God Mage by D.W. Jackson Page A

his first real chance to learn what he wanted, and
after a moment of thought, decided there was little reason to keep
it hidden. “I am looking for a hidden valley that is supposed to
hold the key to the doorway to the abyss.”
    The female elder said something in a language
that Bren didn’t understand, but it was clear that Bren had touched
on something that had put them on guard. “I would guess that you
know the place I am looking for,” Bren said, getting up from his
chair and advancing toward the elders.
    “We know of the place you are talking about,”
the elder said, leaning back in his chair trying to get some
distance from Bren. “Or at least I believe we know where you are
talking about.”
    “Then tell me” Bren demanded.
    “It is not that simple,” the elder said. “The
place you are looking for is taboo. Each hidden village is tasked
with providing two people every three years to guard the entrance
to the valley. Even if I told you where the valley was at, they
would never allow you to enter it.”
    The air in the room grew chilly as ice
crystals began to form on the large window overlooking the city. “I
can be very persuasive,” Bren said as small sparks of energy
flashed around him.
    “Calm down,” the elder said in a palliative
tone. “You might be able to get out of the village without trouble
but what about your friends.”
    The mention of his friends brought Bren back
to his senses and the air the room quickly began to warm. “Where is
the valley?” Bren asked, placing his hands on the elder’s table and
leaning in close. “No matter what the cost I will learn what I want
to know.”
    “Here,” the elder said pointing to a place
far to the north of the village. “It is settled in the Kami
Mountains. There are no towns or villages along the way. Even the
village that we send our children to remains unknown to us.”
    “Thank you,” Bren said turning toward the
door. “We will leave in the morning and do our best to take our
friends with us.”
    “One thing before you go, Master Torin,” the
elder said half rising from his chair. “The valley of the gods is
sacred to us. It is said to hold the doorway to the home of the
gods. If that is true or not, I don’t know. I have never seen a
god, but remember that a portion of the guardians are made up of
our children.”
    “I will do my best to kill as few as
possible,” Bren said continuing on his way toward the door.
    As he left the room, the others quickly
followed, but they kept a few steps behind him. “Are you okay?”
Faye asked touching his arm lightly.
    “Fine…Why?” Bren said, looking at her and
noticing that her face was pinched tightly.
    “You’re still… Sparkling,” Cass said
lightly.
    Bren stopped in mid-stride and took a deep
breath and tried to clear his body of the excess magic. “Better?”
Bren asked, once he was sure he was clear of magical energy.
    “A little, though the air around you still
seems a bit chilly,” Faye said laughing.
    As soon as they were back in their room,
everyone started readying for the journey without Bren having to
say a word. Bren did the same though he kept most of his things in
order, but as he always did when he planned a long journey he
emptied out his father’s old pack and went through it once
again.
    There was still a little food stored in the
pack as well as a few canteens of water but not enough to last more
than a few days should they run a dry spell between villages.
“Hayao,” Bren hollered causing the young warrior to come running
from where he had been.
    “Yes, Lord Torin,” the man said quickly.
    “We need supplies for a long trip,” Bren
said. “Do you think you can get us enough to last us for most of
the trip?”
    “Getting the supplies will be easy, my lord,
but we do not keep horses in the village,” Hayao said.
    “Don’t worry about that,” Bren replied. “I
have my own ways to carry the supplies over long distances.”

Chapter 9
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