Free Spellbreaker by Blake Charlton Page B

you.”
    His interrogator said nothing.
    â€œDo you have an informant among my daughter’s officers? Is one of them in your purse? Is that how you have been avoiding Leandra?”
    â€œLies,” the woman said faintly.
    Nicodemus continued. “I needed you and your men to hear what I had to say. It was my only chance of saving the River Thief. Unless he converts, you and your crew will die. Then I will find your god and deconstruct him into stray punctuation. You are his avatar, yes? You need to let me speak to him.”
    His interrogator sniffed and muttered “him” under her breath. Suddenly Nicodemus recognized in her voice a peculiar kind of annoyance. Nicodemus’s gut clenched. “Oh … bloody burning hell!”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI’ve been a complete … ass.”
    â€œJust when I begin to believe I should take you seriously, you say something completely insane.”
    â€œI just realized why you are not taking me seriously.”
    â€œBecause you keep saying completely insane things?”
    â€œBecause the reports I received in Chandralu described the River Thief as a water god, and I believed them.”
    The interrogator was silent.
    â€œYou are not an avatar?”
    â€œWhat makes you say that?”
    â€œThe River Thief isn’t a water god. She’s a water goddess. You are the River Thief.”
    There was a short pause. “At least you are not the stupidest man I have ever met. But I can’t say that’s much of a compliment.”
    â€œGoddess, please forgive me. You are clearly a subtle deity, one that would be a great boon to the league. But if you remain a neodemon, I have no choice but to bring you down.”
    â€œTry to bring me down.”
    â€œI wouldn’t let you capture me if I couldn’t ensure my safety. What’s more you’re not a fighting deity; you’ve gotten by all these years by concealment.”
    She didn’t reply.
    â€œAnd you’re brave,” Nicodemus added. “When confronted with their possible death, most deities bluster. It’s one of the downsides of immortality, I think.”
    â€œDownsides, mortal? I am the one who has you upside down and censored.”
    â€œDo you think that will help you survive?”
    A long pause. “Not if you’re telling me the truth, Nicodemus Weal.”
    â€œI am. Now, help me to save you. What are your requisites? How can I help you thrive in the league?”
    The goddess’s voice sounded slightly sad. “There can be no place for me in the league, or anywhere where humans rule.”
    Nicodemus snorted. “Don’t be dramatic. Any deity can live within the league, especially here on Ixos.” He paused. “Though I suppose any deity incarnated on this continent could live free. But you are a neodemon, not a demon.”
    There was no reply.
    â€œGoddess, you do not seriously mean to tell me that you crossed the great ocean, that you’re a demon of the Ancient Continent?”
    Still no reply.
    â€œYou’re bluffing,” Nicodemus insisted, though he felt a twinge of fear. “You can’t expect me to believe that after waiting thirty years for the Disjunction, the dread god Los would send over a single steal-from-the-rich-to-do-good demoness.”
    â€œNo one believes the Disjunction is coming. Not even your daughter.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œListen to me, I am in fact a divinity complex of three goddesses—one of them quite old. My requisites are complicated. What you are offering, equitable theft without being bound by the Sacred Regent, could you accommodate the requisites for all three of us?”
    â€œUnless there is a truly outrageous requisite, human pain or sacrifice or something like that.”
    â€œNo, no. Nothing barbaric.”
    â€œThen I can bring you into the league’s pantheon.”
    â€œThen … we shall talk.” Something