Harvest of Dreams (The Gods' Dream Trilogy)

by Debra Holland

  The man tripped over the dog and fell forward, making it easy for Sadie to swing the flat of her sword against of the back of his neck. He collapsed and stayed down, his sword clattering out of his hand.

  She hadn’t expected the sensory overload—being surrounded by the press of bodies or the noise that roared in her ears from the shouts of the warriors, the cries of the wounded, the clang of swords. This close, she couldn’t escape the coppery scent of blood or the stench of perforated bowels.

  Horror threatened to overcome her, and Sadie fought her own desperation, gritted her teeth, and kept fighting. The jewels on Ganawen flashed and sang, increasing in strength and aiding Sadie in necessary detachment.

  Thaddis cut down an enemy that jabbed at her side.

  The dead weight brushed against Sadie body. Shaken, she realized she hadn’t seen that attack coming.

  Thaddis shouted an order, and the arrow formation straightened out and began to move down the road.

  As the men in the front cut their way through the enemy, everyone picked up speed, until only those in the outer line fought. The fighting triangle winnowed their way through the enemy lines and out into the open street, leaving the battle behind.

  Once beyond the fighting, half the cadre of soldiers dropped back to cover the group’s rear. The other half jogged down the street in front of them, alert, weapons ready.

  The silence of this part of the city contrasted to the din of the battle. The noise of the fighting grew fainter, until Sadie could only hear the pounding of boot heels and her own harsh breathing.

  They came to an open area—a deserted marketplace by the look of the abandoned stalls, still holding the wares the shopkeepers had left behind.

  In the lead, Philan stopped and raised his hand for everyone to a halt. Although they took advantage of the brief rest, they kept vigilant with weapons at-the-ready.

  Sadie was grateful to catch her breath, and even more grateful that all her training had enabled her to keep pace with the pack. Her neck and shoulders felt knotted and sore. She rubbed her neck and the back of her head under her matted braid. Her hair was damp at the roots from sweat and stiff with sea salt.

  Cheta sat, her tongue out.

  Sadie switched her sword to her left hand so she could stretch out the kinks in her hand and wrist. Then she straightened and bent her elbow and rolled her shoulder.

  Over the sound of her companions’ heavy breathing, Sadie heard rapid hoofbeats entering the market area from a side street. Her heartbeat kicked up. She switched her sword back to her right hand.

  A building blocked their view of the approaching horsemen. They just had time to orient themselves to face this new challenge when riders, blades high, swept around the corner of the temple.

  Her stomach clenched. They outnumber us.

  As the riders cantered closer, Sadie froze. She had a sudden realization that she had no training against mounted warriors, and furthermore, she couldn’t possibly bring herself to hurt a horse. Her mind skipped like popcorn, making frantic leaps as she shifted through potential moves that would take down a rider without injuring his mount. Or her mount, she added, noticing one of the two blond leaders was female.

  Those two didn’t look anything like the rest of Penutar’s defenders, and she briefly wondered if the woman could be Pasinae. But Sadie’s gaze settled on the familiar uniforms of Seagem’s green, stained from battle. A wave of relief washed over her.

  No one lowered swords, though, and she kept hers up, too.

  Philan flung his arm up, waving his sword in the air. “Daria,” he shouted, waving his weapon.

  The blonde woman gave him a sharp look, and her face lit up. Letting out a happy shriek, she thrust her sword into the scabbard and slid off her mount. She tossed the reins of her horse to the dark-haired man next to her, who had the same coloring as Ontarem’s soldiers. Only he too wore Seagem’s green uniform.

  Philan and Daria met in a mighty hug. He lifted her off her feet and swung her around, then set her down and kissed her on both cheeks.

  Is that really Seagem’s princess? Sadie’s mind scrabbled to follow the events.

  The dark-skinned man who’d ridden next to Daria watched her with an indulgent smile, but Sadie’s othersense received the impression from him of coiled strength and protectiveness.

  Sadie glanced at Thaddis.

  A brief expression of longing crossed Thaddis’s face, quickly suppressed by impassivity.

  Still holding onto Philan, Daria turned to the man who looked so much like her and beckoned with a wave. “Brother, come here.”

