Free The Path to Loss (Approaching Infinity Book 4) by Chris Eisenlauer Page B

Shields. We are potent here, but even you, Gim Peshil, able to travel as light far beyond the basalt shores of Thrax Palonis, would surpass the limit of the Shrine Hall’s influence and then be forever stuck in the black glue that holds the stars in the sky. No Shield can leave Thrax Palonis and remain a Shield. So what is there to gain by being god of this place that I don’t already have?”
    “Some of the eggs haven’t hatched yet,” Peshil said.
    “That’s right,” Chan Fa said with a knowing grin. “They’re inedible like that, though.”
    “Do you know how to hatch them?”
    “I do, but I won’t.”
    “Why not?”
    “It’s too much trouble and ends up a waste. Much good could come of them in the right hands.”
    “You’re not at all what I expected.”
    “No? Cross me and everything foul you’ve ever heard of me will be visited upon you a hundred fold. Just because I’ve grown bored with feeding on other Shields, doesn’t mean that I’ve given it up entirely.” Chan Fa paused, narrowed his eyes. “How many have you consumed?”
    Peshil was surprised by the direct question. “Seven.”
    Chan Fa snorted. “Seven? Impossible. Name them and give their titles.”
    “The only one with a title was Bek Ialo, the Shadow Thief. The other six were artificial and had no titles.”
    “Artificial? What do you mean?”
    “There was a Shield who could spawn other, lesser Shields. I don’t remember his name. I haven’t seen or heard of him for many years now.”
    “Oh yes, I remember. That was Jallam Zeppo. I couldn’t allow him to go on making those little abominations.” Chan Fa slapped his bare belly and let loose with rolls of laughter. “I thought that all his spawn were dead already, though.”
    “Sera Fontessa employed six of them. Those are all dead now.”
    “Sera Fontessa?” Chan Fa said, sobering.
    “Yes, she is helping to coordinate other Shields for our attack on the invaders.”
    “Of course she is. She and Kels Ansrath, undoubtedly.”
    “Y-Yes. Is there a problem?”
    “No.” All the humor in Chan Fa was now gone. He was like a hollowed shell, dangerous with unknown potential. “As I said, I have nothing to fear from any Shield. If any of this proves to be a sham, I will hunt you, Sera Fontessa, Kels Ansrath, and any others I find or think are involved and renew my journey to godhood. Do you understand, Gim Peshil?”
    Peshil swallowed hard. This Chan Fa, empty of all but the threat of vengeance, frightened him. “I do.”
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    The change from being in Chan Fa’s presence to being in Sera Fontessa’s did much to improve Peshil’s mood. With her arms around his neck, she escorted him back to her couch.
    “He will come,” Peshil said. “He’s leary of traps, though.”
    “And rightfully so.”
    “He said it would take him eight days to traverse the great ocean, but that we should expect him. I must ask you, Sera Fontessa—as the fate of Thrax Palonis may hinge on the nature of your relationship with him—how do you know Chan Fa?”
    She bowed her head and waited a full minute before responding. “I did not receive my Shield from my father as you did from yours.”
    Peshil stared at her for a moment as he realized the import of what she was saying. “You hatched one of the eggs.”
    She nodded.
    “I was not alone.”
    “Kels Ansrath.”
    She nodded again. “I don’t know how Kels came to know about the Shrine Hall. I could tell even before he took his Shield that he’d always been strong, both in mind and body. He devised the means to cross the ocean. He lived in the ancient castle city for months without Chan Fa’s knowledge before finding a safe way down into the Shrine Hall.
    “I was one of Chan Fa’s women. His favorite for a while, but Kels found me alone one day. I would say he seduced me, but I would be lying. I was never content with my life as a possession of Chan Fa. I always wanted more, to live above ground, in a real city, not trapped by