Vrin: Ten Mortal Gods Read Online Free PDF Page B

side of the world. But we know that was not the case. Our informants tell us he had his child army go in and remove all the residents of the castle by force, save for members of the royal family, who were locked in the dungeon to perish along with their home. I recently acquired the event cell placed at Mount Dastra. It shows what was to be the pinnacle of the incursion.” He reached for his pouch and pulled out a dark glass square with smoothly sanded edges. “This is the event cell.” He tapped the cell with a hairy finger. “It will allow you to interact with the reflection that was marked. Which one of you would like to go first?”
    Kitaya looked at me. “Would you?”
    “Ah, okay. How does it work?” I stood and reached out my hand.
    “Notice the top.” He handed me the device and pointed. “It is malleable, slightly firmer than a sponge. Press that edge to your forehead and the moment will be sent to you. You will not actually be present at the event but you will perceive a physical body.
    “What if I want to stop it?”
    “Close your eyes and blank out your mind, this will terminate the link, and your consciousness will return to your actual body.”
    “Sounds simple enough,” I said, not feeling the confidence I portrayed. I placed the soft black cushion on my forehead and instantly found myself standing in a field of knee-high grass. Hundreds of people were traveling up a dirt trail. I looked around. A short distance up the path something big was going on. I made my way to the road and followed the stream of refugees. No one paid any attention to me.
    Moving up a steady incline, I looked behind and saw the origin of their trek, a large village surrounding a huge stone castle. Apparently these were the residents of Pagnia, and judging by the multitude, it looked like Rath was planning on destroying more than just the royal castle. I spotted a young child walking along the edge of the crowd, digging a stick into the dirt as he walked. He was wearing the same kind of red rubber armor I'd seen on Rath. He must be one of Rath’s children, I thought. Slowly I turned and scanned the outskirts of the crowd. Sure enough, there were others dressed in the same peculiar apparel.
    Topping a slight incline I encountered several small gatherings of women and children sitting about with their belongings piled around them. In the midst of the smaller groups, talking furiously amongst themselves, was a large group of men. I headed in their direction. As I weaved my way through the various groups, I couldn't help but look down on the faces of these poor displaced families. I felt for them; there was great sadness in their eyes. What right did anyone have to push these people from their homes? It was outrageous!
    “This is an outrage!” came a voice from inside the circle. I saw an opening and stepped inside. Three men stood talking in the center. Their clothing stood out from the rest in both quality and design. They must be from the ruling party , I thought. The same man continued. “Will we not stand and protect our property? He is but one man!”
    “We are not fighters, Fyousa and even if we were, he is too powerful.”
    The man grimaced. “We are not fighters because we choose it not, not because it cannot be! We cannot stand still in the face of this aggression and do nothing! He has snatched our homes, taken the land we have worked so hard to nurture and protect! Our people have worked for centuries to build that kingdom! We cannot let Rath take what is not his to take!”
    The third man spoke. “Be calm my friend.” He placed his hand on the man’s shoulder. “Does it not state in the great text that the brothers and sisters of light would one day join us? Is it not so they created this planet and our people from the dust of the cosmos? Then is it not fair for them to reclaim the land which is rightfully theirs?” The crowd watched intently as he turned and addressed them. “Tul’ Naydor is no saint