and their assets must be used to defend humans against the current problem. Neither can you ask Brina to share what she knows, as she is under an oath of silence regarding the Alterants.”
“Then it’s an impossible task,” Evalle murmured,though Brina and the entities missed nothing spoken in this realm.
Sen stood close enough to hear, his mouth curving with undisguised delight.
Loki lifted a finger, as if he were Aristotle instructing students. “Not so. We give you three gifts, as long as they are used with the explicit intent of returning the Alterants. If not, the power will turn on you. Each gift must be unique and cannot be duplicated once requested. You may not use any of these gifts to kill unless you have no other option.”
Evalle frowned. “What are the three gifts?”
“That will be for you to decide as the need arises,” Loki answered. “To call upon a gift, speak the words ‘By the Tribunal power gifted me, I command’ what you need. You may only use these gifts for fulfilling your agreement. If you misuse a gift, there will be a severe penalty.”
It would take a magician to unveil the truth beneath words spoken by a god or goddess. Evalle banked the three gifts mentally and started to ask about how to get help when Loki added one more caveat.
“And you may ask one person now for help. Is that not generous?” Loki smiled, supremely pleased with himself.
Talk about a trick question.
Ares held his hand out, and an elegant gold-and-black hourglass appeared in the palm of his hand. “When I turn this over, you have until the sands run out, then we will send Sen for you. When your time is up, the hourglass will take Sen to wherever you are. If you fail to deliver the missing Alterants, we will turn every asset at VIPER loose to hunt down all Alterants and destroy them.”
That would include me, Evalle acknowledged silently.
She got it. Ares had no intention of spending another minute hearing further arguments on her behalf. Evalle couldn’t gain anything more right now. She had no choice but to get moving and figure out her next step— if she could actually find the escaped Alterants.
And there was only one person who might know where the other three Alterants were. Since she’d been told she could ask one person for help, maybe Tristan could be brought here.
That seemed fair. That way Brina wouldn’t have to divulge his location and she could send him back to his cage after he answered Evalle’s questions.
What were the chances of Tristan answering truthfully?
Pretty good if he lit up bright red every time he lied. No one could defy a Tribunal but a god or goddess and that would end in bloodshed.
And Tristan can’t attack me here.
This had potential.
“I understand,” Evalle said, then added, “but how long does it take the hourglass to empty?”
Loki said, “More than a day and less than a lifetime.”
Not helping. She gave up on that and moved on to something she might be able to get straight. “I wish to carry full responsibility for the success or failure of this on my shoulders, not Brina’s.”
Ares barked, “Denied.”
Brina’s words came to Evalle’s mind on a whisper. Do your best. I expect no more.
The power of that faith hit Evalle squarely in her chest. She couldn’t speak for a moment.
Brina whispered quickly in Evalle’s mind, The Tribunal is not as informed as they’d like to believe. There have been sixteen Alterants that have shifted and attacked in the past forty-eight hours. Those have killed seventy-six humans. But sharing that with a Tribunal convinced that you are at fault for this outbreak will not free you sooner.
Are all the Alterants dead?
No. Eight are still loose.
Ares turned the hourglass over and sand began to spill down in a thin stream.
Brina spoke even faster in Evalle’s head. You are right about the danger of Beladors linking to fight Alterants. I can’t share much about Alterants because of my oath, but I can tell you
“Then it’s an impossible task,” Evalle murmured,though Brina and the entities missed nothing spoken in this realm.
Sen stood close enough to hear, his mouth curving with undisguised delight.
Loki lifted a finger, as if he were Aristotle instructing students. “Not so. We give you three gifts, as long as they are used with the explicit intent of returning the Alterants. If not, the power will turn on you. Each gift must be unique and cannot be duplicated once requested. You may not use any of these gifts to kill unless you have no other option.”
Evalle frowned. “What are the three gifts?”
“That will be for you to decide as the need arises,” Loki answered. “To call upon a gift, speak the words ‘By the Tribunal power gifted me, I command’ what you need. You may only use these gifts for fulfilling your agreement. If you misuse a gift, there will be a severe penalty.”
It would take a magician to unveil the truth beneath words spoken by a god or goddess. Evalle banked the three gifts mentally and started to ask about how to get help when Loki added one more caveat.
“And you may ask one person now for help. Is that not generous?” Loki smiled, supremely pleased with himself.
Talk about a trick question.
Ares held his hand out, and an elegant gold-and-black hourglass appeared in the palm of his hand. “When I turn this over, you have until the sands run out, then we will send Sen for you. When your time is up, the hourglass will take Sen to wherever you are. If you fail to deliver the missing Alterants, we will turn every asset at VIPER loose to hunt down all Alterants and destroy them.”
That would include me, Evalle acknowledged silently.
She got it. Ares had no intention of spending another minute hearing further arguments on her behalf. Evalle couldn’t gain anything more right now. She had no choice but to get moving and figure out her next step— if she could actually find the escaped Alterants.
And there was only one person who might know where the other three Alterants were. Since she’d been told she could ask one person for help, maybe Tristan could be brought here.
That seemed fair. That way Brina wouldn’t have to divulge his location and she could send him back to his cage after he answered Evalle’s questions.
What were the chances of Tristan answering truthfully?
Pretty good if he lit up bright red every time he lied. No one could defy a Tribunal but a god or goddess and that would end in bloodshed.
And Tristan can’t attack me here.
This had potential.
“I understand,” Evalle said, then added, “but how long does it take the hourglass to empty?”
Loki said, “More than a day and less than a lifetime.”
Not helping. She gave up on that and moved on to something she might be able to get straight. “I wish to carry full responsibility for the success or failure of this on my shoulders, not Brina’s.”
Ares barked, “Denied.”
Brina’s words came to Evalle’s mind on a whisper. Do your best. I expect no more.
The power of that faith hit Evalle squarely in her chest. She couldn’t speak for a moment.
Brina whispered quickly in Evalle’s mind, The Tribunal is not as informed as they’d like to believe. There have been sixteen Alterants that have shifted and attacked in the past forty-eight hours. Those have killed seventy-six humans. But sharing that with a Tribunal convinced that you are at fault for this outbreak will not free you sooner.
Are all the Alterants dead?
No. Eight are still loose.
Ares turned the hourglass over and sand began to spill down in a thin stream.
Brina spoke even faster in Evalle’s head. You are right about the danger of Beladors linking to fight Alterants. I can’t share much about Alterants because of my oath, but I can tell you
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