All That Is Evil Is Not Dark/Chapter 55

Giliara stood before the temple of the Lord of Light and shivered. The Goddess had cast his people away and he now presumed to be good enough to seek her redemption. Tralin's plan was bold to be sure, but Giliara was afraid deeply. Every bit of his training and youth caused him to shudder at the very thought of reentering the temple. Giliara tried to imagine what his family would say at his presumption and was not comforted.

Darin looked at the Brilhado considerately. "Do all of your people serve the armies of the Uncreator?"

"No longer. Not for generations. The army selects only the most elite and skilled to choose, only those who they believe ultimately dedicated."

"Begging your pardon then, but how would one who feels as you do ever gain entry?"

"Their standards have been reduced as the war actually comes again. They need to complete their numbers, to enforce their strength. I saw a chance to escape the land of my birth, so I volunteered..."

"And when you saw what they wanted, you rebelled?"

"More or less..."

"You fear the temple? Yet the Brilhado who attacked seemed to hold no reverence for it."

"They have the favor of the Uncreator to defend them against the Goddess's wrath. I am a traitor to my people, I can expect no protection..."

"From what I know of the Devourer, I suspect that the Brilhado are expendable pawns. Their faith in his defense is likely misplaced."

"Mayhap."

"Well, it is time to see if you can open the temple... have you ready Tralin's spell?"

"Yes..."

"Very well then, Giliara, communicant. Open the temple of Light"

Giliara concentrated on the words and gestures to unleash the ritual as Tralin instructed. A ritual designed to offer himself to the Goddess and open the temple to her new communicant. Giliara was filled with dread, but he uttered the words nevertheless, pushing on.

Darin flinched as a bolt of brilliant light surrounded the Brilhado, eliciting a cry of pain and terror. When the light faded and Darin could again see, the Brilhado was gone, a single feather marking the area where he had just recently stood...