Page 112 of Wind Rider

“I should have posted a guard outside his nest. I shouldn’t have counted on him keeping his word—those cat men have no honor, no allegiance but to their own,” Thaddeus said.

Ralina pressed her lips together to keep from shouting at Thaddeus,You just described yourself, you disgusting traitor!

Death seemed unconcerned. “Yes, you should have, but I forgive your lack of care—this one time. Now, I have just asked the Storyteller to recite the very beginning of my tale. I am glad you and the other Tribesmen are here. I would like you to hear it as well.”

“You want astoryat a time like this? We should be heading to the northern Cascade Mountains and flushing those Sun-be-damned Lynxes from their cowardly dens!” Thaddeus blurted.

Death was on his feet, with such preternatural quickness that Ralina’s sight blurred. The God backhanded Thaddeus, knocking the little man off his feet and against the balustrade, where He stood over him, teeth bared like an animal’s.

“You do not speak to me thus!”Death roared, causing everyone on the platform, and on the forest floor surrounding it, to cringe back in fear.“I am a GOD, you fool! I only played with the idea of a Lynx guide so that I could see what would happen after I infected him and gave him The Cure. I need no guide but my divinity!”Death stomped one cloven hoof so close to Thaddeus’s head that it caught in the Hunter’s hair. In a lower, but no less frightening voice, the God demanded. “Now beg for my forgiveness.”

Thaddeus tried to get to his knees, but Death kept his hair trapped so that he had no choice but to grovel before Him.

“I beg your forgiveness, my Lord,” Thaddeus said.

“Louder—so those below us can hear.”

“I beg your forgiveness, my Lord!” Thaddeus shouted, his every word filled with raw anger.

Death smiled and moved his massive hoof, freeing Thaddeus. Then He offered the man His hand. Slowly, Thaddeus took it, and the God pulled him to his feet.

“I accept your apology—this one time.” Death’s voice filled the forest. “Cross me again and I will end you.” Still smiling, the God returned to His throne. “Now, have a seat and let us listen to the Storyteller. Then you should get to work. We leave in four days for the Plains of the Wind Riders.” Death’s dark gaze found Ralina. “Now, Storyteller. Speak!”

Ralina stood. She had to hold on to the balustrade to keep from falling, and her head was dizzy with hunger and fear, but she drew a deep breath, then strode, tall and proud, to take center stage in front of the God.

Ralina was not afraid. She trusted her abilities, and she had planned for this moment. She knew what Death wanted—flattery and twisted truth. It sickened her, but Ralina was going to give Him what He wanted. She wished she had her beautiful rabbit cloak, and her shift, which had been lovingly decorated by the women of the Tribe with a rainbow of beads and mirrors and shells. But those things, as well as her Tribe, had been destroyed by fire and disease. So, Ralina used the only thing she had left—her voice. She threw back her hair and began, her voice falling into a melodic rhythm that was almost hypnotic.

“My Lord, I title your tale ‘Death Awakened.’ And it begins…

He came like a spring storm; vanquishing all

Mighty—divine—with power beyond words

The forest answered His immortal call.

Magnificent Death was all that they heard.

The City in the Trees stood ’gainst His will

They battled His People for one day long

But His strength won; enemies He did kill

Reapers, Attendants—sang His victory song.

Death is a stag—magnificent and pure

His mantle like the night; endless and dark

Death is a God—our Leader strong and sure

Antlers are His crown; cloven hooves His mark.

A new era begins with our Death God

World! Watch, listen, wait—prepare to be awed!”

Ralina bowed so low to Him that her hair pooled on the platform around her feet. She stood there, bent and unmoving—waiting—her heart beating like ocean waves crashing against the beach.