Waverly did not know what to make of their short trip but she found it to be a somewhat fun experience. They rode in a carriage that was meant to seat only three people but as it was, there were four of them plus Judson's enormous wings.

Waverly sat near Brijjet who sat next to Judson. His wings were compressed into the carriage and Waverly thought he might be very uncomfortable but even if he did feel uncomfortable, Judson was too busy laughing to notice.

The Priest sat with his back to them on a single bench in front talking about his glory days as an apprentice under the High Priest and how he had saved a pregnant woman who was stung by a dangerous scorpion. As he spoke, he gestured with his hands and his hair bopped up and down in a ridiculous manner.

Brijjet took this as an avenue to make fun of the old man. He made his fingers to look like a pair of scissors and tried to cut off the strands of hair that stuck up from the priest's head. Waverly clasped her hands over her mouth to keep from laughing whereas Judson did not hold back.

Thunder clapped in the sky and rain splashed violently into the carriage but nobody seemed to mind. The road was full of gallops which caused the carriage to move with a jerk and a bump every now and then. This motion made Waverly's stomach gurgle because she had drunk a lot of water right before they left. She was fully conscious of this and the fact that Brijjet might hear the funny sound.

". . . she was as pale as chalk and the infant inside her was on the brink of death. There was no other way." The priest was saying. His robes were soaked on one side and dry on the other and this gave it two shades of blue - one darker and the other lighter.

"What did you do then?" Brijjet asked. He pretended to be interested in the priest's story only in a bid to keep the man's attention away from his actions of mockery.

"I did the bravest thing there was. I travelled for seven days to the realm of Hammiton to find the Slumber Serpent."

"Seven days? How did the poor woman wait for that long?" Waverly inquired.

The priest shrugged. "It was a rare condition, her labor, but she did hold on."

"And you said you travelled to find the what?" Brijjet asked. His tone sounded half enthusiastic. Despite being a joker, he could not totally ignore information such as that.

"The Slumber Serpent. It is one of the most dangerous creatures in all the realms. It produces venom that can cure any mortal ailment."

"That sounds interesting. How did you get the cure?" Brijjet hummed. He moved his hands around the priest's head in a way that mimicked giving him a fancy haircut. Judson cackled whenever the priest would turn unexpectedly and Brijjet would also quickly feign rapt attention. He was very swift and so the priest never caught him.

"I battled the thing. It was ridiculously gigantic - taller than the tallest tower, larger than a whale and stronger than a thousand giants. We fought for many days. It snored up an earthquake that shook the ground to its core." The priest explained.

"Wait? It snores? Why does it snore? I did not know that snakes could snore." Waverly contributed.

The priest chuckled. The thunder would sometimes drown out his voice, so he spoke as loudly as possible but not in a pleasant manner. "The Slumber Serpent is not a snake, my dear. It is only named so because it looks like one. And yes, it snores because it is always asleep."

"How could you not get past it easily then if as you say it was always dozing?" Brijjet asked then whispered to Waverly. "Although, i'm not at all surprised it took him so long."

Waverly snorted and covered her mouth. Brijjet's smiling eyes locked with hers for a moment then peeled off and it left her feeling strangely empty.

The priest yelled something to the coachman who immediately took a hard left. The city had really tall buildings which Waverly found fascinating. She had never seen such before. The weather casted a hazy greyness across the street making it impossible to see anything and yet the coachman seemed to know exactly where he was going.

"I was skilled with magic but the creature had good hearing and incredible speed, much like you." The priest turned to Brijjet.

"Oh, then i guess i have a long lost relative." Brijjet said flatly. "Say, does its last name happen to be B. Ellie Bootoun?"

Waverly chortled. She knew Brijjet had meant Belly Button.

"You are yet to tell us how you defeated the Serpent." Judson stated. The rain had reduced dramatically but thunder still rumbled loudly above. The carriage stopped in front of a stately house rendered with light blue cement. The wide roof was also blue making the house look like something straight out of a coloring book.