  Sadie turned to study the leader. She could see the resemblance between the siblings. If that’s Daria with Philan, then he must be Indaran. She recognized him from the othersense dream. Seagem’s bonnie prince…lost all these years. King, she corrected herself. Seagem’s king is no longer lost. The king cut a sharp look at Thaddis, then deliberately turned his head away.

  Sadie understood Indaran’s reaction to Thaddis—indeed, she felt much of the same conflicting feelings. But still, her heart ached for him, and she had to look away from both men.

  The large band looked like a mixture of Seagem’s soldiers and some people she hadn’t seen before. Instead of uniforms, they wore loose-fitting chamois clothing and carried wooden spears, not swords. Something about the way they sat their horses—tall and proud—reminded her of the Bedouin…or the historical pictures of the Sioux Indians of the American plains.

  Sadie became aware of the tension in the air, the way each group eyed the two kings—because Thaddis, no matter his current title, still carried himself like a king.

  Indaran made a circling motion, and his followers urged their horses forward. “Join with Ocean’s Glory…” he told them, then spotted some of the green uniforms in Thaddis’s army and smiled an acknowledgement at his people. “And Seagem in guarding us. A battle rages nearby, and we must quickly settle who is to enter Ontarem’s lair.” He swung down from his horse, his movements strong and flowing.

  A woman rode up to him. She was slight and dark and carried a bundle on her chest. Her silver gray robe was hiked up to expose blue jeans and tennis shoes, and she took in the scene with curiosity in her vivid blue eyes.

  Sadie stared at the woman’s legs. Is she from Earth? She had a sudden intense need to go to her—to share their kinship.

  Indaran reached up and, careful of the bundle she carried, helped the woman slide off his horse and into his arms. His hand protectively in the small of her back, he guided her forward.

  Daria pulled Philan over to Indaran, her eyes dancing with laughter. “You won’t guess who this is,” she said to her brother.

  “Oh, yes, I will,” Indaran retorted, clasping arms with Philan and slapping his shoulder with his free hand. “You look just like your esteemed grandsire, although without the beard. Even as a boy, you showed his promise with the blade.”

  Philan’s jaw tightened in obvious emotion. “And you look just like your esteemed sire, My King…and your brother Cihkel, as well.”

  “So I’m told.” Indaran’s voice sounded thick. He released Philan’s arm and touched Jasmine’s back. “Seagem,” he raised his voice. “Behold your queen. This is Jasmine, from Earth.”

  Sadie started at the confirmation of her thought.

  “Jasmine’s a healer.” Indaran continued. “She’s not a fighter. You must all guard her well.” His gaze swept the circle, touching on everyone, not just the people from Seagem. His gaze lingered on Sadie, dropping to her sword. He nodded in recognition before his gaze moved on to Meleda.

  The dark man dismounted. He wore an archery quiver and a bow draped over his shoulder and a long knife strapped to each of his thighs. He gave the reins of the two horses over to one of his companions. With silent steps, he moved to Daria’s side.

  Daria touched his arm. “My husband Khan, another from Earth.”

  Sadie looked forward to talking to Khan and Jasmine.

  Thaddis strode
forward until he was abreast of Philan. “Enough talking.”

  Sadie wondered if the others could hear the emotion in his voice, or if they thought he just sounded harsh. Perhaps only she could see the energy pulsing between the two former friends—full of love and anger and hurt. And she wondered if they would ever work through their issues with each other. If they’d live to work through them.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  Thaddis studied Indaran, who looked almost the same as on that fateful day when the prince had departed for Louat. Only the expression in his emerald eyes looked old, haunted, and at odds with his young, handsome face. How Thaddis wished he could pull his friend into his arms for a hearty embrace, to ask for his forgiveness.

  For fourteen years, Thaddis had thought of his reunion with his foster brother—from his early determination to rescue his friend, to the last weeks of longing and dread about facing the man whose family he killed and kingdom he destroyed. In his mind, he’d had hundreds of conversations with Indaran, from yelling in anger at his stubborn, foolish decision to sail to Louat, to an on-his-knees-weeping-with-remorse confession of wrongdoing. But Thaddis had never dreamed they’d meet as equals, leaders of two fighting contingents, on the same side—on opposite lines.

