Mighty Hammer Down

by David J Guyton

  Chapter 31

  "I don't understand," Alana stammered. "This is not what people have described."

  Rommus could not take his eyes from the sight. "No, it sure isn't. But this has to be it. That's the temple, isn't it Vohl?"

  "That is indeed the Columns of Inshae, but it's nothing like I remember it. This is most confusing."

  "I don't see any ruins at all," Alana said. "And I thought the bridge had fallen."

  "That is not the bridge I remember either, Alana. The one I remember was the same color as the mountains; not white marble."

  They slowly approached the bridge, skeptical of what their eyes were showing them. When they came to where the marble met the edge of the cliff, Rommus noticed that the marble was seamless, appearing to be carved from one enormous piece of the highly polished stone. It was impossible, and he knew it, but even though his mind told him that it could not be done, his eyes beheld it anyway. The bridge spanned an impossible distance, arching slightly in the center so that the other side could not be seen connecting to the far cliff. Elegant railings lined the sides, and perfectly polished gold accents adorned them. Their swirling scrollwork was more beautiful than anything he had ever seen.

  "If this gold lines the entire bridge, it must be worth more than everything in Medora. How could this bridge have been built? It seems impossible to me that it is able to stand."

  Vohl placed his hand on one of the massive railings. "It is hard to believe it, but it must have been built by the gods. I know it is difficult for you to see the truth in that, but there can be no other explanation. Man could not have done this, and if he could have, would not other men have come to steal the gold?"

  "I have no idea. All I know is I see something that makes no sense. I can see that the veins in the marble are uninterrupted, like it is carved from a single piece of marble. I don't see how that is possible. Marble is terribly heavy, and that bridge would have to weigh more than an entire city."

  Alana elbowed him in the ribs. "Maybe there really are gods over there on that side. Just look at that temple. Do you think man built that?"

  The temple on the other side was so gigantic that it made him dizzy to look at it. "I have no idea. I can't tell from this far away, but it looks like a single column takes up more area than a whole temple does. I thought it was supposed to be carved from the mountains next to it. Why does it look like it's made of marble too?"

  "I don't know Master Rommus. I assure you that this is not the way it looked when I was here last. I don't understand this at all. Should we cross the bridge?"

  Rommus looked at the bright white temple in the distance, the sunlight reflecting off of the polished columns and shining in his eyes. "Yes, I think we should, but hold on a minute." He picked up a few nearby stones and threw them on the bridge.

  "What are you doing?" Alana asked.

  "I don't want this to be some kind of illusion. I don't want to step on this thing and end up falling down to the bottom of this chasm. I assume it's safe. Let's go; but be careful."

  They walked out onto the bridge, but they clung to the rail at one side. Although it was probably a little safer in the center, they preferred to have something to hold on to. When Rommus looked over the edge, he saw clouds moving slowly far beneath him. When the mists finally parted, the sight made him freeze in panic. He saw the tiny glimmers of sunlight reflecting off the deep blue waves of water far beneath him. The water was so far below him that if he fell, he felt like it would take a week to reach it. They were so high above it that he could not hear it rushing beneath them. He fell to his knees.

  "Rommus! What's wrong?" Alana said as she bent down and grabbed his arm to steady him.

  "It's the water. I'm high above water."

  "Yeah it's a little scary but it's ok. Just don't look down."

  He felt the same feeling he felt after he found Mirra and Uritus together. "No, it's more than that. I dreamed this; ever since I was little. I can't cross this bridge."

  "Yes you can Rommus. You just have to stand up and cross it. We'll help you if you have trouble."

  "Yes Master Rommus, the bridge is solid. We are safe. Come, let me help you stand and we will all cross together."

  He could barely feel them pull him to his feet. His mouth was too dry to form any words, so he remained silent. He didn't pull away from them out of fear of accidentally falling over the railing. They both held him from either side, dragging him along and making him walk with them. He closed his eyes to try to rid himself of the disorienting sickness he felt. He tried to imagine himself in a different place, and since he couldn't seem to hear anything, he was able to accomplish it. After what seemed like an eternity, they reached the other side.

  He fell to the solid ground as soon as they let him go. He clawed at the sand and gathered a small pile, putting it in his pocket after he stood up. He knew the other two would think it was strange, but he didn't care. He was so thankful that he was no longer above the water that he almost worshipped the ground he stood on. If he made it back across the bridge, he would find a special place for that sand and cherish it forever as a symbol of his victory. He had overcome a great fear--even if he didn't do it willingly.

