Read Online Temple of the Traveler: Book 01 - Doors to Eternity by Scott Rhine - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Scott Rhine
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their long absence, something else was growing on this world—us. Few in number at first, their sages projected that, in a few millennia, we might become a threat to their food supply. The People of the Air debated this for centuries, falling into two camps: the pruners and the protectors. The pruners felt that we should be pulled up like weeds in their celestial garden. The protectors wanted to shelter us and give us the chance to become as great as they had, or maybe better. Calligrose was a staunch protector.
“For all their learning and aspiration, they squabbled like spoiled children. Mountains erupted. Plagues broke out among men and in nature. The great Harmony suffered. Then, one of the injured Air folk noticed that humans stored much more ki than we used, like an animal converting excess food to fat. They also noticed that, given a sufficient number of these small creatures, one could feed from the source indirectly as well. This ended their debate. Humans could live, but only as many as they could use to feed upon.”
“They eat us?” asked the boy, a little dismayed.
“Technically, they consume the mana we collect. But the important concept is that the People of the Air took the next step up the food chain to omnivores. Those who could learn the skills became the first gods. The world could only support a small number of them—thirty-nine. The Traveler also had the capability but remained a vegetarian, unwilling to siphon the life force of another thinking being. He was not alone in his morality. But the other new gods fought wars over human cities and territory, learning that more humans meant more food and more power. Those People of the Air who could not take the next step slowly diminished as well. It seems to be the pattern with these things. The gods used their former brothers as fodder in their battles. A few survived, but those hid in the remotest places where humans never go.”
“That’s awful!” exclaimed Brent.
“It gets worse. More advanced in the studies of life force than any of his fellows, Osos took the next step. Osos learned to feed off of the other thirty-eight gods. His power grew enormous, but at what cost? The other gods began to weaken. If matters continued this way, they might one day die. The gods were no longer immortal.
“The clever Calligrose heard their cries for help. He offered to solve their problem—but at a price. He would be granted certain authorities, allowed to help humanity, and permitted to set a certain number of men aside for his own purposes. According to the contracts of gods, the terms were met, and we are his people.”
When the priest had remained silent for a full minute, Brent burst out, “Well, how did he fix it?”
Straight-faced, Jotham replied, “That is another lesson.”
Chapter 8 — Diving Belle
An hour before dawn, the young, female diver named Humi crept from the bedroom of Lord Kragen’s tower and dressed in on stairwell landing so as not to disturb his rest. The diving women lived in a prison-like dormitory by the docks and tended to have little modesty. The guards averted their eyes as she closed her robes and cinched her belt.
As pure-blooded Imperial wizard, he watched her by the light of the Compass Star and sighed, “Stay and have breakfast with me.”
She smiled. “The dock work doesn’t get done without me.”
“I have something I want to share with you.”
She closed her eyes as he ran his lips across her neck. “I’m well-acquainted with what you’d like to share.” Nobody else in the southern kingdoms would have refused him because Lord Kragen had a hand in all water traffic, legal or illegal. “There’ll be time tonight. Right now, I have to check the sesterina wire on all the safety ropes.”
Technically she was a captive, but, in practice, the Lady of the Depths ran his secret project with ruthless efficiency, focusing this entire side of the island to her purpose. Humi held his future in her
“For all their learning and aspiration, they squabbled like spoiled children. Mountains erupted. Plagues broke out among men and in nature. The great Harmony suffered. Then, one of the injured Air folk noticed that humans stored much more ki than we used, like an animal converting excess food to fat. They also noticed that, given a sufficient number of these small creatures, one could feed from the source indirectly as well. This ended their debate. Humans could live, but only as many as they could use to feed upon.”
“They eat us?” asked the boy, a little dismayed.
“Technically, they consume the mana we collect. But the important concept is that the People of the Air took the next step up the food chain to omnivores. Those who could learn the skills became the first gods. The world could only support a small number of them—thirty-nine. The Traveler also had the capability but remained a vegetarian, unwilling to siphon the life force of another thinking being. He was not alone in his morality. But the other new gods fought wars over human cities and territory, learning that more humans meant more food and more power. Those People of the Air who could not take the next step slowly diminished as well. It seems to be the pattern with these things. The gods used their former brothers as fodder in their battles. A few survived, but those hid in the remotest places where humans never go.”
“That’s awful!” exclaimed Brent.
“It gets worse. More advanced in the studies of life force than any of his fellows, Osos took the next step. Osos learned to feed off of the other thirty-eight gods. His power grew enormous, but at what cost? The other gods began to weaken. If matters continued this way, they might one day die. The gods were no longer immortal.
“The clever Calligrose heard their cries for help. He offered to solve their problem—but at a price. He would be granted certain authorities, allowed to help humanity, and permitted to set a certain number of men aside for his own purposes. According to the contracts of gods, the terms were met, and we are his people.”
When the priest had remained silent for a full minute, Brent burst out, “Well, how did he fix it?”
Straight-faced, Jotham replied, “That is another lesson.”
Chapter 8 — Diving Belle
An hour before dawn, the young, female diver named Humi crept from the bedroom of Lord Kragen’s tower and dressed in on stairwell landing so as not to disturb his rest. The diving women lived in a prison-like dormitory by the docks and tended to have little modesty. The guards averted their eyes as she closed her robes and cinched her belt.
As pure-blooded Imperial wizard, he watched her by the light of the Compass Star and sighed, “Stay and have breakfast with me.”
She smiled. “The dock work doesn’t get done without me.”
“I have something I want to share with you.”
She closed her eyes as he ran his lips across her neck. “I’m well-acquainted with what you’d like to share.” Nobody else in the southern kingdoms would have refused him because Lord Kragen had a hand in all water traffic, legal or illegal. “There’ll be time tonight. Right now, I have to check the sesterina wire on all the safety ropes.”
Technically she was a captive, but, in practice, the Lady of the Depths ran his secret project with ruthless efficiency, focusing this entire side of the island to her purpose. Humi held his future in her
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