INCARNATE | Book 3 of the Spirits' War Trilogy [excerpt]

5: UTU

Image: Jaguar Spirit by Moises Josue Avila

Soundtrack: Instrumental Music Peru - The Land of the Incas 2 (medley)

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Flint

"I should have asked this before, Tuco," Nessie inquires in Spanish, "but where is Utu?"

The Serpiente shakes his head. "Utu has left us for a time. We do not know when he will be back." He stares wistfully at a distant mountain.

"Who's Utu?" I whisper to Nessie.

"Uturunku is an Apu, like me," she replies. "He used tae reside there." The spirit points at the mountain Tuco had been gazing at. "Monte Uturunku. There are many Apukuna – mountain spirits – in Incan legend. But three of us were bestowed with the power of the natural world in order tae keep the balance. We are equivalent tae yer three Spiritborne."

Now I remember. Nessie had mentioned Uturunku's name after the battle at Conwy. She'd said there were three Apukuna: Yacumama, Inti, and Uturunku.

"Of course. The spirits are arranged in threes."

It's true – in the last few centuries, I'd left the U.K. to explore the world. Though I don't quite remember their names and personalities yet, I'd come across other Earth spirits. Many of them worked in threes to achieve balance in their respective areas. A trio for each major land mass, perhaps.

The Great Spirit had expertly arranged us so as to keep the planet healthy and safe. He didn't, however, anticipate so much violence between races and species. Not to mention, one of those Earth spirits – Patercius – had forgotten his past and turned against us. He believed us to be demons. And I believed him to be mortal – I thought he'd died centuries ago, like his human followers. Little did I know Patty was the reincarnation of the Peruvian Sun God, Inti.

"Nwyfre?"

"Oh. Sorry. Go on," I mutter, smiling apologetically and wincing as my cheeks heat up.

The Serpientes are staring intently at me. Nessie blinks impatiently, shaking her head at me before turning back to the others.

"There are three main Apukuna. They represent the three realms of this civilization."

Tuco nods vigorously. "The first is Hanan Pacha. The upper realm. This is Inti's area of expertise," he tells us.

The young man's accent is strong when he speaks Spanish, but the others seem to understand him perfectly. They instinctively glance skyward, their eyes wistful.

"Inti is the Sun God. Spirit of the skies. He has been gone from our world for as long as we remember, but when the sun comes out and brightens our world, we think of him and await his return."