  "What was that all about Rommus?" Alana asked with her arms crossed.

  He hesitated a while as he thought of an answer. "I don't really know. I'm not afraid of heights; it's just being above water like that. I don't know what it is but it makes me freeze. I have had nightmares about it since I was a kid. There's no good reason for it."

  "It's all right Master Rommus. We all have our little quirks. Neither of us holds it against you," Vohl said as he put a hand on his shoulder.

  "Thanks. I'm sorry you had to witness that. I didn't know that it would do that to me."

  "It's okay Rommus," Alana said. "How do you feel now?"

  "I'm fine. I don't feel sick anymore. But I do feel strange. That feeling I have been having--the one that feels like someone is watching me?it's much stronger now. For some reason I feel it even more on this side of the bridge, although it's coming from over there on the other side somewhere. I know that doesn't make much sense."

  Alana uncrossed her arms and let them fall to her sides. "No, but not a lot is making sense today, so it fits just perfectly."

  They looked over at Vohl and noticed that he was staring up at the temple. They turned and stared as well, dizzy from the height of the massive structure. There was almost no doubt in any of their minds; no man could have built the temple. It was simply too large to be made by man. Rommus considered the fact that it was entirely possible that the gods did indeed create it.

  He shook his head to clear his thoughts and his vision. "Come on; let's see what's inside this thing."

  Alana quietly counted the 150 steps as they climbed to where the mighty pillars stood. It took a painfully long time to get through the building, and they were already tired from the seemingly endless stairs. The rear was open just like the front, so it was cool and shaded but not dark inside. They looked around but saw nothing but more of the giant columns holding up the stone roof. There was no altar, no treasure, no gods; nothing. While it was a little disappointing, it was beautiful, and the bright white marble temple was a treasure in itself. None of them had ever seen anything like it, and they thought that they probably never would again. The columns really were the size of temples, and the temple itself was nearly the size of the city of Brinn.

  When they reached the rear of the building Rommus was amazed to see a city below them. At first it seemed as if his eyes deceived him; like some hazy summer vision, everything appeared to be green. As his eyes readjusted to the sunlight, he realized that the city really was a dull, muted green color; like copper statues kept outside. Rommus looked and saw countless green statues all over the city, but he was confused about why they were placed in some areas. They didn't seem to be set up in any kind of pattern at all, and some looked totally out of place. All of them were executed very well, but they all wore
robes. It was a little monotonous as far as he was concerned, and a true artist would have attempted to show off his knowledge of the human body instead of covering it up.

  They descended the 150 steps at the rear of the temple and finally reached the city itself. It was Alana who noticed that all the statues were positioned so that they were facing the temple, and it gave them all a very strange feeling. No matter where they stood, the statues seemed to be looking at them. It was also totally silent except for the faint breath of a breeze that moved through the strange city. No birds sang, no animals howled. There was nothing but oppressive silence.

  Rommus felt something strange. As he passed a statue he saw something it its eyes. This was not a statue at all. He realized with a cold shock that they were all people standing quietly, watching them as they passed by. The breeze did not tug at their robes, and they moved only imperceptibly, but he knew they were real and not made of stone or metal.

  "Those are people," he whispered. "Something is wrong though. I don't think they are real."

  Alana suddenly went white with fear. "People?"

  "Yes Alana, Rommus is right. Actually these things are not people, but they used to be. This is Morendiir, the city of the dead. I do not think they could harm us, but we should not bother them. I'm sure our presence alone is unwanted," Vohl said.

  "Oh this is awful," she said, bringing a hand to her mouth. "I don't want to be here. This really scares me."

  "Hey, you dragged me over here," Rommus said. "I'll drag you now if you like."

  "But Rommus, these are dead people around us," she whispered. "I don't like this at all."

  Vohl interrupted as he thought out loud. "One of these buildings has to house the gods. I have never been here before though, so I do not know where it is."

  "It's that one," Rommus said as he pointed, "the one behind that building there."

  "How can you be sure?" Alana asked, hugging herself to try to calm her fears.

  "Because it's made of gold. Everything else here is green."

