Om strode through the debris, looking around with the air of one who has a search to complete and not a lot of time to do it in.
“Right,” he said.
Io, God of Thunder, looked up from his throne and waved his hammer threateningly.
“Who are you?”
Om strode toward the throne, picked up to by his toga, and gave a quick jab with his forehead.
Hardly anyone really believes in thunder gods any more . . .
isti stared at him. Then he nudged Borvorius.
“What did he say?”
Borvorius, who was better at thinking than the others, said, “Are you talking about surrender?”
“Yes. If that's the word.”
Argavisti exploded.
“You can't do that!”
“Someone will have to. Please listen to me. Vorbis is dead. He's paid.”
“Not enough. What about your soldiers? They tried to sack our city!”
“Do your soldiers obey your orders?”
“Certainly! ”
“And they'd cut me down here and now if you commanded it?”
“I should say so!”
“And I'm unarmed,” said Brutha.
The sun beat down on an awkward pause.
"When I say they'd obey- Argavisti began.
“We were not sent here to parley,” said Borvorius abruptly. “Vorbis's death changes nothing fundamental. We are here to see that Omnia is no longer a threat.”
“It is not. We will sent materials and people to help rebuild Ephebe. And gold, if you like. We will reduce the size of our army. And so on. Consider us beaten. We will even open Omnia to whatever other religions wish to build holy places here.”
A voice echoed in his head, like the person behind you who says, “Put the red Queen on the black King,” when you think you have been playing all by yourself . . .
I. What?
“This will encourage . . . local effort,” said Brutha.
IL Other Gods? Here?
“There will be free trade along the coast. I wish to see Omnia take its place among its fellow nations.”
III. I heard You Mention Other Gods.
“Its place is at the bottom,” said Borvorius.