God Stones: Books 1 - 3

by Otto Schafer

  Once past the three trees, Jurupa ordered Breanne and Gabi to stop in an area that seemed unremarkable.

  “What now?” Breanne asked.

  “Now you wait,” Jurupa said. She pointed her long fingers at the two girls as she spoke. “Okimue, Esh muezaeak oz ak ff esh!”

  Breanne felt shaking under her feet as all around them dark branches broke through the ground, pushing through the carpet of golden leaves.

  “What’s happening?” Gabi grabbed Breanne’s hand.

  Breanne pulled Gabi close. “What are you doing, Jurupa?” she shouted as the branches stretched up and then twisted ninety degrees toward her chest.

  “Best duck,” Jurupa said evenly.

  Breanne pulled Gabi down to the ground as the branches crossed overhead and twisted tightly together.

  “Your accommodations have expired, Breanne Moore. You will wait here in the same fashion you force pigs to wait for the slaughter.”

  Breanne grabbed the limbs above her head and pulled. When that didn’t work, she stood bent at the waist, placed her back against the ceiling, and pushed with all the leg power she had. Still, the branches refused to yield. Breathless, she collapsed down next to Gabi, landing in leaves still moist from the morning dew.

  Defeated, Breanne glared at Jurupa through the wooden bars.

  Jurupa glared back, turned away from the girls, and rooted to the ground.

  Over the next hour, Breanne and Gabi sat next to each other, arms wrapped around themselves, shoulders touching. It had to be late morning by now. The sun shone above, but they were cast in shade and uncomfortably cool on the damp ground. Around them the forest stood perfectly still. If Breanne hadn’t known better, she’d think this place peaceful. But underneath the quiet, something was happening. Through her contact with Gabi, Breanne heard a conversation taking place. Breanne could recognize the voices of Jurupa, Methuselah, and El Tule. But then came another voice, and it seemed as deep as the sea, deeper even than El Tule’s. They called the tree with the deep voice Gran Abuelo. It soon became clear Gran Abuelo was briefing the others on the first wave of an attack. But what were they attacking?

  Breanne continued to ensure some part of herself was touching Gabi as she fidgeted to keep her leg from going to sleep. She didn’t want to miss anything.

  How many did we lose? Methuselah asked.

  Two thousand one hundred fifty-three in the first strike, Gran Abuelo said.

  And how many nephilbock did we kill? Jurupa asked.

  One hundred thirteen. The flesh beasts are trying to use fire at their rear and both flanks, Gran Abuelo said, but we will breach the flame.

  El Tule’s deep voice followed. Hmm, this still leaves twenty-five thousand two hundred and twelve nephilbock.

  Twenty-five thousand nephilbock! Gabi gasped. Ogliosh’s army was hidden inside the earth – I remember he said they would come through an opening in South America. Breanne… they are here!

  Twenty-five thousand giants? Breanne repeated.

  Gran Abuelo’s next words were grave. Many more of our trees will perish if I continue to order the forest to meet the nephilbock head on.

  Methuselah’s voice creaked. At this rate, we must be prepared to lose half a million trees if we continue to press.

  I could withdraw until my full army of alerce arrive. With their size, we can do real damage with less loss.

  For a moment no one spoke, as if deep in thought.

  Then came a new voice, and Breanne realized the trees hadn’t been thinking – they had been waiting.

  No, Gran Abuelo, a woman said. Continue your forward assault. Every day matters. Every hour. Every moment. We cannot wait. You are underestimating them. Your first strike had the element of surprise. The nephilbock will adjust, and our losses will rise. Expect the death of millions of trees before we wipe this blight from our planet.

  Breanne was certain the commanding voice was the queen’s. She didn’t know how to explain it, but the woman whose words filled her mind felt ancient, as if a god were speaking.

  Millions, my queen?

  Gran Abuelo, you know the importance of your mission. I would trust no one else with the horrible task I have laid upon your canopy. Defeat them if you can, but most importantly delay them. Make their passage difficult. Hold them, even if only for seconds. Our survival depends on you. Our second force will stack across the north side of the humans’ canal at the Isthmus of Darien and build an impenetrable blockade. Buy them time, Abuelo. We will do our best here to end this quickly.

