No Other Gods Read Online Free PDF

little machine back onto its wheels, and heard his last words echoing in my head.
     
     

 
    I was late to my usual spot at the table. Livia looked up at me as I sat, her eyes questioning, but I was in no mood to share. As the food was served and our cups filled, I stood again, looking each man and woman at my table in the eye. Raising my mug, I summoned them in a toast.
                  “To us. To the finest warriors in this hall of the gods. The finest warriors in the universe. To us — long may we prevail.”
                  Everyone stood, raised their own mugs, and drank. It seemed a solemn occasion to me, knowing of Hermes’ words, the test that he would put me to, and with Rast’s threats still fresh. The others seemed to understand somehow, without me saying it, that this was a special occasion, a special meal we shared — perhaps even our last supper together — and each of us took extra care to enjoy and fully experience it.
                  Livia put her head close to mine. Her eyes met my, searching, wondering, and slowly she began to speak.
                  “What has happened, Geno? You seem so different today. Everything seems so different today.” Her hand found mine under the table, warm, comforting.
                  I spoke quietly, for her ears alone. I was not ready to share this with the others, even Kin.
                  “This morning I woke first. While everyone else was still sleeping, I met with Hermes. He took me out of this place, to the city of the gods, and he spoke about a choosing, and a test to come.”
                  Her eyes searched mine, looking for more, trying to understand.
                  “I don’t really know anything else. I don’t really know why we’re here and what we’re doing. Although … Hermes did say it was a school of a sort. Or a boot camp. I think we’re being prepared for something, and our next battle will be the last before … graduation.”
                  I did not say what I really meant, which was that not only would our next battle be the last … it would also be the worst. But her eyes seemed to understand. And the hand that rested briefly on mine promised her support in the test to come.
                  I raised my voice, addressed the whole table. Locked eyes with Kin, seeing that his usual grin disappeared at my serious tone.
                  “Something different is coming. Something new — something difficult. I don’t know if we will face it alone or together. But prepare. Be ready. I think we will need to be stronger and fight harder than ever before.”
                  As we all looked around the table at each other, I could see that all of us felt the same way: eager to face this new challenge together, as a cohort, for the first time. Warriors at other tables turned to ours, staring, sensing something different, something special, as we remained almost frozen, building our resolve. Then, down deep and almost inaudible, one of us said the words we were waiting for.
                  “Long may we prevail.”
                  We repeated them as one, and as if it was a spell or magical incantation, Hermes began to appear.
                  The smoky coiling mists drift away along the floor and through our legs as Hermes appeared, double man-sized, at the front of the hall.
                  “Every warrior in this hall has fought thousands of battles against your comrades. Tomorrow’s will be the last.” He paused for a moment as shocked whispers and gasps rose from the assembled men and women.
                  “You have fought, and you have died. Most of you, that is.” He paused again with a small smile and nod that might, or might not, have been directed my way. I glanced around and caught Rast and his crew looking at me. They at least