Bezben grabbed Uzca's arm and brought him a few steps away from the others.

"Can this work? I don't know of anyone every calling upon the gods like this," he asked, voice low.

"I don't know. But it sounds like if we don't try, this man will die. I don't want that to happen without trying anything, even if it is far fetched."

Reluctantly, Bezben nodded, and they walked back to the bedside. The sight of the man's open wound made Uzca's stomach turn again, and he wavered before clenching his fists and kneeling. Bezben went through a similar struggled, kneeling next to the man and bowing his head in silent prayer.

"We will try," Uzca said.

He closed his eyes and pushed thoughts of the man, the room, the village, and how incredibly far he already was from the mountains and his home from his mind. In the sill peace that followed, he felt a tenuous connection to something far away.

Retham, Uzca thought, if you can hear me, I beg for your aid. A potential ally to the people of the mountains needs your help. I think if we can help this man, it can only benefit our people. Besides, I would not want to see anyone suffer like this man has clearly suffered.

He didn't really know what to say. He prayed to Rethkam, and even a few of the other gods, for safety and good fortune, but he'd never asked them to intervene so directly before.

He thought a few more silent prayers, but Rethkam was silent, despite the connection he felt. Beside Uzca, Bezben stiffened. Uzca, eyes still closed, reached out a hand to steady his cousin. When he touched Bezben's arm, the world changed.

Uzca was sitting in a grand hall hundreds of feet long, Bezben still kneeling beside him. They both opened their eyes and looked around. Marble floors led to marble columns that alternated with statues of warriors in armor fighting hordes of faceless foes. A flash of blue light caught their attention at the far end of the hall. In another flash of light, a tall man wearing heavy plate armor was standing before them.

The god, Vandrias, reached up and removed his helmet, revealing dark brown skin, chiseled features, and hair braided in tight rows. His eyes glowed with a deep blue light. Uzca thought he could see flashes of red in those eyes, like barely contained red lightning,

"Bezben, son of Menza, and Uzca, son of Renza. I see you both before me. It is unlike you to pray with so much heart, Bezben. I have come to see what my chosen and gifted son asks of me."

The god turned his gaze to Uzca.

"You, Uzca, have not prayed to me in many years, but I understand. I do not begrudge my brother a follower, for he has precious few. I have brought you here with your cousin because you have my favor. Though you are both fresh on your journey, you fight as warriors should. Now, Bezben, make your request."

Bezben swallowed and steadied himself.

"Great and powerful Vandrias, a man lies before us, dying of some foul affliction that can only be cured by divine intervention. I ask that you help this man."

Vandrias looked into the distance as though they were very far from the injured man.

After studying something they could not see, the god scowled, and the sight of it sent a chill down Uzca's spine. Rethkam was his god, and he couldn't imagine the god harming him in any way. Vandrias, though? This was the warrior god. His power was that of death and destruction, and battle.

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"I see the taint. It is a vile thing brought on by power and greed that should have never been. Of that, I will say no more. Curing this taint is within my power."

"Thank you, lord! I—"

Vandrias held up a hand to cut off Bezben.

"It is within my power, but it is not an easy thing. It is not easy, and it will cost me in ways I cannot describe to mortal minds. The man who is sick has a warrior's heart, and I do wish to save him. There will be a price, however."

Bezben nodded. "I will pay whatever price you ask of me, lord."

"I see you still do not lack conviction, my young follower. You should temper that conviction like your cousin would a weapon; otherwise, you may find it a brittle thing. The price is thus. You, Bezben, will take on a burden for me. It will not be overly onerous, but it will be one that you find occasionally hard to bear. You will take this burden and hold it on your shoulders until you can stand straight despite it. If you take this, I will cure the taint within this man of the Laka-uni."

Bezben glanced at Uzca. Uzca had some reservations, but the gods had never steered him wrong before. He wouldn't start second-guessing the god, his actions, or his motivations without reason. Even if this was Vandrias and not his own god. He gave Bezben an encouraging nod.

"This is your choice, cousin, but I know you are strong. One burden will not weigh you down."

Bezben turned back to Vandrias. "I'll do it."

Vandrias nodded and spoke once more. "Do not expect to call upon me again in this way. I have come to you by chance, and I do not make a habit of solving my followers problems so directly."

"Of course, lord. Thank you."

Vandrias nodded and clapped his hands.

Just like that, they were back in the Laka-uni infirmary.

As Uzca suspected, this was the same as the last time he communed with a god—the others in the room looked at them expectantly as though no time had passed. Bezben reached a hand out and touched the injured man on the shoulder. His eyes flashed blue, and a wave of power that Uzca could feel passed through the injured Laka-uni tribesman.

The injured man took a shuddering breath, and some color returned to his skin. The pungent smell of rotting flesh faded almost immediately, but the wound, other than looking a little more colorful, didn't heal.

"Amazing!" Thad exclaimed.

The mage flipped open his spellbook and found the healing spell he wanted. He traced it out in the air and spoke whispered words. Like he had done with Bezben and Uzca just a few days ago, an orb of white light manifested on his hand and shot into the man.

The gaping wound grew smaller, and the man's shallow breaths deepened.

"There," Thad said. "I think between the divine healing to remove the curse and my small healing spell, I don't think he can handle any more magic healing right now. Anything else will put him in a coma. The wound should be manageable for the village healers, and I suspect he'll be awake within a day."

Bonto raised his hands to the sky and said some words in a language Uzca didn't understand. The two healers mimicked him, repeating the words and gestures.

For the first time, Bonto raised his mask to look at the group. He was a handsome man with an inviting face accentuated by his beaming smile. His eyes were damp, but no trace of sadness lingered in them, only joy.

"You all have my eternal gratitude. This man is my brother, and you have brought him back from the brink of death. I would have never forgiven myself if he...but no, he is alright now."

The healers stepped in and began applying the concoctions they had been stirring to the much smaller wound. They carefully removed the old dressings and began wrapping the wound in fresh linen.

"Come," Bonto said. "Let us leave the healers to work."

He clasped his hands on each of their shoulders before pulling them into a hug. He gave them another smile and headed out of the room.

Thad walked behind Uzca and Bezben and put a hand on each of their shoulders.

"You two have to tell me what happened! I could sense a flash of divine energy, but it happened so quickly!"

"I'm just glad we were able to help. I've never called on my god like that before," Bezben said, staring at his hands.

Bonto led them from the infirmary. Outside, the three other tribesmen were still waiting. When they saw Bonto with his mask up, they lifted their own masks.

Two were older men, and another was perhaps around Uzca's age, twenty-two or so. They had hopeful looks in their eyes and glanced between Bonto and the outsiders.

"Bonto! Is he?"

"Yes! My brother has been cured of the scourge that plagued him. These three have my eternal gratitude. Teki, go to the elder's hall and ask for village tokens on my behalf."

Without a word, the youngest of the Laka-uni nodded and took off at a run for a short distance and then skillfully climbed a rope up into the city in the trees.

"Come! We will retire to my home. You will sleep there tonight, and we will make sure you are reunited with your caravan before they depart!"