  I pray to Mother Druesha to hear from you soon, my queen, Gran Abuelo said.

  As do I, Gran Abuelo, the queen replied.

  There was another long pause.

  Did you hear that, Gabi?

  Yes. Panama!

  It didn’t surprise her that Gabi knew the Isthmus of Darien. The girl knew her historical geography. They are going to try and block the giants from advancing past the Panama Canal, Breanne said. It made sense – Panama was the narrowest passage between South America and North America, and the easiest to defend.

  Before Gabi could answer, the queen spoke again. Breanne Moore and her little lion, Gabi De Leon – the other sages will arrive very soon.

  Gabi and Breanne shared startled looks. For the first time since – well, Breanne wasn’t sure – Gabi spoke aloud. The words came in a dry whisper. “I didn’t even feel her in my head. Oh my god, Bre, how long has she known we could hear?”

  “I don’t know,” Breanne said, the implications sending her mind into a spin. Had the queen heard everything Gabi said to El Tule? Even worse, had she been listening to their conversation the whole time? Had she been able to hear Breanne and Gabi’s conversations as they tried to puzzle this out? She didn’t think so, not while they had been moving anyway, and El Tule had only rarely stopped to root and never for long.

  The girls sat silently into the afternoon. They didn’t speak to each other with their minds anymore, nor did the other trees seem to speak any further. Occasionally, between shivers, they whispered aloud, until eventually it warmed up enough that they weren’t freezing.

  Finally, at some time approaching evening, the trees on the far side of the clearing parted. “Something is happening, Gabi!” Breanne said.

  Four large oak trees moved into the clearing, stopping next to El Tule. High in the center hung what appeared to be a large cage, reminding Breanne of a birdcage. The vines holding the enclosure glowed green and lengthened as the cage slowly descended, stopping only a couple feet from the forest floor. Breanne and Gabi watched, eyes glued to the strange cage, as a beautiful woman holding a sword appeared just inside, waving a glowing hand. The side of the cage glowed emerald, just like the vines holding it up had, and an opening suddenly appeared.

  Then Breanne’s heart stalled as Garrett emerged from the opening.

  Something pushed him from behind, and he stumbled through the doorway and down onto the forest floor.

  Breanne burst into tears as she watched Lenny, Pete, and David topple out behind him.

  “Stop pushing, lady!” she heard David say.

  But it was when Paul jumped down to the forest floor that she absolutely lost it. “Paul! Oh god, Paul!”

  “Breanne!” Garrett shouted, breaking into a run.

  “Garrett!” Breanne called, choking back sobs.

  Jurupa uprooted from the ground and stepped over to intercept Garrett. Behind them, the other woman with the sword jumped down from the cage door. Before this new woman’s feet landed on the forest floor, she had transformed into a wolf.

  Breanne’s eyes widened.

  The wolf streaked across the clearing, overtaking Garrett and the others. When it reached Jurupa, the wolf transformed back into a woman. She was much shorter than the seven-foot-tall Jurupa. This woman was fair-skinned with red hair that hung in loose locks from beneath her hood and, rather than a bow, she held a sword.

  The boys slid to a stop.

  “Bre! Are you okay?” Ga
rrett shouted, straining to see her past Jurupa and the other woman. “Let me past, Governess!” He pointed. “Let me see her!”

  “Stand down, Garrett Turek,” Governess said.

  So that’s your Garrett! Gabi said. He’s cute, Bre! But he, um… doesn’t look like he’s going to stand down.

  “Garrett, don’t!” Breanne shouted.

  But it was too late. Garrett rushed Governess. And the other boys followed. Several licks and punches later, all five boys were lying in the leaves, moaning.

  “Foolish humans,” Jurupa said, grabbing Pete and Lenny by the ankles while Governess grabbed David and Paul, dragging them near the edge of the clearing.

  Jurupa raised her hand. “Okimue, Esh muezaeak oz ak ff esh!” The same style of wooden cage that ensnared Breanne and Gabi now ensnared Pete and Lenny. Governess uttered the same ancient words – “Okimue, Esh muezaeak oz ak ff esh!” – and a cage sprouted up from the forest floor to enclose Paul and David next.

