The Black Gods War

and all that would come to be.
    “Stand and read.”
    The Book of Time rested on Oderigo’s enormous hands, its pages edged with gold. Caio bowed his head, held out two fingers on each hand to thank his lord, and opened The Book. He read accounts of Lucia’s long suffering, of the fervent interest The Black One held for her since the death of their mother. Caio grimaced as he read on under the radiant light of the moon, all the way through to a prophecy of the present day:
    And so a choice lay before the daughter and son of King Vieri. Lord Danato’s terrible vision was certain: the war with Pawelon would not end for another ten years. That is, unless the pair journeyed to Lord Danato’s fabled underworld, that harrowed place which confronts men with their shadows and promises tragedy in compensation for His mercy.
    Caio closed the book, looked down, and shut his eyes.
    The wind howled a deep, echoing tone.
    He looked up and found Oderigo gone. Lord Danato towered over Caio, his black skin reflecting the bright moonlight.
    Caio fell to his knees and spread his arms forward in prostration to The Black One.
    Lord Danato picked up Caio with both hands, his pointed nails cutting into the Haizzem’s chest.
    He wrapped his pitch-black fingers around Caio’s neck and squeezed so tightly Caio’s choking failed to produce a sound.
    Caio’s eyes trembled with sorrow as they closed. Danato released his corpse onto the stony altar.

    ~~~~~

    Peace to you … Caio prayed for Lucia and looked down on her distressed, sleeping face.
    Lucia woke with a gasp.
    Caio sat in a chair beside her bed, his heart overflowing with love for her. He had lit the candles on her dresser after he entered her yurt. Shadows danced around the room.
    I was so afraid I’d never see you again , he thought.
    “Caio!” She left her mouth open and blinked repeatedly, as if she thought her eyes were deceiving her. Only her face peeked out from beneath the cream wool blanket.
    “I had to see you as soon as I arrived. We were too close to stop again overnight.”
    “Is it really you?”
    He leaned down to hug her through the blanket, and she squeezed his chest so hard he stopped breathing.
    “Are you well?” she asked. Lucia let go and let Caio sit up again.
    “Yes. I am only tired. I haven’t been able to stop thinking of you.”
    She frowned, seeming at a loss for words.
    “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I’ve never been able to know what you are feeling—I don’t know why. I wish you had told me before now.”
    “You didn’t need to know. Did you consult with Lord Oderigo?”
    “Yes. I couldn’t sleep after I got your letter. I went out alone into the desert, and he came to me—”
    “Lord Oderigo did? What did he say?”
    “He showed me The Book of Time. I saw many things. And,” Caio considered his words carefully, “he showed me that Danato’s message is indeed very serious. But there may still be another way.”
    “What did you see? What other option do we have?”
    Caio had already decided not to tell her what he read about visiting Lord Danato’s underworld. Scripture promised that such a journey might cause more problems than it would solve. “It is up to us to find another way.”
    “Caio, I dreamt about all of this. Just now, just before I woke up. I was there. I saw you.” Lucia’s brow tightened with concern. “At first I saw Lord Oderigo with you, but then, after you read from The Book, in my dream Lord Danato himself stood over you.”
    “No, it was only Lord Oderigo.”
    “And I read … did you read what Danato has done to me?”
    Caio hadn’t planned on letting her know. “Yes.” He wondered if in the dream she read the same thing he did about visiting Danato’s underworld, but he wasn’t going to bring it up. They stared at each other in silence. Caio felt too afraid to say any more about what was written in The Book.
    “Ilario is outside. If you want to see him—”
    Her eyes sparkled. “He’s right out there? I just need a little time to get dressed.”
    “Of course. We both want to hear about what you’ve been through.”
    “I’m sure that would do me some good.”
    Caio leaned down and kissed her cheek. She smelled of jasmine and perspiration.
    “I couldn’t have waited another day for you,” she said. “I’ve thought up a plan.”

Chapter Eleven: The Lovers’ Respite

    ILARIO WAS CHATTING with Lucia’s guards, recounting the glorious Dux Spiritus ceremony, when Caio exited