Disclaimer --- While I do wish that I had a hand in writing up the Tortallan universe, we all know that the ever-fabulous Tamora Pierce was its sole creator. So yeah, I don't own these characters. At all.

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Chapter 3

Revelations

"You'd think gods would have more sense than this," Jon muttered, peering into a cupboard. "They're all brothers and sisters, and they can't get along with themselves!"

"Should you be insulting gods in their realm?" Numair replied. He picked up an overturned book and flipped through it. "I had the impression they can hear everything we say."

"Then Mithros should strike me down for insolence," Jonathan of Conte dared.

"Both of you should shut up and get back to work," Alanna yelled at them from behind the door. "Just because we haven't heard anyone yet doesn't mean this place is deserted. Let's go!"

The room was picked apart to Numair and Jon's satisfaction. The tall, dark-haired sorcerer sighed. "Nothing, Alanna. Maybe another room?"

Tortall's champion sighed. So much for getting back to the mortal realms sooner than later. "I'll take a look down the hallway."

Alanna walked a bit further, looking for any signs of disturbance. After months of exploring the Swoop, she was now familiar with every passage and room that if she'd been blind, she could still walk down this particular hallway and know where the rooms are. The Lioness had her eyes opened, however, and she scanned the area for any aberrations. After passing another door, she glimpsed an image in the corner of her eye. Turning, Alanna saw a tapestry that she wasn't familiar with and approached it. To her surprise, behind the long dark cloth was a door to another room. Curious, the lady knight went inside.

She frowned. Inside, the floor and ceiling were made of black marble, glistening from the streaming light at its lone window. Alanna assumed the walls were also made of the same material, though she couldn't tell from all the paintings that covered the surface. "This is definitely not part of the Swoop..."

"Anything interesting, Alanna?" Numair poked his head in and whistled at the sight. "Now this is something. Do you know what these paintings are?"

Both sorcerers took a closer look. "My word! These are pictures of the gods' creation! Look at this, Alanna, I believe this may even be the processes underlying the Great Mother Goddess' conception into the world."

Numair talked animatedly as he perused the images in the room. One by one he exclaimed about the beauty and intense power that Father Universe and Mother Flame had possessed to develop their creations. It was only after a few minutes of his rambling did he notice that his friend had kept silent, her eyes glued to a lone picture. "Alanna?"

The lady knight stood frozen in front of a large painting. Numair stood next to her and examined it. He noticed that the picture was broken into four frames and told the story of a city. In one corner, the city gleamed in full glory. Handsome, majestic beings walked the streets hand in hand. The other corners, however, showed that the city did not retain its beauty; the next two frames portrayed bursts of fire and war. The final picture held only remains of what once was.

It was the last picture that Alanna's eyes were acutely boring into. Before Numair could ask her what the matter was, she turned around and briskly walked out into the hall. "Numair, let's go. This room is making me nervous."

Puzzled, the sorcerer followed suit, only glancing back to examine the picture that shook the King's Champion. He whistled in awe and closed the door behind him.

---

Thom found it extremely odd that Shakith had completely closed herself from him. Was he not her Chosen? And furthermore, hadn't he proved himself time and time again that he was a competent demi-god? He wondered what the Great Gods were truly planning for his companions.

The demi-god's thoughts were interrupted when George lightly swatted him on the head. "Were you listenin' to anythin' I said?"

"Clearly not," Thom replied sourly, rubbing the back of his head. "What is it now, brother dear?"

George Cooper's eyes narrowed. "I don't need this form of condescension from you, lad. You're lucky I've got a few reasons for keepin' you alive this time."

Thom chuckled. "And am I ever grateful for that."

The former Rogue shook his head and dropped the subject. He pointed to a bookshelf. "Now I took a look at most of the books in the rooms we've been passin' through—"

"Yes, and so have I."

"Let me finish," George replied, patiently, "Those books were all about spells, most even more complex than I'd dare to learn."

"That doesn't surprise me, George," Thom pointed out. "You're not really much of a mage, for all your Seeing Gift."

If you don't harangue him, Chosen, I will!

Smirking, the former Rogue continued, as though the last comment never happened. "Then I suppose you've also noticed that the books in here are different. Or were you too busy thinkin' up insults to see?"

Thom blinked. "Different, huh?" He leafed through the shelf and picked a book at random. The cover was blank, and when he opened the book, he whistled. The pages were almost too fragile to handle, so much so that he warily used his Gift to turn them. His eyes bulged.

"That interestin'?" George asked, thoughtful. "I could only make up a few words, but it looks like it's givin' lists of names."

"You can read this?" Thom's voice was a mixture of surprise and respect.

The baron of Pirate's Swoop shrugged. "Very little. I don't pretend to be a great scholar like some people, but my mother was always keen on educatin'."

"I've underestimated you, George." Though Alanna's husband doubted the sincerity in those words. He carefully watched his brother-in-law leafing through the pages, muttering words under his breath. After some time, Thom closed the book. He turned to the baron and smiled grimly. "These are names of renowned sorcerers, fighters, and strategists. Most of them have already been taken by the Black God, but I wonder if we are supposed to keep some of them in mind..."

George raised an eyebrow. "Think Alanna's name is in there?"

"It is," Thom tossed the book to George, who caught it easily. "Along with King Jonathan of Conte, Crown Princess Alexa of Danne, Lord Myscha of Tirragen, Count Peldor of the Copper Isles, Joesh Valany the Shang Falcon, and Zephyrus Muhassin Tasikhe, Emperor Ozorne's estranged younger brother."

Then, Thom cast a strange glance at his sister's husband. "Your entire family line is in it, too."

"Huh," George frowned as his fingers traced the glowing words Beka Cooper on the page. He remembered the stories his mother related to him about his ancestors. "Well color me impressed."

"That's not all," Thom sighed and turned around to find another book. "All these books have the same content in them. Repeated writings of the same names. I think those that are still living may be our competitors."

There was a long silence after that. George put the book down and rubbed his tired eyes. Due to his complex and rather effective spy network, he knew all of the names that Thom provided him. And from his information, the other five were definitely not to be trifled with. "So that's five people to worry about, I take it."

"Maybe more," Thom said, his face grim. "The good news is the two of us won't have to worry about them. Alanna and Jon are the ones they'd be after."

George made a face. "I don't know about you, but that is why I'm worryin'."