“In your cell?” I asked. When he nodded, I remembered how strict Vone had told me his order was. I guess I never really understood just what that meant. No food and water for a week because you won’t answer questions is pretty darned strict. For the ten thousandth time I was glad I wasn’t a priest. “Weren’t you afraid Kefnak would tell the other gods and they would launch another Great Cataclysm?”

“Yes, but I could think of nothing else to do. It was either tell Kefnak or die in that cell. Anyway, eventually, a couple of weeks later, Kefnak responded to the high priest’s call and manifested in the temple. After the high priest spoke to our celestial mightiness, in his wisdom he decided that he wanted to hear what I had to say from my own lips.”

“Wait a moment.” I burst in. “So, you got to meet a god?” He nodded. “Does everyone get to meet them now? First Sir Aryoss and now you?” His only response was a large grin. “What was he like? Sir Aryoss couldn’t remember Cindrem very well. Just that he was too perfect for words and shone with a powerful holy light, or something.”

“I remember the magnificence of Kefnak perfectly. He was terrible to look upon in his mighty armor, and it was hard to meet his holy gaze, but I forced myself to do it. I wanted him to know his servant was no coward.”

I held in a sigh, because Vone was laying it on pretty thick. I considered his position for a moment. I guess meeting a god, especially the god you worship and serve, is a pretty big deal. I motioned for him to continue.

“It was the most glorious day of my life. I told the great and wise Kefnak everything. It took a long time because he interrupted me often to ask many perceptive questions. I did not mind and answered to the best of my ability.” His eyes had been glazed over in some sort of religious ecstasy as he spoke but now they cleared and he looked me in the eye. “Mighty Kefnak now knows your name, Dirk.”

“What? Me?” That didn’t sound good.

Vone laughed. “Yes, you. And all of the others of our company. I could not tell the tale of our journey without mentioning all of you.”

“That makes sense. I guess. What did he say when you were all done?” I smirked. “Does he want to meet me?”

Vone ignored my last question. “He was not happy. For a moment I thought his rage would shake down the entire temple, or start another Great Cataclysm right then and there. Neither happened, thank all the gods! He was full of fury as he told the high priest that the Gods did not want to involve themselves directly in this fight, if possible. When the righteous fire of his anger died down enough that he remembered I was there he ordered me to lead fifty of my brothers here to Ansdron. He seemed to think that we would have plenty to do.”

“Like help us fight the drants and Kathaldi?”

Vone smiled. “Just so. Fighting is our destiny!”

I raised my hands in surrender. “I know. It’s great.” I shook my head. “But why here? Does he know something that we don’t?”

That amused the priest. A lot. “Undoubtedly. He is mighty Kefnak. Fiercest of all the gods! He knows many things we mortals do not.”

I shrugged. “He didn’t know the Kathaldi were still around.”

Vone’s face clouded. I thought he was going to yell at me, or beat the crap out of me, that’s how angry he looked for a moment. Happily for me, his face cleared and he chuckled. “In your own sacrilegious way, Dirk, you are correct. He did not know that. He is not omniscient. His servants, including me, must be his eyes and ears. This is true of all the gods. You have served them well in this regard, Imprid tells me. Is it true you know the location of the Kathaldi headquarters?”

I nodded. “Well, I think I do. Jade told me about it before she was murdered by her fellow Kathaldi.” That turned into me telling him everything I had done since we last saw each other. We talked through lunch, which I had served there in the sitting room.

I noticed that talking about Jade’s death this time didn’t hurt nearly as much as it had, which made me sad for a new reason. Was I forgetting her? I decided I needed to if I wanted to make sure another Great Cataclysm didn’t happen. It still sucked.

With that in mind I was just about to turn the subject to plans for the future when Venzik burst into the room without knocking. “There is fighting on River Road!”

Vone and I both jumped up and headed for the doorway Venzik was blocking. “Is it the Kathaldi?” I asked Venzik as I motioned for him to get out of the way.

“No, sir. People are yelling about drants. We need to get you to the office.”

Vone raised an eyebrow at me. I laughed. “No, we don’t. Get the guards. We’re heading to the river.”