  As they passed the building blocking their view, the gold temple could be seen shining in the sunlight. It was not much larger than the rest of the buildings in the city, but every inch of it was made of solid gold. It was truly a sight to behold, and their breath caught in their throats when they saw it. They moved toward it and climbed the steps, but they hesitated to enter when they reached the columns because they could not see inside. They could see their reflections in the highly polished gold pillars but there was a strange darkness that filled the spaces between them, as if it was nighttime inside the building. Finally Rommus stepped through, pulling the other two with him.

  What they saw inside was the most incredible thing they had seen yet. The temple was just a single, large room, made entirely of pure white marble. There was light everywhere, its source seeming to come from between the columns all around them. It was as if the sun made the area outside the temple its home. While it was exceedingly bright, the light did not affect their eyes, and they were able to see everything clearly as the strange illumination filled the marvelous room.

  What were more amazing were the seven golden thrones that made a semicircle in the room. But the most astonishing thing of all, what made them all fall to their knees, was the fact that gods sat in the thrones. Everything Rommus had ever known or thought was turned upside-down. His beliefs seemed to wash away in an uncontrollable flood of change. He had doubted everything all the way up until that point, but now that he had seen the gods with his own eyes, there was no longer any doubt. He immediately felt guilty and apologetic.

  A booming voice filled the room, but it did not hurt their ears. "Rise."

  Rommus did as he was commanded after his companions rose beside him. "You're Oderion," he managed to say to the bearded figure in the center of the room.

  "Yes, I am. These are the lesser gods who sit beside me." He held out his hand as he introduced the gods around him. "That is Inshae, god of death. That is Terinopus, god of life. That is Maeris, god of destruction. That is Tachion, god of time. That is Aedensor, god of desire. There is a god missing. Are you familiar with the gods?"

  "Yes Oderion," Rommus answered. "The god of war is not here."

  "Incorrect. The god of war is in this room." Oderion's thundering voice echoed off the marble walls.

  Rommus felt his hair moving slowly in a strange breeze that he could not feel on his skin. He noticed that Oderion's gray beard was affected in the same way, and looked as if it was caught in a slow underwater current. He looked at the other gods and saw the same thing in their hair and their robes. He was thoroughly confused when he noticed that Vohl and Alana were totally unaffected.

  "You mean me. You're telling me that I am Arius?"

  Oderion laughed a slow, hearty laugh. "No my son. I do not even know your name. I know only that you are a Tirinius."

  "Then where is Arius? Where is the god of war?"

  "Arius is dead and in the void for eternity. He has been murdered by humans with Archenarius, which you carry at your hip."

  Rommus put his hand on the hilt which was hidden behind his cape. "This really is the sword of Arius? And he was murdered with it? How is that possible?"

  Terinopus stood up from his golden throne and answered. "It is possible because of the safeguards we have placed between this world and your own. Each god has a bloodline connected to him in the world of the living. The Dirujen is of Inshae's bloodline, as yours is of Arius. If we did not have this connection to your world, we could not exist there. Your sword exists for the same reason, so that it can be used in both worlds; although the one you touch now is different from the one you carry in your world. The one that pierced you is more like the spirit of the sword, and not complete unless you are in this realm."

  "Why would you need a weapon in our world? Can't you just control events without them?"

  Terinopus put his hands behind his back. "We cannot do anything in your world without connections to our power in this one. Aside from being able to use our power, it also allows a god to be eliminated if it is needed. Although no god can harm another god, things can be altered if our artifacts are used properly. The connection we have to your world comes with a great price. In order for us to exist there, we must be made vulnerable by these rules. To enter the mortal realm, we must become partly mortal. That is the reason for the bloodlines. Only the god of death is safe from this mortality, for no man or god can kill a Dirujen."

  Vohl's shoulders slumped and his eyes turned to the floor. "Then it is not possible to ask you to take my life?"

  "I am sorry, but no," Terinopus said with sadness on his face. "There is a way for you to break your curse, but I do not know it."

  Rommus stared into Oderion's immortal eyes. "So were you all humans once? Did you all become gods through using these artifacts somehow?"

  "No," Oderion answered. "We have always existed, even before any existence began. You are the only human to become a god."

  "So you admit it. I am indeed the god of war."

  "You are something of a god, and something of a man. I'm afraid I do not understand the true nature of your existence. You possess the powers of Arius, and yet you are unable to use them. Your soul does not reside in the Land of the Gods that parallels your world, nor does it fully reside in the world of the living. It was sent to the void when the sword was used on you, and so your power is spread through too many realms. Your human side pulls your soul to where it feels at home, and your god side sleeps inside you."

