CITY OF THE GODS: FORGOTTEN by M.Scott Verne, Wynn Wynn Mercere Read Free Book Online Page A

before an inscribed stone that lay along the path. It was lit by a small lantern set atop its flat surface. “This is the trail leading to Buddha’s Retreat. Come,” Mazu said as she turned and began to walk along the new trail, which was not as smooth and well-traveled as the one they left.
    A moment later, Aavi stumbled on the uneven surface and awkwardly managed not to fall on her face. Once she regained her footing, she tried to explain her opinion about Earth’s size to Mazu. “I just thought that Earth would be a large place if it needs a city full of gods to run it,” she said, now holding up the skirt of her robe to keep it away from her feet.
    Mazu found this idea humorous as she leaned grinning against her staff and waited for Aavi to catch up. “Perhaps Earth is larger than I remember. But you should know the gods left Earth some time ago, so it no longer depends upon us to control or aid it. What do you think of that?”
    Aavi didn’t know what she thought about that at all, but before she could express this to Mazu she staggered again. This time she could not blame the darkness, her feet, or the robe which she still held carefully out of the way. Fortunately old Mazu was alert and quick, catching her by the arm before she hit the ground.
    “Sit, Aavi,” the goddess said. “The Oracle will wait.” Aavi nodded a bit glumly as she allowed Mazu to ease her down onto the first of the stone steps that marked the final ascent to Buddha’s Retreat. She was feeling strange and dizzy again, as she had when she first woke up in the City. Her face grew suddenly warm as she worried that Mazu would be angry with her for slowing them down. Although the only light around them came from the soft glow of lanterns resting on the short stone columns that lined the trail, Mazu’s perceptive sight discerned Aavi’s embarrassment by the blush that appeared across her cheeks. The goddess, always compassionate, hoped that the Oracle would truly help this being who seemed so weak and lost. In the meantime, Mazu thought some more basic assistance would be appropriate. “If you are hungry, that will be taken care of as soon as we reach the top. When did you last eat? Forgive me for not asking before, but I’m not normally concerned with such human matters.”
    Aavi looked at Mazu sheepishly. “I guess that’s another of those things I can’t remember,” she said. As they sat for a few minutes, Mazu offered Aavi a dark red glass bottle. It was topped with a stopper decorated with a golden tassel. Aavi’s fingers played over the silky threads and the smooth, hard angles of the vessel. “This is pretty. Does it do something?”
    Mazu nodded patiently. “Yes. It holds a special liquid that will make you feel better. Pull out the stopper and drink some.”
    Aavi fumbled with the bottle. The stopper pulled free with a startling pop that made her jump. She looked at Mazu, who was miming what to do next. The goddess curved her hand as if the bottle rested within it and tipped it up toward her face. Aavi followed her lead and inserted the lip of the bottle into her mouth. Lifting the vessel higher caused a cool, wet fluid to pour onto her tongue. She held the liquid in her mouth for a moment then reflexively swallowed, hoping that was the right way to proceed. Aavi felt the coolness of the drink move through the upper part of her body and stop somewhere in her middle. As soon as it did, the weakness she had been feeling disappeared.
    “You’ll feel better now,” Mazu observed. “My life-water will keep you going for a little while, but regular food and drink is what you really need.”
    Aavi thanked the goddess as they stood up and faced the last part of the climb. She felt much stronger, and the dark shadows of the trees and the strange sounds of the forest didn’t bother her as much with Mazu’s elixir inside her. She even wished she could see the creatures that were hidden by the darkness, wondering if they had wings