Ethrian turned to the woman. “I’m not sure I follow him.”

“It’s a troika offer. You deliver us, he gives you the armies and myself the power to battle the Tervola. We work together to build an empire.”

“What does he get?”

“You might have to be a god to understand.”

“Try me. Otherwise, I can only judge him by human standards.”

“He wants to be the god of our empire. He wants us to create a new Nawami. After we do, we can move him to its capital, as patron deity.”

“That’s all?”

“All? That’s everything, Ethrian. He’s awake now. He can’t survive without worshippers. You look west and think of revenge. He looks and sees survival. Today’s defeat showed him how fragile our chances are.”

“How long before he would fade, or whatever happens?”

“Maybe centuries. Gods don’t die fast. But the time of decision is now. We have to crush those people. We’re doomed if we don’t. You were right. They won’t accept defeat.”

The youth looked up. His old hatreds smouldered on. “If we make this compact, how do we guarantee it? How do you make a god keep his word?”

The beast snapped, “Time binds me, Deliverer. I can’t stay here much longer. If I fail you, you can leave me to die.”

“Your word is good till you have someone to worship you.”

“For that long at least. There’s no reason we shouldn’t stand together afterward. Ask Sahmanan if I haven’t treated her well. Even when it was not in my immediate interest.”

Sahmanan agreed. “He stands by those who stand by him. I wouldn’t be here if he didn’t.”

“All right. We’re on the right road. Let’s test it. Godling, invest me first.”

The beast said nothing. Ethrian felt its displeasure and uncertainty. Sahmanan asked, “What do you mean?”

“What I said. If he gives me the power to control the dead, I’ll believe him. I’ll give him what he needs.” He studied the woman carefully, saw no sly smirk of victory.

“Lie down,” the beast told him. “When you waken, you will go test yourself against our enemies. We can take care of my needs later.”

Ethrian told Sahmanan, “There has been a change.”

“I told you. Don’t think he likes it. But there’s a realist under that arrogance and bluster.”

“Stand watch?”

“Of course.”

The youth settled himself. He could not sleep! His mind kept pursuing visions of what he might do once this power was his.

He wakened suddenly, unsure where he was or what had happened. The woman in white stood above him. He lurched up, looking for crabs.

“It’s all right. It’s all right. It’s over, Ethrian.”

“Over? What?… I don’t feel any different. Didn’t it work?”

“It worked fine.”

It seemed no time had passed. “How long was I out?”

“All night and all day. It’s night again.”

“That long? Really? We’d better do something. The Tervola…”

“They’re still up there. The Great One says they’re restless. They’re ready to come see what we’re doing.”