  "You said you didn't even know my name. How can you be sure that I am the person you think I am?"

  "Because we called to you. We called to all of those in your bloodline with the dreams. It is a power that the god of life holds. He summoned you here and you came. There is no doubt; you are the new god of war."

  Alana took a step forward. "And how can he be sure you are Oderion? Wouldn't Oderion know his name?"

  "No, mortal, I would not, just as I do not know your
name. I do not care what your names are or what purpose you think you serve."

  A defiant look came to her face. "My name is Alana Irith. Now you know."

  "Do not show me disrespect again, mortal. Keep your mouth shut."

  Rommus took a step forward. "You seem to care very little about the affairs of humans. Am I misinterpreting?"

  "No, you are correct. I am god of all things. I cannot deal with the petty problems of mortals."

  He took another step towards Oderion. "Then why create us? What purpose do we serve if you do not care for us?"

  Oderion's voice got louder. "I need you, Tirinius, to restore balance in this world. My reasons for what I do in your world are not your concern. I have chosen not to hear the prayers of mankind, but at the same time I have allowed them to do as they please. I do not suffer you to worship me; you should not assume that I am listening."

  Rommus began to get angry. "So when we build temples and do things in your name, to please you, you look away? When my mother died in my father's arms, you didn't listen? When he prayed to you all, hoping she would be spared, you didn't listen?"

  "I told you my reasons are not your concern. Do not tempt my wrath."

  Instantly Rommus had pulled the sword and had the sharp blade at Oderion's throat. He could see the coarse gray hairs of his beard reflecting in the polished gold blade. "I did not ask for this, Oderion. I do not want to be a god, especially if eternal indifference is a requirement. I am nothing like you, nor will I ever be. I am not afraid to go to the void, for my life has already been a void itself. I now fear nothing, but I see fear in your eyes Oderion. You don't know if this sword can harm you. You don't know if I am a god with human traits or a human with the traits of a god. You have no idea if the new god of war is bound by the same laws that bind you. Shall I test my theory, oh great king of indifference?"

  Rommus felt a hot rage boil up inside him and it was almost too much for him to control. He had no idea if Oderion would kill him instantly or if the god was truly afraid. The other gods had all stood, but backed away, either out of fear of what Oderion would do, or fear of what Archenarius would do to a god. Either way Rommus held his ground. He knew that Vohl and Alana were probably terrified as they stood behind him, and he would be surprised if Alana had not fainted. Although he wanted to turn around and check on his friends, he kept his eyes locked on the god in front of him.

  In a blink Oderion had done something. He felt a surge of some kind of power in his chest and suddenly he found himself standing in the Columns of Inshae. His companions were on the floor, but got on their feet as soon as they realized what had happened. He put his sword back in its scabbard and turned to them.

  "Are you both okay?"

  "I'm fine. Alana said as she brushed herself off. "What happened? How did we get back here?"

  "I have no idea. Oderion must have used his power on us. Maybe he tried to kill me and he couldn't. I don't know what happened."

  "I can't believe we spoke with the gods! I can't believe you're a god Rommus. This is all so much to handle. I can't imagine what it's like for you."

  "Nothing has changed Alana. I don't care what they told me in there, I am still Rommus Tirinius. I will not become what they are."

  "Master Rommus, look!" Vohl said as he pointed.

  Rommus could not see what had him so excited, so he went closer to where he stood. He cocked his head at the sight. "What is that?"

  Vohl took a few steps toward the strange undulating light that hovered between two of the gigantic columns. He took a closer look and a smile came to his face. "Wait here," he said and he ran around the massive column to the other side. After a moment he returned, slightly winded. "It is as I imagined. Between the columns are shafts of light with images from other temples. Look through there. You can see Reyth. The light between the next set of columns looks to be some other town in Vindyrion. I think we might be able to step into the light and come out of the temples in those places."

  "That's insane," Alana said. "I'm not walking through that."

  Rommus's cape flapped in the light breeze. "Is it as insane as meeting the gods? Is it as insane as being thrust here instantly by Oderion?"

  "I say we try it," Vohl said. "I'll go first. You heard the gods. I cannot die. If it works, follow me. If it sends me to the void, don't"

  "Vohl wait!" Alana cried, but it was too late.