Journey Into Nyx Read Online Free

limestone columns that were each a hundred feet high. The sprawling grounds boasted dozens of limestone buildings connected by a maze of covered walkways.
    Daxos showed her Heliod’s grand library, which contained thousands of scroll boxes, and they spent hours reading Heliod’s teachings, which had been transcribed by oracles and priests. They would walk down to the white sand beach where he would tell her Heliod’s god-stories and tales of the mysterious archons who once ruled with an iron fist over the land. He had a flawless memory, almost as though the words were etched forever into his mind. But while he would recite for her any story or teaching of the Sun God, he refused to discuss them. When she asked about the nature of destiny, he would recite Heliod’s words and politely change the subject. It was probably what he was expected to do as an oracle, but Elspeth wanted to know what
he
thought, not just what he’d been taught.
    In particular, she wanted to know what he thought about the Silence now that the gods were absent from the mortal realm and lodged in Nyx. Everyone else in Meletis acted shocked and overwhelmed by the novelty of it. Elspeth didn’t have much personal contact with the other priests in Heliod’s temple, but she overheard many conversations concerning the nature of the Silence and what it meant forthe future. One morning when they were training, Elspeth pushed Daxos about the consequences of the Silence, and he was dismissive about its true effect.
    “The priests’ lives have changed very little,” Daxos said. “For them, it was always rare to directly encounter a god.”
    “How is it different for you?” Elspeth said.
    Daxos just shrugged and swung the training sword at her. She parried easily and let the conversation go.
    Several weeks passed, the days grew shorter, and she kept expecting him to leave her on her own more and more. But he didn’t. They began to visit the sick and elderly, a practice that was expected of all who lived in Heliod’s temple. She loved the idea that good works were an aspect of worship. Priests of both Heliod and Ephara made daily forays into the streets to help anyone in need. There was little poverty or violence in the city. These “healing” visits were a tradition before the Silence and continued unabated when the gods withdrew to Nyx. As she and Daxos worked together, Elspeth had a growing respect for the God of the Sun, even in his absence.
    During training, Daxos taught her the distinct fighting style of the Meletian Army. He demanded more and more of her—as if time was so short, there wasn’t a second to spare. They were preparing for something, but he wouldn’t tell her what. Elspeth began to lay awake at night, just thinking about the enigmatic oracle and his intentions.
    “What is all of this for?” she finally asked. “All the training and the hours in the library?”
    “I thought that’s what you wanted,” he said.
    “But to what end?” Elspeth asked. “What am I expected to do?”
    “You’re Heliod’s Champion,” he said. “There are things you need to know before he returns.”
    “But why?” she asked. “I don’t understand.”
    He heard the confusion in her voice, and he frowned.“You’ll be his vessel in the mortal realm. You’ll protect his domain from those who would destroy it.”
    “How can I be his vessel if I can’t hear the gods the way you can?”
    “A champion doesn’t need to be an oracle,” he said. “You just have to have the heart of a hero.”
    “I’m not a child,” she said angrily. “And I wasn’t raised on my knees in front of Heliod’s altar. Stop talking to me in platitudes. Just tell me the truth.”
    “You wanted to be a hero,” Daxos retorted. “Why did you take up Heliod’s challenge to bring his spear-blade to Meletis? Why did you slay the hydra?”
    “Because it was going to destroy the city!” Elspeth said. “What was I supposed to do? Nothing? And it’s my sword! Or