The Gods' War

Chapter 19

            SLEEPING IN THE Home of the Gods was like floating on a cloud – which was, in fact, what they were doing. The only problem had been that gods in their true form never slept, and so there were no beds. Bjeu and Druiden had come up with a solution: use the cloud. They had taken parts of the cloud and transported it into the castle where they made it into mattress-like objects. It was very comfortable, but Lucas’ sleep was filled with dreams of falling.

             Bjeu, Danae and Druiden showed their students how to return to land the following morning. When they were all on the platform, Druiden summoned a boat which suddenly appeared in the water in front of them. The boat was made of pure magic, glowing essence that was insubstantial, and yet, when they all stepped aboard, no one fell into the river. The boat took them to the Lake of the Blest, and moored on the banks of the River Fortune. After everyone climbed off, the boat disappeared. They stood there on the far side of the Isle of Peace, enjoying the beautiful scenery.

            “Now, students, time for your first lesson,” Danae spoke, “We teach by doing, and so you will either mimic us, or come up with another way to do what we do.”

             “This first lesson is for Adrian,” Bjeu said, “You will help your fellow students to cross to the Isle of Peace. We do not show you the way to do it now, but we will show you after you have completed the lesson. This is because everyone uses their magic differently, and we need to learn how you think.” The three gods then walked off a ways and sat down to let them think.

            “You could always use the lake floor – bring a section of it up and use it as a pathway,” Lucas suggested.

             “Or you could put a layer of ice over the water,” suggested Sarah.

             “Both good ideas,” Adrian commented, “but they would both take a lot of energy to do.”

             “Well, how about weaving a bridge of vines?” Sarah asked.

            “Or parting the water,” Lucas said.

             “Parting the water would be hard, and the vines are impractical. I do have an idea though,” Adrian said.

             Adrian made a bridge of solid air over the lake over which everyone walked on to the Isle of Peace. When they were on the isle, Druiden spoke: “Not bad, but there was an easier way.”

             “It would have taken a lot less energy to do this,” Bjeu demonstrated.

He looked for a tall tree, and then when he found one, he extended his hand and used his power. A high branch grew longer and grew straight out over the lake, slowly descending, till it anchored itself on the far bank. Then, on it grew six vines which formed themselves into circles. Bjeu climbed the tree, and put his body through one of the vines and hung on. Bjeu pushed himself off and the vine descended with the branch, picking up speed until he was on the far bank.  Then he used the wind to bring him back to the isle.

            “That took less energy,” Bjeu said, “But your way worked as well, I suppose.”

             “Sarah, come with me. I will be teaching you scrying now,” Danae said and led her away to the other side of the island.

            Druiden turned his back on Lucas and walked away, Lucas supposed he should follow. Bjeu then built a firewall around a few trees and Adrian and himself. The fire wall was a semi-circle which ended on the banks of the lake.