It had beautiful wide windows, a terrace lined with flowers and burning incense, a small garden by the left of it and a stone fence guarding the perimeter. Waverly thought the house would belong to a Lord or a Lady but in Dakriton there was no such thing as living in classes or according to one's position or wealth. She mentioned this to Brijjet as the priest hurried them into the terrace.

"I don't think they live like that here. Humans tend to get too proud and use means to distinguish themselves from people they feel are below them meanwhile every man is born equal - naked. Every man has blood flowing in his veins, he has a heart and he can be hurt." Brijjet spoke. Whenever he spoke this way, Waverly thought him to be fifty years old. She did not like that.

"So. . . you mean only Humans live according to the authority or wealth they possess?" Waverly asked. The priest rang the door bell and clasped his hands together, his teeth chattered loudly from the blasting cold. Judson leaned against Waverly for support and she wrapped an arm across his back to keep him balanced. His body was warm despite the cold and his half wet clothes.

"Not exactly but they practice it the most. Every realm has a King and a Council. That's just about it. No one else classifies their farmers according to how many animals they breed or how much crops they grow. I believe the only ones allowed to belong in a class are those with a profession."

"Like whose?" Waverly asked. The door gently swung inwards and a young man dressed in a grey coat bowed to them.

"Oh, hello Brown. Can we come in?" The priest asked, stuttering over his words as a result of his shivering.

Brown nodded quickly. "Of course yes, please do, master Chimbley."

"Chimbley?" Brijjet whispered but he did not sound amused. He seemed rather surprised by the name. Brown led them into the house. It was cozy and smelled like pomegranates and roasted chickpeas. It was even more beautiful than the exterior. Plain white curtains graced the windows, a huge brass candelabrum dangled from the ceiling to give light while smaller candle holders were stationed in different places to illuminate doorways and hallways. There was a high fireplace in one corner of the room where six comfortable couches were laid. Everything about the house was eye catching but what really snatched Waverly's attention was the statue.

It was incredibly tall, positioned on a pedestal in the middle of the room such that it went halfway to the ceiling. The statue was of a man in white robes, tall and slender with flowing hair, dressed in robes that stretched down all the way to his feet so the only visible parts of him were his outstretched arms and head. Waverly gazed up at him. It was the exact same one she had seen outside the temple but this was more intricate. Even though it was only a statue, Waverly found herself gaping at it in disbelief.

Brijjet walked up to her and also gazed at the statue.

"He is . . . " Waverly began.

". . . beautiful." Brijjet completed with a knowing tone. "Hm, yes, that is Zakoon. The patron god of both Daks and Ezkaliens; god of beauty, romantic desire, philosophy and culture."

"Those are an odd combinement of things to be god of." Waverly stated unable to look away.

She stared intently into the face of the statue and thought that whoever might have sculptured it had probably met the god in person. His features were too perfect, too delicate - flawless in fact. He was everything Waverly thought attractive in the world.

"Look over here." Brijjet called. He had gone to stand behind the statue to gaze up at it. Waverly led Judson to the other side and they both joined Brijjet. When she looked up, the god was still there but in a different attire. He wore a light kind of armor that looked more like regular clothes held in the middle by an amazing golden belt. He had in his outstretched hand, a double edged sword that was as long as the length of him.

"On that side, he's the good guy, total knockout." Brijjet explained pointing to the other statue. "But on this side, he's known as Koon - more of a knock off. He's more warlike here but i don't think he's ever really fought before. Here; he's the god of war, deception and music especially poetry - which was how i think he won all of those poor little ladies over."

"Wow." Judson muttered.

"I know right?! Lots of jobs." Brijjet chuckled pitifully. "That's exactly why new gods get appointed."

"How?" Waverly asked. She remembered that Brijjet had failed to elaborate on the matter the last time she asked with Isabeth in the room.

Brijjet crossed his arms over his chest. His blue eyes pierced into the god's face in such a hard gaze that Waverly thought the statue would react. But nothing happened. The statue remained a statue.

"Well, once in every millennia or so, the gods appoint a new deity. I don't know how, believe me. I've never seen it done but these new gods come to either take up a new position, relieve the old gods of some of their duties or all of it but the latter is very rare, happened only once."

