Warriors of the Sun God - A Fantasy Novel

Warriors of the Sun God is a fantasy saga in serialized format. Follow the story of the quest. This page updates every M/W/F. Navigation buttons are below.

Descent Part 2-8

Perin
"Do you love me enough to stop this?" Kel asked me, and my heart bled. "Do you love me enough to die?"

"I did, once. But that was when my death served a purpose for you."

"It would make me happy."

Perin bit his lip. "I'm sorry. That's not enough. I can't die just to please you. Anything else, I would try. But if I cannot free you, then I must live. There is too much I need to do to die for that. You taught me that I have responsibilities to live for. I can't turn my back on that. I'd be letting you down if I did."

There was applause next to me, and I turned to see Death clapping. His mouth had an ironic twist to it. "Congratulations. You've seen the truth of what love is. And what it isn't."

I looked back. Kel was gone. "Why?"

"You need to know what love truly is, if you're to go back."

"I thought a god loving was bad."

"There's only one thing worse. And that's gods that can't love."

"But that's all of us."

He stared into my eyes and nodded slowly. "That's exactly right. You can't. But you learned love, and you understand how to love. Not only Kel, but other humans as well. You care about them."

"And that's what you wanted?"

"I have waited untold years for someone that can care for humanity like I do. I have the power to bring such a one back to life, though no one else."

"So what happens now?"

"That's up to you. Are you willing to be a god that loves? One that cares for the people? What I ask of you will not be easy. It is not a small thing to serve."

"Why can't you do it? Why do you need me?"

"Because I was created by the people. I'm not a god, not as you are. I don't have the power you do. Just the pain. I need someone with power to change things. That's you."

"Why not Kel? She has the power."

Death smiled and waved up the path. I turned and saw a woman coming towards me.

I stared. She walked on two legs, and she had hair that rippled halfway down her back. But there was no way I could doubt who I saw. "Kel?" I whispered. "Is it really her?"

Death smiled. "Why would I take one when I could have two? Go and live."

I ran down the path, and she threw her arms open for me, tears streaming down her face as they did mine. I picked her up and swung her around, laughing and crying. Beyond all hope, I had Kel again.

After babbled words and kisses and tears, I turned again to Death, with Kel tucked securely in my arm. "I don't know how this was possible," I said thickly, "but I thank you. You've given me back more than my life. You've given me my reason for living."

Kel looked up at me. "I think, rather, he gave us a chance to understand it. We could always come back, couldn't we?"

"You're right. I can't hold you here."

I stared at him, then at Kel. "You mean we're free? We were always free?"

Death laughed. "You sacrificed your power to yourself," he told me. "How can I hold you?"

Perin and Kel
We took wing, flying on the air, and burst back into the living world. Colors danced around us as we flew across the sky. Then we settled in to the tower of the Spider on the Air. Now it was the tower of Love and Sacrifice, a joyous place.

For it is a terrible thing to be loved by a god. But it is far worse to have gods that cannot love at all.

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