  Only Garrett remained free, but his freedom wasn’t to last. Roots thick as ropes burst from the earth and wrapped his ankles as a single white trunk pushed up from the ground behind him. When it reached a dozen feet or so, it stopped rising, but it didn’t stop growing and soon branches formed as green buds sprouted and grew into leaves that transformed to gold. It was like watching spring pass to fall in a handful of breaths.

  Two branches bent down low and snatched Garrett by the wrist, then sprang up, lifting him from the ground as the roots binding his ankles pulled his legs wide. Garrett cried out as his legs and arms were pulled in opposite directions until he rose several feet off the ground to hang there, suspended.

  Bre, that wasn’t Jurupa or Governess, Gabi said.

  How can you be sure? Bre asked.

  Because they didn’t say any of the strange words. They didn’t say anything.

  Then that must mean…

  It’s the queen! She’s coming!

  36

  The Devil’s Garden

  Friday, April 29 – God Stones Day 23

  State of Amazonas, Brazil

  Cerberus banked hard to the right and dropped low over the Amazonian jungle. How could dragons think they weren’t meant to be ridden? Jack gripped the perfectly positioned joystick-sized horns at the base of Cerb’s neck and pulled himself in close. He had no problem holding on through most of the giant dragon’s maneuvers but had to teach the beast that barrel rolls were not okay! Only barrel roll when you’re flying by yourself, you big bastard! What are you trying to do, kill me? Jack also figured out quick that he didn’t need to talk out loud for Cerb to hear him. He could just think the name Cerb and the dragon thought back.

  That’s what Jack had taken to calling him – Cerb – and the dragon seemed to like it. Cerb was growing fast too, way faster than a dragon should. It was just seven days since he had hatched and already Cerb was bigger than any of the elder dragons, including the big blue one Jack had learned was called Mivras. Jack had also learned that despite his blood oath, all the elders seemed to hate him.

  Up ahead, smoke billowed from the forest. They were getting far from the Band of Holes and should probably turn back, but the smoke had him curious. Let’s see what’s up with that fire, Cerb. Then we can head back so we don’t piss off Apep.

  Cerb beat his great wings in long sweeping arcs and headed for the distant fire.

  That was the other thing – Apep. The strange creature had already taught Jack a lot, but mostly about history, Karelia, dragons, dökkálfar, and nephilbock. He told him about the strange crown and how he had united the God Stones into the Sound Eye despite that little prick Garrett and the others trying to take it away from him. Now Jack understood where his power came from, but Apep still hadn’t taught him how to control it. When Jack asked, Apep would say something like, All in due time, or One must learn to walk before he can hope to run, or some other uppity shit like that. Apep had a habit of speaking all high and mighty, and Jack didn’t care for it, but he tolerated it.

  The old wizard told him he had to watch first, plus he had to learn a bunch of history. Jack hated history class, but then he’d found little use for school in general. Far as he was concerned, all the teachers he ever had could go straight to hell. Buncha know-it-alls anyhow. Learning from Apep wasn’t that bad, though. At least the stories were good. Jack had thought his own father was awful, but it turned out Apep’s father was way worse. He had disowned him, and then his own brother tried to kill him. Jack’s family might have sucked, but at least he’d had Danny. He shook his head, not wanting to think about it, about what Garrett had done.

  It hadn’t taken Jack long to see Apep had given a lot of thought to this entire plan. The old wizard wanted to give his father some payback for what he’d done, and then he would take back what his father had taken from him. Jack couldn’t blame him for wanting revenge, and that’s why Apep needed this army.

  But the guy was messed up, likely seriously messed up. Jack didn’t need to understand all about magic to know the amount of Sentheye Apep was channeling out through his own body was taking its toll. The elf’s eyes were black, like he’d been punched in both of ’em. His fingertips were black too, all the way down to his first knuckle, like they had been burnt. Plus, Apep never slept, not that Jack saw anyway. He didn’t think the guy was eating much either. He guessed he didn’t want to take the time. Or, hell, maybe elves didn’t need to eat or sleep much? But judging from his appearance, it was more likely that getting this army together and going home had become his obsession.