"What are you talking about?" Judson asked. He had lifted his head off Waverly's shoulder to listen to Brijjet.

Brijjet was about to answer when the priest hurried over to them. "There you are, the lot of you. The High Priest is about to join us. Come, come!"

The trio followed Chimbley the priest to the fireplace where they each took a seat. Servants in grey coats brought cups of tea and warm biscuits to them. Waverly wondered how they were able to wear coats despite the size of their wings.

"The High Priest is a renaissance man. He knows a lot of things so please, just listen to him and do not interrupt." Chimbley warned calmly.

"You told us he can't talk." Brijjet said leaning forward.

Chimbley looked nervously at the servants. They seemed to avoid his gaze. "I was only overstating. The High Priest can speak but he does have a bit of trouble with his hearing. . . sometimes. Also with seeing, which is why none of you should interrupt him."

"But what if i have a question or i need more tea?" Brijjet asked in a serious tone.

"Save both requests for later." Chimbley stated.

Just then, a door behind the stairway opened and three people stepped out. It did not take any effort to see them because candle flames shone everywhere. Two of these people were servants, one male and the other female. In their middle was a man in a wheelchair. As they wheeled him closer, Waverly realized he was very small and he sat bent over in his chair. His grey brows grew so long and bushy that they covered his eyelids, his mustache was just as long and bushy and he had a grey beard that fell all the way to his knees.

Waverly thought he looked like a creature called an Earthen Gnome from one her study books. These were extremely rare creatures that could only be found in the deepest parts of the ground, if one was lucky enough to see them. They were awfully wealthy because they had access to all the precious stones and treasures under the earth.

The High Priest though, was much bigger than a Gnome. He was so frail that Waverly feared he would slip from life at any given moment. The servants set him in front of the fireplace but not close enough for him to feel the heat of the fire.

"Master!" Chimbley said. He went forward and knelt in front of the High Priest. He touched his hand in reverence and the High Priest twitched.

"Who shows veneration to me?" He asked in a weak tone.

"It is your most loyal servant Chimbley, Master." Chimbley said.

It was an odd thing for Waverly to see how old both men were and yet how much they looked different in regard to their respective ages. Chimbley was old in the way a teenager might think a middle aged man was old whilst the High Priest was old in the way a middle aged man would think his grandfather was old. Chimbley was much more lively than his master despite being an elderly man in Waverly's eyes.

"Ah, Chimbley." The High Priest said. He seemed to have recalled his servant but his tone suggested that he was not sure which Chimbley this was. Waverly thought he might have known a good number of Chimbleys in his lifetime enough to get confused.

"Master, i come to you for your clairvoyance. There are young ones with me here who seek directions and your help." Chimbley stated.

The High Priest groaned weakly. It sounded like he hated being asked of this particular favor. "Chimbley, you know my gift of foresight has become too weak. Even my physical eyes have dimmed to nothing."

"I know that master, but who else would i turn to if not you? You still grace us with your presence til this very day, and only your guidance will i seek until your presence departs, master." Chimbley said. He sounded sad and Waverly could not blame him. He was a loyal follower of the High Priest and had probably known him for a very long time too. It was heartbreaking how fast his master's life force was being drained before his very eyes.

The High Priest chuckled. "You still have a way with those words, Chimbley. This is why i shall never forget you. You talked your way past that Serpent, did you not?"

"So that's how you got past the thing!" Brijjet contributed in a tone that sounded amused and awestruck.

The High Priest cocked his head in Brijjet's direction. He seemed to have been truly oblivious of the presence of others aside Chimbley despite the latter mentioning earlier on that he had company.

The High Priest hummed. A strange aura seemed to fill the room. Waverly did not see it but she could feel it.

"Interesting! The spawn of a god, the spawn of two gods and the spawn of a god." He said tersely. He did not indicate to Brijjet, Waverly or Judson separately when he spoke and so the trio was confused as to whom he referred to as what.

"Where did you find this unusual lot, Chimbley?" The High Priest asked.

"They came to me, master. They sought healing and help. I could only do so much."

