Read Online Harvest of Dreams (The Gods' Dream Trilogy) by Debra Holland - Free Book Online
Authors: Debra Holland
Tags: Romance, Love Story
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This far away, Pasinae felt safe in allowing herself to feel the resentment simmering in her chest from the God’s neglect.
She missed their previous connection—the special attention she’d received from Him.
If only Ontarem had remained content with what He’d had—the love and energy from His people. Why did He covet the power of the other Gods and Goddesses? Why set us into this war that’s killing off our people? If only Prince Indaran hadn’t led the expedition from Seagem to Penutar. Everything changed with the arrival of a powerful prince from outside our land. Although Pasinae couldn’t help thinking that Ontarem had plotted Seagem’s destruction ever since Arvintor’s people had escaped His clutches. And yet, without Indaran’s appearance, she probably would have gotten through her lifetime without leaving Ontarem’s side. However, the time in Ocean’s Glory did have its compensations….
Pasinae squared her shoulders. The sooner she changed the crystals and subdued Yadarius, the sooner Ontarem would have more power to wage His war. And once Ontarem reigned supreme, He’d have plenty of power and attention for His Trine Priestess.
~ ~ ~
Wearing a long-sleeved tunic and trews from her Ocean’s Glory days, Pasinae tramped along a narrow path made of lava brick following the broad back of the priest Vaptor. She disliked the bitter scent of the foliage—how the gray jungle growth loomed, reaching out stick-like branches that grabbed at her. A whipbush’s long snakelike leaf snapped at her leg, which she dodged before the poisoned surface stuck to her. The leaf curled back to lay innocently against the trunk of the bush, to await the next unwary victim. She’d already suffered a pinch from a stickerbug and had to summon othersense energy to build a warding shield around her body to keep the insects away.
Pasinae resented having to use her powers against insects when she needed all her strength to hold at bay the turmoil Yadarius caused within her. And the closer she came to where the SeaGod was imprisoned, the stronger grew the dissonance inside her caused by the SeaGod’s struggle to free Himself.
She paused to catch her breath and wiped her arm across her sweaty forehead.
Vaptor turned to her. “Do you need a rest break, Trine Priestess?”
Of course I need a rest break, you fool! With great effort, Pasinae kept the words to herself. She’d be working closely with this man under dangerous conditions and couldn’t afford to alienate him. “How much longer?”
“Ten minutes.”
She gritted her teeth and made a get going-motion. Clutching the pearl hanging around her neck, she breathed in Ontarem’s power.
The God gave her a stingy trickle, barely enough to fuel her for the rest of the trek.
Vaptor turned and began the climb.
Breathing labored, Pasinae trudged after him, calves burning. Far more than ten minutes seemed to pass. Vaptor stopped before a ledge, steps carved like a ladder into the lava rock. He pointed to the top. “The lookout is above the crystal repository.”
Too winded to speak, she nodded her understanding.
“From there, you’ll be able to see how the three rays imprison the captured God.” He motioned for her to go first up the ladder.
She put her hands on the step above her head. Feeling the harshness of the stone under her fingertips, Pasinae grimaced. The climb would abrade her skin. She’d always taken pride in the softness of her hands.
She made a mental note to send a stonecutter to smooth the surface of the steps and began to climb. As expected, the stone cut her fingers, making her wince. But she went on.
When she reached the top, two thin columns of stone stood at either side of the ladder. She grabbed them and pulled herself up and over the edge, onto a rough-cut balcony shaped like a crescent, about twenty feet wide and ten feet across. A long bench was carved into the side of the cliff, curving against the mountain.
Pasinae strode to the
She missed their previous connection—the special attention she’d received from Him.
If only Ontarem had remained content with what He’d had—the love and energy from His people. Why did He covet the power of the other Gods and Goddesses? Why set us into this war that’s killing off our people? If only Prince Indaran hadn’t led the expedition from Seagem to Penutar. Everything changed with the arrival of a powerful prince from outside our land. Although Pasinae couldn’t help thinking that Ontarem had plotted Seagem’s destruction ever since Arvintor’s people had escaped His clutches. And yet, without Indaran’s appearance, she probably would have gotten through her lifetime without leaving Ontarem’s side. However, the time in Ocean’s Glory did have its compensations….
Pasinae squared her shoulders. The sooner she changed the crystals and subdued Yadarius, the sooner Ontarem would have more power to wage His war. And once Ontarem reigned supreme, He’d have plenty of power and attention for His Trine Priestess.
~ ~ ~
Wearing a long-sleeved tunic and trews from her Ocean’s Glory days, Pasinae tramped along a narrow path made of lava brick following the broad back of the priest Vaptor. She disliked the bitter scent of the foliage—how the gray jungle growth loomed, reaching out stick-like branches that grabbed at her. A whipbush’s long snakelike leaf snapped at her leg, which she dodged before the poisoned surface stuck to her. The leaf curled back to lay innocently against the trunk of the bush, to await the next unwary victim. She’d already suffered a pinch from a stickerbug and had to summon othersense energy to build a warding shield around her body to keep the insects away.
Pasinae resented having to use her powers against insects when she needed all her strength to hold at bay the turmoil Yadarius caused within her. And the closer she came to where the SeaGod was imprisoned, the stronger grew the dissonance inside her caused by the SeaGod’s struggle to free Himself.
She paused to catch her breath and wiped her arm across her sweaty forehead.
Vaptor turned to her. “Do you need a rest break, Trine Priestess?”
Of course I need a rest break, you fool! With great effort, Pasinae kept the words to herself. She’d be working closely with this man under dangerous conditions and couldn’t afford to alienate him. “How much longer?”
“Ten minutes.”
She gritted her teeth and made a get going-motion. Clutching the pearl hanging around her neck, she breathed in Ontarem’s power.
The God gave her a stingy trickle, barely enough to fuel her for the rest of the trek.
Vaptor turned and began the climb.
Breathing labored, Pasinae trudged after him, calves burning. Far more than ten minutes seemed to pass. Vaptor stopped before a ledge, steps carved like a ladder into the lava rock. He pointed to the top. “The lookout is above the crystal repository.”
Too winded to speak, she nodded her understanding.
“From there, you’ll be able to see how the three rays imprison the captured God.” He motioned for her to go first up the ladder.
She put her hands on the step above her head. Feeling the harshness of the stone under her fingertips, Pasinae grimaced. The climb would abrade her skin. She’d always taken pride in the softness of her hands.
She made a mental note to send a stonecutter to smooth the surface of the steps and began to climb. As expected, the stone cut her fingers, making her wince. But she went on.
When she reached the top, two thin columns of stone stood at either side of the ladder. She grabbed them and pulled herself up and over the edge, onto a rough-cut balcony shaped like a crescent, about twenty feet wide and ten feet across. A long bench was carved into the side of the cliff, curving against the mountain.
Pasinae strode to the
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