  The truth of it was, Jack didn’t care, so long as the guy stayed alive long enough to teach him some stuff and to get this portal to the other world open. That portal was the key, but not for any of the reasons held by dragons, giants, or Apep. The portal was important because it was the answer to Garrett’s end. Jack had no idea where Garrett was, but he knew where he would be. Jack smiled to himself. His mission now was clearer than ever. Do whatever it took to ensure he was with Apep and his army when the portal opened. That’s our ticket to killing Garrett, Danny! That’s our ticket!

  As they closed in on the fires burning in the jungle, Jack noticed this was not your run-of-the-mill forest fire. Holy shit, Cerb! Look! Below them, thousands of trees pushed forward in a giant mass toward the flames. Jack strained his eyes to see ahead, to see why the hell trees were surging toward the fire. As they got closer, Jack realized the fire was burning in the shape of a stretched-out horseshoe, and in the center of the horseshoe he saw an army.

  Thousands upon thousands of people pressed forward in the shape of a giant arrowhead. As Cerb flew even closer, Jack could see it was the army lighting the forest on fire. They lit it from the sides and the back as they advanced forward, fighting the incoming wave of trees! Once he and Cerb pierced through the veil of hazy smoke, Jack got his first proper look at the army within the flames. They looked like barbarians or something from some other time or world. They all wore black armor, they had giant shields, swords, spears, and even war hammers with giant heads big as an anvil. Giant weapons because giants were swinging ’em! This was the other part of Apep’s army, the nephilbock he had learned about! Half human, half giant monsters from thousands of years ago. Holy crap, if these things were this big, he could only imagine how big a full-blooded nephilbock must be. He’d wondered how that worked. Creatures that big mating with humans? He still didn’t understand it really, but Apep said it was like with the dragons, only it was the nephilbock themselves that were able to use the old language of the gods and the Sentheye to make women pregnant. However they did it, these things looked incredible.

  The trees are attacking them! he said, as much to himself as to Cerb.

  Should we help them? Cerb asked.

  Jack wasn’t sure how to help them. If Cerb started breathing fire into the trees attacking from the front, the horseshoe of fire would become a circle and close the nephilbock in. They could probably use help with the fires on the sides and back, but one drago
n wasn’t enough. The wave of trees moving toward them was an ocean. Did the giants really think they could bushwhack their way through the Amazonian jungle and all the way to Mexico? They needed help alright, but the help the giants needed was more than Jack and Cerb could give.

  No, fly us straight back home, Cerb. Fly faster than you ever have!

  Cerb banked back to the west and pumped his mighty wings.

  They descended onto a mountain ridge in the Pisco Valley. Cerb laid his great belly down onto the rocky soil, getting Jack close enough to the ground to slide off, down his smooth scales, and onto his feet. Go report what we’ve seen to Azazel. I’ll tell Apep.

  Cerb walked over the ridge toward the queen’s nest.

  Apep was where he always was, casting Sentheye into dragon eggs. “Jack, your beast is getting bigger by the day. If we didn’t have to kill one elder dragon for you to create one, I would have you growing me these magnificent monsters all day. But alas, a zero-sum game isn’t all that beneficial, is it?”

  Jack stared at him. What the hell was he talking about and why couldn’t he just speak plain?

  Apep glanced over and frowned. “No, I suppose not. Did you enjoy your bonding time with Cerberus? Perhaps we should spend some time on your grammar today. Maybe it will pull you from this deer-in-headlights visage you seem so comfortable with.”

  The hell is wrong with this dick? “Apep, me and Cerb were—”

  “Cerb and I,” Apep corrected.

  “No, not you and Cerb, I’m talking about me and Cerb – anyway, we were flying way east of here, I don’t know, a hundred miles or maybe five hundred, anyway.”

  “Jack, I don’t want you going that far. We’ve much work to do here and you should stay close.”

  “Okay, but—”

  “No buts, Jack. Do not disobey me. If you want to learn to be a powerful mage, you will obey,” Apep said, his attention back on the ridge as he began to chant. The dark elf closed his eyes as the ground shook.