The High Priest hummed. "I see what they suffer individually and i see the outcome of their future. I see their footprints on the sand, i know the words they will speak tomorrow and the paths they will take and the lives they will live until the day they cease to exist."

Waverly felt an intense coldness grip her spine. She became overcome with fear. It was as though Malvarëken had whispered softly into her ear. She wondered how a man so old and almost lifeless could sit in a wheelchair and see everything about her down to her very death.

"Do not fear, moonshiner. Your days are long but alas. . ." The High Priest groaned and placed a shaky hand against his temple.

"Master?" Chimbley called cautiously.

"They will not bid me tell. I must not reveal that which is hidden under the very bosoms of Cret."

"You must help them master. Tell us of the way to Enton." Chimbley requested.

The Priest groaned again. "Chimbley, Chimbley! Dear Chimbley, i cannot speak more than those words i have been allowed to utter."

"You have to help us, good sir. Please, Judson is unwell and he needs her help. I mean Cret, My Lady. She is the only one who can help us but only if you help us first." Waverly pleaded. She could not allow the old man refuse just like that, after all they had suffered to get to him.

The High Priest cocked his old bald head toward the sound of her voice which was not the most accurate turn because he looked like he was half gazing at Chimbley and at the ground.

"Tell me, daughter of Alluna, do you see it?"

Waverly slightly jerked her head backwards, her brows furrowing. "See what?"

"It! The chasm above you!" The High Priest cooed.

Everyone in the room including Waverly, looked up but there was nothing there. They simultaneously shifted their gaze back to the Priest.

"I do not see anything." Waverly replied.

"Exactly." The High Priest said. "Your simple eyes do not see that which you are not permitted to gaze upon because it is known that if you do, you would work to either avoid what is before you or attain it. The same principle applies to me, child. People come to me in hopes that i might tell them what is before them, behind them or above them. Indeed, i see it and i reveal as much as is necessary but alas i cannot say all of it. For if i did, then not only would i alter the destiny of one person but of a million."

"So. . . " Brijjet began. His voice made every eye turn to him. ". . . you mean to say that if you showed us or told us what our future held, we'd take it into our own hands to either prevent it or get to it? And why not? Isn't that what it means to be mortal? We can alter our future unlike the gods who have a fixed path."

The High Priest seemed to study Brijjet for a while. A strange smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "A rebel of the gods you are. A kind born every millennia. Did you know that the last mortal rebel was appointed to be a goddess and the rebel before her and the rebel before as well?"

Brijjet stiffened. Waverly turned to stare at him. He looked very uncomfortable but his posture remained ever so still. She wondered if it bothered him now to be that way since he was almost always hyperactive.

"The gods have a tendency to draw rebels like you to themselves. The idea is to get the lot of you to see how wrong you have been. Who knows, you might be the next god to be appointed." The High Priest blurted the last sentence matter-of-factedly.

Waverly's thoughts immediately raced back to Isabeth. The little girl had mentioned that she was to serve under a god that was yet to be appointed. Brijjet was immortal. He had lived for over fifty years and all his life he had done nothing but despise the gods. Waverly became convinced that he was the one Isabeth's mother spoke of.

Maybe the gods did follow a pattern, a repetitive pattern. Brijjet had been somewhat correct. They could not change their future like mortals. They were all tied to a fixed road and for as long as they existed, they would always go down it.

"I'll refuse. I want nothing to do with those gods." Brijjet stated calmly.

"Hmm. I see." The High Priest said then turned his solemn gaze to Judson who now leaned into the chair with his arms tightly pressed on either sides of him and his head tucked forward. It took Waverly a second glance to realize he was asleep.

"Very well. I shall do all that i can to help you but i can only do, as Chimbley has said before, so much."

"So much sounds better than nothing at all." Brijjet mumbled.

Waverly thought they would have to perform another long bout of rituals or make six potions to get the High Priest into a state of divinity but the old man only opened his dark eyes as wide as he could and spat out a set of rhyming lines.

"A company of three travels to face dread.
One derails, two forge ahead.
The gift of protection transposed in a moment.
A shattered soul, a duty of atonement."

The Honor of Light|
Book 02