  We have decisions to make. A God to take down. “My army engages Ontarem’s forces, keeping them from the temple and giving us time to battle the Evil One.

  Indaran glared, his emerald gaze glass-sharp. He drew himself up.

  Thaddis knew what came next—an exchange of words, leading to a fight. After which, in the past, they’d make up and hit their favorite tavern. But Thaddis was no longer eighteen to be so easily manipulated. Anger burned in him—yes, at Pasinae, at Ontarem. He wasn’t a hotheaded youth and wouldn’t let Indaran push him to react—to let Seagem’s king take charge. There was too much at stake…he glanced at Sadie, sword half-raised, body tense, beautiful in her warrior essence.

  Philan elbowed Indaran in the side. “We’ll deal with Thaddis when this is all over. But I have the right to first blood.”

  Daria narrowed her eyes at her friend. “If anyone does, I do.”

  “Enough,” Thaddis said wearily, holding up a hand. “When this is over, you’re all welcome to pieces of me.”

  Sadie made a small sound of protest.

  Indaran set his hand to his sword hilt. “Do you have a plan?”

  Of sorts. Thaddis gave a sharp nod. “Pasinae’s in there. She’s Ontarem’s priestess and has been instrumental in aiding Ontarem. She is mine.”

  “Then, Ontarem is mine,” Indaran growled. “I’ll keep the God engaged so He doesn’t interfere. I’ve brought special chains to trap the Evil God.”

  They conferred for a few minutes, Indaran giving opinions about Thaddis’s strategic plan, their minds in synchronization, as if no time had passed since they last played at war, though both were fully aware of the terrible consequences should they fail their mission.

  Thaddis nodded final agreement. He sent a soldier to the rear to observe and report back on the last skirmishes of his and Ontarem’s soldiers, and then he reached behind him and pulled the strap of the spear case over his head. He loosened the ties and unrolled the velvet to expose the spear. Leaving the material open, he cupped his hands under the shaft, holding it up for Indaran’s inspection.

  Indaran’s breath hissed. “I recognize the runes on that spear. I killed Ontarem’s priest for it.”

  Jasmine crowded closer. “Don’t touch the metal,” she warned.

  “Milady,” Thaddis said to Jasmine. “I thank you for your concern. The Goddess Withea charges me with this weapon, and—” he tilted his head in Sadie’s direction “—Sadie from your Earth bears the accompanying helmet. Withea has decreed that I alone can hold them.”

  Jasmine threw a welcoming smile at Sadie. Then her brows pinched. She reached up and placed a hand on Thaddis’s forehead.

  He felt energy—warm and gentle—trickle from her palm into his mind.

  She took her hand away, gave him a sweet smile, and stepped back. “He speaks the truth. He is free of the taint of Ontarem. No tentacles or other bindings. I feel his connection with Withea and Yadarius. Also...” She wrinkled her brow. “Another?”

  Liking the kind spirit he sensed in her, Thaddis smiled. “The Goddess Guinheld.”

  “Ah. I’ve never connected with Her before.”

  Evidently satisfied with his wife’s test, Indaran jerked a thumb toward his horse. “I’ll get the chains to bind Ontarem, courtesy of His Twin Arvintor.”

  “We’ve both come prepared with gifts from the Gods.” Thaddis rolled up the spear, and looped the straps over his shoulder. Greatly daring, he held out his free hand in a sign of friendship and agreement. “I think we’re ready.”

  A long moment passed between them, each man’s eyes narrowing and assessing.

  Thaddis held his breath, hoping.

  As if making a sudden decision, Indaran reached out and clasped Thaddis’s arm. “We’re ready.”

  ~ ~ ~

  At the sight of the two estranged men making peace, emotion welled up in Sadie, and she pressed a hand to her chest. She glanced over at Jasmine and saw the Earth-woman’s hands folded together in front of her, blue eyes shining with tears.

  Thaddis and Indaran broke apart, each taking several steps back as if to distance themselves from their emotion.

  Thaddis, his face more relaxed than she’d ever seen outside an othersense dream, strode over to her. Ignoring the distance she’d intentionally created between them. He gathered her into an embrace.

