My Kingdom Come Book 1: The Saints We See (Complete)

Chapter 39: Damaged

666 standard years after the signing of the Alliance

"Good day, brother, may you find satisfaction in your place today." Mik bowed to the Norz who had stood next to him in the ritual service and then moved to the back wall of the temple where he knelt in front of the stone wheel. This was his last training trip under Chentzo. He was scheduled to be put up for auction in less than a month. He was both terrified and relieved. He was glad that he would finally have a master to serve. He would finally have one direction, one purpose, one person to serve and obey, maybe even to love. But what kind of master would buy him? Who would Mikhail become after he was bonded to them?

He held his hands out to the gods. "Gods, I am grateful for your provision, your watchful eyes and your eternal love. Thank you for the success you've granted me here in my training. Please bless my master, Chentzo, grant him prosperity and give him favor in all his dealings and gods..." Mik swallowed. "Please grant me a good and honorable master when I am sold next month." The faces of Mik's sponsors flashed through his mind. None of them were particularly good or honorable. He frowned slightly. It was not his place to judge the worthiness of his potential masters. "Let me please them and serve them well. Please watch over the other boys on my floor. Give them good lives. Please watch over my friend Dachvinder, let daem be happy.

"God's, I don't know how my master will change me or what rules they will make for me. I might not be allowed to set foot in a temple again, but my heart, my life will always belong to you first. I offer myself to you, in service to my brothers, sisters and siblings, in service to life, to kindness and goodness. Please, accept my offering and let my service be acceptable to you. Please, let me bring honor to Galor's name."

Mik paused, waiting for that gentle calmness that always touched his emotional center after he prayed. It came, but something unexpected came along with it. A calm voice spoke into his mind. You are on your way to hell. Do not be afraid and do not despair. You will find your brother there. He desperately needs all the strength and knowledge you can gather on your journey. You and your brother will emerge with an alliance that has the power to save many lives.

Mik froze. The words burned in his mind with a clarity and certainty that he'd never felt before. All of Mik's worries left him. He sucked in a breath and looked around. There were people scattered around the temple, but no one was nearby. He swallowed. "Thank you." He wasn't sure he should be thanking the gods for a promise that he was going to hell, but the message hadn't felt despairing or frightening.

Mik got up and donated to the temple fund one of the jeweled hair baubles he had been gifted from a sponsor, and met Isca back near the entrance of the temple. They went to the docks and boarded the ship that would carry them home again.

That night Mik lay awake in his bed for a long time wondering what hell awaited him and who his brother could possibly be.

* * *

Mik checked his eyeliner in the mirror, then leaned back in his chair. His eye caught on the tassel dangling from the end of the chain that hung from his throat. He gently ran a finger along the delicate chains that made up the tassel. They had tiny, dark blue, polished stones interspersed along their length. The tassel had been a gift from Dachvinder's queen. The stones were from the hive garden. They held inside them the calming, sense of belonging that the hive gave off. It was a comfort to Mik, carrying that energy with him through his lonely days.

The green chime sounded and Mik looked up at the reflection of the door in his vanity mirror, puzzled. His sponsor wasn't due for another hour and a half.

The door opened and Isca lumbered in.

Mik half turned in his chair. "Isca? Wha-"

Isca grabbed Mik's arm, dragged him out of his chair and then out of the room.