Liar's Island: A Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

lands. Most are very small gods, though, with limited spheres of interest and influence. She Who Guides the Winds and the Waves is more prominent on Jalmeray than in our homelands, as we are an island nation. In fact, your people worship my god under another name—you call her Gozreh, though you revere her male aspect as well. Many in our homeland do the same, but to some of us, combining two perfectly sensible, focused gods into a conglomerate with multiple areas of concern seems needlessly complicated.”
    Theology was a bit beyond Rodrick’s realms of expertise or interest, so he decided to steer the conversation toward more useful areas. “How far away is Jalmeray, anyway?”
    She cocked her head. “The island is some eight hundred miles from Absalom. The journey is closer to nine hundred, in truth, as we must divert around Stonespine Island when we pass from the Inner Sea into the Obari Ocean.”
    â€œAh. That’s … a long way.” It was a good thing the djinni had brought his clothes. “How long will it take?”
    â€œThe best part of a month. Perhaps as few as twenty days, if the winds are generous. Do you often embark on journeys without knowing how long they will take?”
    â€œI received an invitation to meet the thakur in his palace. I wasn’t doing anything more exciting, so…” He shrugged. “It seemed an opportunity for adventure.” Preceded by a great deal of boredom. Maybe some of the crew diced. Maybe Tapasi diced. Maybe she did other things.
    She shaded her eyes and gazed off into the distance, then made a concerned sound. “I think you may have an opportunity for adventure sooner than you thought. A ship is approaching at speed, and it flies the flag of Nex—and below that, a banner with a symbol of the Arclords.” She pointed to a flapping flag, inscribed with the symbol of an eye inside a triangle.
    â€œIs … that bad?”
    She stared at him. “Do you know nothing of the history of Jalmeray?”
    Rodrick just shrugged. “I know there are monasteries, and the requisite monks, and it’s supposed to be very beautiful, but…”
    â€œThe Arclords of Nex settled on Jalmeray, long ago. But they were not the rightful owners—they were, I think you would say, squatters? The Vudrani returned to take possession of the island, and had to drive the Arclords away. The battle was ferocious, but the golems and other constructs of the Arclords were no match for the bound elementals and genies of the Vudrani. Ever since the expulsion of the Arclords, relations between that faction and our people have been … strained. They don’t dare attack us directly, but if they see an opportunity to make one of our ships disappear, well. There are always accidents on the sea.”
    â€œHow long ago did this falling-out happen?”
    â€œSince the Vudrani returned to Jalmeray and drove the Arclords into the sea?” She considered. “Two thousand years, more or less.”
    â€œThat’s a long time to hold a grudge,” Rodrick said. “Do the Arclords really still really—”
    There was a distant thrum , and a huge stone splashed into the water some distance behind them, blasting a gout of water forty feet into the air.
    â€œOh,” Rodrick said. “I suppose they do.”

4
    Cabin Boy
    The usual sort of chaos reigned on the deck. The captain and first mate were shouting orders, sailors were scrambling to and fro tugging on ropes and tying some knots while untying others for doubtless excellent reasons, and the priest beside Rodrick raised her hands and began to chant, or pray, or something.
    Rodrick stepped away from her, because you never knew with priests. She might summon a spirit of water to smash the other vessel, or she might start shooting lightning out of every orifice, or do something else he couldn’t even imagine. Supposedly some priests could turn