Divine Apostasy Book 7 - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Sift reluctantly returned to the hilltop to start the training of Rung Four. To Ruwen’s surprise all the Adepts joined their session except Echo. She sat alone, head down, and quiet. Once again he resisted the urge to speak to her. After all, her disposition aura still remained a healthy red.

Sift moved between the rows of Adepts making corrections as he passed. Ruwen hid a smile as he thought about his friend. Sift tried to keep his life simple: food, especially sweets, Lylan, and adventure. Hidden under that good-natured, live for today, man, stood a mixture of his parents.

Wisdom, not the dumb pastry quotes, but real advice poured out of Sift as he strode up and down the line. He balanced the serenity of his father with the fierceness of his mom. Once again Ruwen felt awed at Sift’s ability to add beauty to the Steps. He understood a language no one else did, and the Steps gave it voice.

“You going to stand there all night?” Sift asked Ruwen.

“Sorry, just thinking.”

“Shocker. How about you do that on your own time.”

Ruwen once again hid a smile. “Yes, Sisen.”

Only when the Founders and the Addas stepped out of the portal stone did everyone stop practicing. Dawn had arrived and everyone quickly formed their Rungs, standing at attention.

Ruwen once again stood in the rear and Sift stepped up next to him.

“Tarot?” Ruwen asked under his voice.

The Thieving Misfortune Golem squirmed on the top of Ruwen’s head. “Yeah?”

“Please give Sift his belt back. I don’t want him to get into trouble with the Founders. Or his parents.”

“That’s no fun.”

“True, but you’ll have plenty of opportunities later when the consequences aren’t as severe.”

Tarot didn’t respond but a second later Sift’s white belt launched outward, straight for Sift’s head.

Sift snatched the belt from the air and turned toward Ruwen. “I am going to smush you, little man.”

“What is smush?” Tarot asked Ruwen.

“It’s like a really tight hug,” Ruwen said, not wanting to start a fight right now.

“Oh, I don’t like physical contact.”

“You should avoid Sift then, as he really wants to hug you.”

Sift quickly retied his belt and kept one hand on it.

The taste of maple syrup filled Ruwen’s mouth, and he glanced at Sift. “The skill differences between the Rungs have narrowed a lot. They’re almost…”

Ruwen trailed off, praying Sift would say “even.”

Sift nodded. “Balanced. I do good work. You helped a little too, I guess.”

Ruwen frowned. “A little? I did just as much. In fact, we helped the same and are…”

Once again Ruwen paused, trying to get Sift to say “even.”

“Fine, we’re equal then.”

Ruwen’s skin flushed, and he prayed the quest would except “equal.” He had never gotten so close before. His shoulders slumped as the debuff Uneven remained.

“You don’t have to cry about it,” Sift said, mistaking Ruwen’s reaction. “If it’s that important to you, let’s agree you did more.”

Ruwen shook his head, giving up on the quest for the day. “No, you’re right. You have a natural way with the Steps I can’t match. Others sense it, too.”

As the maple taste faded, Sift smiled. “Thanks, that’s nice to hear.”

The Founders and Addas had remained silent as Ruwen and Sift whispered.

Dusk stepped forward. “It fills my heart with joy to see all of you. I thought perhaps you met no resistance, but I see injuries among you. Please, someone explain.”

No one spoke for ten seconds and then a woman in Rung One cleared her throat and bowed. “Rung One would have all died. Most certainly.” She pointed at Echo. “But Echo saved us. She destroyed a thirty member Clan by herself. Then fought the beasts in the water as we struggled to reach the shore.” The woman paused a moment and turned to Echo. “It is the bravest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Dusk gave a small bow to the woman. “Thank you for speaking.” Dusk moved to stand in front of Echo and Thorn and Mist joined her. “We owe you a debt of gratitude, sister. Never in our history has an entire cohort reached the river portal intact. You have made history.”

Echo swallowed hard three times before speaking. “It wasn’t my idea.”

“But they were your actions?” Thorn asked.

After a moment Echo nodded.

“Then you deserve the honor,” Mist said.

All three Founders bowed deeply to Echo, and she returned it.

Dusk stood and looked around. “Were you all with Rung One?”

Prythus bowed. “No, we were trapped on the middle of the bridge when it sank.”

“Oh, that was rotten luck,” Thorn said.

“Thanks for that,” Ruwen whispered to Tarot.

“I heard hardship makes you a better person,” Tarot replied.

“Do you believe that?”

“Of course not. It just makes you miserable.”

“That’s just great.”

Dusk spoke. “I am shocked anyone lived. How did you survive that?”

All the Adepts of Rung Two, Three, and Four turned to look at Ruwen.

Ruwen bowed and when he stood, he replied. “A bridge golem gave us a hand.”

“Two actually,” Sift added.

“Interesting,” Mist said. “They’ve never involved themselves before.”

Thorn continued. “Did you use magic to gain their help?”

Ruwen had used his Diamond Fortified Strength, but that didn’t count since it had nothing to do with casting spells or using an ability.

“No magic,” Ruwen replied. “Just a superb group of Bamboo Viper Step fighters. Everyone did their part to keep themselves and their brothers and sisters alive.”

When Ruwen didn’t add any details, Dusk spoke. “What an inspiring…and vague, description of this miracle.”

“Sorry,” Ruwen said. “I spent most of the fight underwater. Sift and his Adepts were the ones facing the danger above.”

Dusk and her sisters bowed deeply again, and everyone returned it.

“The Viper gives us fangs,” Dusk said as the sun climbed fully into the sky. “But Bamboo demonstrates the power of the grove. Our greatest strength comes when we stand together. Well done, Adepts. This is a proud moment for our Clan.”

Dusk stepped back to stand between her sisters and pointed at the portal stone. “The second trial awaits. We will speak again on the other side.”

Madda nodded at Echo and she strode forward and through the portal, Rung One right behind her.

As the rest of the Adepts followed, Sift leaned over and whispered. “Tarot called me a Champion. And he can see the future, right?”

Ruwen sighed. He’d hoped Sift had missed that. “I guess.”

Sift held up two fingers. “Of two worlds.”

“That was probably to be dramatic.”

Sift smiled and looked at the distant fortress nestled in the mountain peaks. “It has a Champion’s Throne.”

“I don’t think you should jump to conclusions.”

Sift shrugged. “It’s your fortune teller golem.”

“Misfortune,” Ruwen muttered, knowing where this conversation was headed.

“It is my destiny.”

“Uru, help me. You were just in a hurry to get home.”

Sift grew serious as he remained focused on the distant stronghold. “Right. Lylan comes first. But if we get a chance, we give it a go. Okay?”

Sift turned toward Ruwen and they locked eyes. Ruwen didn’t know what the future held, but he had no intention of going anywhere near the distant citadel, so this really didn’t matter. “Fine. But we don’t search it out.”

Sift grinned. “Yeah, it would really take some bad luck to end up there.”

Ruwen groaned. Sift had a point. Ruwen should begin assuming anything that could go wrong, would.

Madda cleared her throat and Ruwen and Sift returned their attention to the hilltop. All the Adepts had already passed through the portal and the Founders and Grandmasters stared at Ruwen and Sift. None of them looked pleased.

“This is why you shouldn’t argue about my destiny,” Sift whispered and then strode toward the portal.

Ruwen gave the adults an apologetic smile and bowed. Worried they might want to talk, he marched quickly behind Sift. The second trial awaited.