besides, it’s outrageous. Just how can people be so ungrateful?”
Arvid did not say anything. She had learned that Thoke and Falla’s reactions could be boisterous whenever someone dared say something negative about the gods. Nevertheless, Arvid could not resist a touch of malicious joy at the thought that these stories probably clouded the noble and infallible image of the gods a lot of people seemed to have. She hadn’t overcome her grudge against Asgard, which was not able to bring her back into the Light World. The “Brotherhood of the Seeing” claimed the gods had experimented with ominous spells. Arvid wasn’t so sure it was all lies. Had it not been something very similar that brought her here?
Later that evening they sat down at a lake surrounded by a wall, located at the southern end of the town. In the tall grass on the shore gleamed occasionally with lightning bugs. Here and there you could see the outlines of greenish fish in the water.
“Why do the demons attack people anyway?” said Arvid. “From what I’ve heard, it doesn’t seem as if they behave like wild animals, just trying to hunt down their prey.”
“No,” Thoke said, “they are not just trying to find prey. Some say that they’re simply evil. They like to kill, especially people. Just like the devil, you know?”
“I don’t believe in the devil,” said Arvid. “Besides… Isn’t the devil someone who works with cunning plans? He leads people into temptation and lures them into their own destruction, without having to get his hands dirty.”
“Maybe,” Thoke conceded. “I don’t know much about the demons. Actually, no one does. Everyone knows, however, that they are attracted by the world transitions.”
“Really?” said Arvid.
“Like moths to a flame. And they make them aggressive. Therefore the City Guard moves out as soon as a transition is spotted.”
“The circle of protection seemed to work quite well.”
“If they are particularly incited or hungry, they still break it,” Thoke said
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