The Crow King's Wife(94)

“If you drink it you will be bonded to me in a fashion. It won’t make you a mindless slave by any means, but your feelings toward me will be kinder. The price of Divinity is loyalty to me Exodus.” Finn answered with a faint smile.

“Bloody hell.” Exodus muttered her eyes widening as she stared at him. He could see by the look on her face that she saw the entire picture he was painting. “I’m not the only one you are going to make this offer to am I?” she asked quietly.

“You are the first of many.” Finn agreed in a somewhat smug tone. He knew he had her. The offer of true power was too much for her to resist. It would be too much for the others to resist as well. “Evagale will be built Exodus, and our servants will dwell there in peace without fear of retribution, because everyone will know that true Divine have returned. The phrase The wrath of the gods is about to gain meaning again.” He paused to ensure she was hanging on his every word then continued in a confident voice. “When the High Lords meet for their council we will be there as well. Sanctuary is our home and I have no intention of sitting on the sidelines while they tear it apart. They say that by our laws the Divine may not participate in political affairs, and yet I see Lutheron do it every day. So I have determined that if he can, I can, and that our laws are outdated. It’s time to reach a new agreement between the Divine and the Elder Blood.”

Her eyes flashed once and she shook her head at him. “You are doing this for Jala aren’t you? I thought when you first spoke that you were doing this for the Aspects and then you mention their council.” There was a note of jealousy in her voice that left him silent for a long moment and her anger seemed to grow in that space.

He pulled himself from his shock and shook his head slowly. “I’m doing this for me, Exodus.” He murmured. His hand moved to the tattoo on his wrist and his fingers absently traced the marriage lines imprinted on his flesh. “I have to feel as though the gain was worth the price I paid. Some might say that Divinity was well worth the cost of my mortal life, but I don’t agree. I’m doing this so that I can sleep at night knowing it was all worth it. The Aspects are a joke to the Elder Blood as it stands now, and if I can change that and give them a voice then I will be able to actually see some good that I have done.”

Exodus watched him for a long moment and then regarded the trees surrounding them with renewed interest. “Evagale.” She said softly as if pondering the name then looked back to him with interest filling her dark blue eyes. “Where would it be if we built it?” she asked cautiously.

A smile pulled at his lips once more but he kept his expression subdued. She might see a smile as gloating, and that was the last thing he wanted. She was serious now and he needed to be as well. “In its own place like Sanctuary. I don’t want it to be claimed by any one land. I want it to belong to everyone and yet no one. I won’t give the High Lords power there such as they have in Sanctuary, and yet I won’t ban them from the city either.”

“How will you keep the rival priests from fighting amongst each other?” Exodus continued. The caution was fading from her voice replaced by simple curiosity.

“With laws.” Finn answered simply and slowly lowered himself to the ground once more. The moment for concern was past. Exodus was as good as his and he didn’t need to stress over the matter any further.

“How will you enforce the laws if you have no guards?” Exodus pressed. She glanced quickly at the moss covered rocks he was seated on before sitting down to face him with both of her legs crossed in a childlike pose.

“If I were to say to you. Exodus your priests are thieves and I understand their natures, but I cannot allow crime in Evagale. If your followers steal in this particular city I will ban your temples and remove your seat on the council with the Elder Blood. If you cannot control your priests I cannot put faith in your leadership and therefore your presence there is a waste. What would you do?” Finn kept his voice mild but he could still see her stiffen at his words.

“My followers will obey my will.” Exodus said defensively but he could see the understanding in her eyes as she nodded her agreement with his logic. “As will the followers of the other Aspects.” She conceded with a faint smile and a nod.

“Everyone will be too afraid of missing something important to let their flock stray.” Finn agreed with a slight nod.

“But what about those who visit the city? How will you keep them in order? Our priests might follow from reverence, but not everyone will.” Exodus asked after a long moment of contemplation. She was leaning back on her arms now and looked perfectly relaxed despite where she was. Not many could manage to look so at ease while speaking with the Lord of Death in hell Finn realized with amusement.