The God kicked over the wall of its prison. Stone tumbled and killed two Sentinels, and the others stepped aside. It reached down and picked one up, casting it across the lake, where something rose and snatched it from the surface. The remaining Sentinel stood its ground, brave and determined to the last, trying to utter lost words. The Fallen God picked it up and threw it hard, aiming for the closest gushing torrent of lava falling from the wall of the cavern. The creature disappeared in a flash.

“Ramus!” Nomi shouted, projecting her voice past the terror of what had happened. “Those words!” Whether he heard her she was not sure, because he was hanging limp in the God's hand and staring up at its face. Its head turned this way and that, eyes turning individually as if reveling in sensory input. A falling rock struck its back and shattered. Another bounced from its head and caused a huge splash as the lake swallowed it up. “Ramus!” The God turned its attention to her again, then looked across at Ramus in another hand.

And now what? Nomi thought. The water? The lava? Its mouth? She closed her eyes and wished a quick end.

She felt herself moved through the air and then she was still again, and when she opened her eyes Ramus was a handbreadth away from her. He stared at her, and she could not read his expression. Perhaps he was gone.

“Can you feel the power?” he asked, voice flat.

She nodded.

“No one should,” he said. “No one, not now, not ever. This is more than Noreela can take. What have I . . . ?”

“I tried to . . .” Nomi whispered.

Ramus closed his eyes and lowered his head.

The God pulled them apart again, then close together. It was as if it was testing to see whether they would punch or kiss. They did neither.

“Ramus,” Nomi said the last time they were close enough to talk. “You have to say those words. They're the language of the Sleeping Gods, and now you're the only one that—”

“You want me to destroy it?” he asked, aghast. And he glanced into the eyes of the Fallen God, which in turn examined them.

Yes, Nomi thought as it pulled them apart. Of course.

It strode across the lake and entered the tunnel. The ground shook around them, the air was on fire with the sounds of destruction, their way was lit by molten rock flowing across their path or visible through cracks in the walls, the earth quaked. Nomi thought, Yes, Ramus, destroy it. But when she spoke, she could not even hear herself. And she knew that, even if the tumult did die down for a moment, Ramus was far beyond listening.

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