  Deeply moved by what had just happened, Sadie allowed herself to be enveloped in his arms, wishing Thaddis could be the man she wanted him to be—not a killer, a peace maker. But she didn’t dare let herself hope. After a few precious moments, she wiggled away.

  Emerging from a similar hug with Jasmine, Indaran ordered his mounted force to take up a rearguard position just beyond the market place, blocking the street in case Ontarem’s soldiers retreated to defend the Evil God.

  The rest of the fighters headed toward the temple and entered the plain stone courtyard of the temple without sighting any of the enemy.

  At her first glimpse of Ontarem’s stronghold, Sadie shivered. The square structure seemed like an industrial building made of what looked like dark gray cement blocks. It towered over the city, although the height couldn’t have been more than a few stories. But the energy currents emanating from the place—so dark and evil—jangled her othersense.

  Thaddis signaled for the rest of his soldiers to take up a defensive position around the perimeter of the courtyard.

  Jasmine reached into the bag in front of her and pulled out a ball of lime green fur.

  At first, Sadie thought the queen carried a stuffed animal, but the creature moved his head and stared at her with intelligent eyes.

  Jasmine set the animal on the ground. “Stay out from underfoot.”

  Cheta trotted over to sniff the little one.

  Sadie was drawn to both woman and her pet. “What’s that?” she said in English. “It’s so cute.”

  “You’re American,” the woman smiled, speaking English with an Arabic-British accent. “My monga, Shareef,” He’s very intelligent. Almost psychic.”

  “So is Cheta.” Sadie waved to the dog.

  “Shareef saved me from the Trine Priest.” Jasmine glanced at the temple and shivered. “Why are you doing this?” Sadie demanded. “If you’re scared, can’t fight…”

  “I’m not meant to fight,” Jasmine said with assurance. “But I am meant to be here, that fact I know from my othersense.”

  Sadie wasn’t about to argue with othersense. She suspected Indaran had already tried and failed.

  Two shadows dropped from the sky and swooped close.

  Only Jasmine’s calmness kept Sadie from shrieking.

  The flying creatures slowed their descent and hovered in front of Khan and Daria. Both of them held up a arm, and the animals landed.r />
  Jasmine caught Sadie’s stare of astonishment. “Two-tailed monkey-bats. They’re also psychic.”

  “So many special animals.” Sadie shook her head in amazement. “Guinheld wanted Cheta to come along. She’s already been useful.”

  The men moved closer to the stairs of the temple.

  Jasmine reached out, caught Sadie’s hand, and squeezed. “May the Gods and Goddesses keep you safe, Sadie.”

  “You too, Jasmine. Safe and free.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Still conflicted about Thaddis, Indaran looped Arvintor’s chains around his neck, and gave his beloved one more look.

  Both men moved as one toward the doors.

  Philan came from behind and reached between them. He grabbed their shoulders and pulled them back, rolling his eyes. “You’re the kings,” he said in a sardonic tone, exchanging exasperated glances with Boerk. “Allow us to go through first.”

  Thaddis gestured toward the door. “Boerk, go left. Philan, right. Take out the defenders so Indaran can go straight to Pasinae and Ontarem.

  Indaran cast a resigned glance back at his wife, who’d joined Sadie in the line about to rush in. Yadarius keep her safe.

  ~ ~ ~

  Jasmine’s monga turned to scamper up the steps. With a clench of her stomach, Sadie saw Cheta trot after her new friend. As soon as Philan eased open the door, his back pressed against the wood to peer around it, the animals slipped through.

  Sadie bit her lip against the urge to call Cheta back. The dog had proven her intelligence, and she was just as much a part of this venture as Sadie was. Both monkey-bats launched themselves off Khan and Daria and flew through the entrance after the animals.

  Sadie inhaled, centered herself, trying to imagine this was only a competition. But her heart pounded and her hand shook.

  Philan and Boerk threw the doors wide open and rushed inside. From the shouts and metallic clangs that ensued, they’d stepped right into a battle.

  Thaddis and Indaran entered next, followed by Daria, sword out, and Khan, holding his bow ready, arrow nocked.

  Then, it was her turn. Stomach in a knot, sword in her hand, Sadie headed into the lion’s den, Jasmine on her heels.