CITY OF THE GODS: FORGOTTEN Read Online Free PDF Page A

out horses and carts. She noticed that, as he had at the healer’s, D’Molay gave the person in charge the things called coins.  
    “Where do you get the coins?” Aavi asked as they got into the rented cart.
    While looking at her in the way a kind teacher might regard a slow student, he explained. “I do tasks for the gods, usually things like tracking down rare items or taking someone safely to a destination. In exchange, they give me coins that I can use to obtain things like this cart.”
    “I see.   You trade with them,” Aavi replied with some interest. It dawned on her that she would have to get some of these coins if she was going to stay here for any length of time. She and D’Molay would be parting soon, and she needed to know more about this. “Is there a way I can do tasks for coins?”
    D’Molay almost winced at the thought of what others might want the girl to do to earn coins.   He answered her as delicately as he could. “Well, Aavi, there are many ways that someone of your beauty might earn coins, but just promise me you won’t tell anyone you want to for now. It could be very dangerous for you to attempt that . . . in your current state. Trust me on this, Aavi. I shall lend you some of mine. After your memory has returned, you can worry about paying me back. Now - promise you won’t try to earn any coins.”
    Aavi was confused, but D’Molay hadn’t yet given her any advice that wasn’t helpful. There was no reason not to trust in his counsel. “Very well, I promise not to try to earn any coins.” She straightened up as she sat on the cart’s bench, slightly annoyed that she still didn’t really understand why he could earn coins and she could not.
    D’Molay looked satisfied by her reply as he manipulated the reins with one hand and guided the horse cart along the boulevard toward the City gate. With his free hand, he pulled out a small green leather bag about the size of his fist and handed it to Aavi. The bag made a chinking sound as it landed in her hands. “Here. Take these coins with you. You need to understand Aavi, that there are gods and people here that would want to do very strange and sinful things to you that I don’t think you are ready for yet. When you have your identity and your memories back, then you can make a clear decision about the kinds of tasks you want to do for coins.”
    She could feel the great concern in his voice. He was truly worried for her.   For a moment, the darkness in his heart seemed to soften and grow fuzzy. “I promise, D’Molay, and thank you for the coins. I’ll return them to you one way or the other,” she replied as she held the leather bag and looked at it. Possessing it made her feel safe and confident.
    “Good . . . good,”   D’Molay said with relief, more to himself than to her as they rolled under the City gate and drove toward the vast parklands beyond. They passed those who wanted to enter the City, massed in a long line. Guardians with golden spears stood on either side of the gate to make sure each entrant was properly examined. They paid little attention to anyone leaving the City. Aavi stared at several beautiful crystal pillars that the people were waiting near as she and D’Molay passed by them.
    As the horse clip-clopped along in the midday sun, they moved in and out of the long shadows cast by the trees that lined the path. Aavi suddenly remembered another question she wanted to ask D’Molay. “I heard the healer call you a Freeman. What does that mean?”
    He answered without looking back at her, matter-of-factly. “Almost everyone in the realms is bound to a particular god or pantheon. Some are slaves, some are priests, some are mythical beings and demigods, but almost all of them belong to or are protected by a higher level god. A few people are not bound to any god at all for one reason or another. I am one of them. They call a person like me a Freeman.”
    Aavi smiled.   The answer helped explain a little