Breath of Life (Godstone Saga 2)

“There are more ways to break people than with just guns, as I’m sure you well know.”

Caelan shook his head. He had no idea where Grim was getting these crazy notions. He’d thoroughly studied the history of his people, particularly the ruling decisions of his predecessors. While some of them could be more heavy-handed than the others—his own mother included—none of them had been what he’d call a heartless dictator. Erya had not forced her will on others or used the Godstone against them. Just because someone doesn’t get their way at a bargaining table doesn’t make the other person evil.

“My preference is to kill you and finish wiping out the Talos line entirely,” Grim continued blandly as if talking about getting rid of an infestation of vermin. “Unfortunately, Emperor Suen sees a use for you at the moment.”

Finally. Caelan nearly rolled his eyes, and rage bubbled up in his veins. He was done listening to the nonsensical ramblings of the Lord High Commander. He’d clearly bought into the propaganda bullshit the Emperor and his people had been spreading for years, pitching themselves as some kind of savior for all of Thia. Fucking nonsense.

“And how is it that you think I can serve the Emperor and New Rosanthe?” Caelan sneered.

Thorald Grim paused to give him a dark look before he continued in a cold voice. “The Talos family have been the only ones permitted to study the Godstone. That makes you the only ones who know how to unlock the power of the stone. The Emperor demands that knowledge so it can be shared with the rest of Thia.”

Caelan derisively snorted. Emperor Suen had zero plans to share power with anyone. Caelan would stake his life on it. A person need search no further than New Rosanthe’s long history of subjugating their own people and conquering other kingdoms. The only ones with power were the Emperor and his lackeys.

But judging by the anger that flashed across the Lord High Commander’s face, it was clear he actually believed what he was saying. This wasn’t rhetoric or the party line. This was truth to him. And that made all of this unsettling and the man opposite him certainly more dangerous than Caelan had first estimated.

“You can begin by explaining what we need to do to move the Godstone to New Rosanthe,” he continued tersely.

Caelan shifted from one foot to the other and tried to cross his arms over his chest, but belatedly remembered he couldn’t, thanks to the damn handcuffs. He made do with glaring at the Lord High Commander. “Even if moving the Godstone was possible, I have no reason to tell you. New Rosanthe is not keeping Erya. I will free my people and I will get back the stone.”

“And you misunderstand me in believing that you have any choice in this matter.” He leaned forward, folding his hands in the center of his desk. “You will cooperate, or I will bomb Sirelis into dust. Then, I will return to Stormbreak Point, where I will level every building around the Godstone before I finally rip it out of that godforsaken country. Your cooperation ensures that the people who you care so much about don’t die.”

Caelan ground his teeth together and held his tongue until he was sure he could speak in a somewhat civil tone. The Lord High Commander seemed to think that the people he cared about would prefer a life under the Empire’s thumb rather than death. But then, if they were all dead, they’d have no chance of fighting, no chance of destroying the Emperor and New Rosanthe once and for all.

“Then I guess it’s a good thing I can’t tell you how to move the stone,” Caelan said carefully.

“You refuse?”

“It’s not a matter of refusing. I can’t. C. A. N. Apostrophe. T. Can’t. As in, I am unable to provide you with that information because the Godstone cannot be moved. The goddess refuses to allow it to be moved by anyone.”

Okay, so that was a small fib. Caelan had never personally spoken to the Goddess of Life. However, he had spoken to the God of Storms, and he was adamant that the godstones could not be moved, so Caelan figured it was roughly the same as talking to the goddess in this case.

The Lord High Commander stared at him, a look of confusion and maybe even shock on his face.

“You’ve spoken with the goddess?” he asked softly.

“Yes, of course. Why the hell do you think it’s called a godstone? The Godstone in Erya has always been in the same place. The tower that surrounds it was built up to the stone. The goddess will not allow it to be moved.”

Frowning, the Lord High Commander scratched his bearded jaw. “If that is true, we shall just have to bring the Emperor to the Godstone after we’ve built a new palace worthy of him on the remains of those ugly towers.”