The brow rose at the swift dismissal of Nate's love, and the curious certainty behind it. It didn't sound like Nate had spoken to the Voice on his own, but at least he'd given the old gods a try. The bard nodded slowly, accepting Sam's defense, though he found the bookmaker's insistence on a god answering every prayer utterly bemusing. This one-on-one communication that was so common on Caido was extremely rare on his world, and every answered prayer was a miracle to him, rather than to be expected. Though, come to think of it, Abasi had held a similarly entitled mindset, as if the gods owed him anything.
He couldn't help but wonder if the Voice would continue to be so accommodating to her worker drones as her territory and influence expanded. It was probably easier to answer every prayer when there were only a dozen people praying than when thousands were sent up each day from across an entire world. Old Gods willing, Sam would never learn what that could be like with his goddess, though.
Jigano's small smile faded as Sam shut his eyes as if to shut out the bard's words, and he came back around to the portals again like a dog worrying a bone. Jigano looked back out the window, seeing the sky lightening to the west as the tail end of the swift spring storm came into view, though the rain continued to drum down for the moment. "If you intend to use the portals for harming others, Sam, or if the Voice uses them to harm others through you... then yes, my task is to stop you." His grin quirked up, but it was dark and without humor. "Another way to look at it is that your task is to stop me from doing mine, you realize? Will you attack me, or Amalia, to get through the Portal and spread the Voice's violence to regions beyond? As it has taken violence and murder to open every portal so far?" With his superhuman strength and that electric barrier he could indeed do quite a lot of harm to the non-Ascended. Jigano didn't think that Remi or Phoebe would fight, though. Or at least, Phoebe wouldn't fight effectively, so Sam's only real obstacles were himself and the Shield of Safrin. Did his loyalty to his goddess push him to attack even his friends and guildmates in pursuit of her goals?
He couldn't help but wonder if the Voice would continue to be so accommodating to her worker drones as her territory and influence expanded. It was probably easier to answer every prayer when there were only a dozen people praying than when thousands were sent up each day from across an entire world. Old Gods willing, Sam would never learn what that could be like with his goddess, though.
Jigano's small smile faded as Sam shut his eyes as if to shut out the bard's words, and he came back around to the portals again like a dog worrying a bone. Jigano looked back out the window, seeing the sky lightening to the west as the tail end of the swift spring storm came into view, though the rain continued to drum down for the moment. "If you intend to use the portals for harming others, Sam, or if the Voice uses them to harm others through you... then yes, my task is to stop you." His grin quirked up, but it was dark and without humor. "Another way to look at it is that your task is to stop me from doing mine, you realize? Will you attack me, or Amalia, to get through the Portal and spread the Voice's violence to regions beyond? As it has taken violence and murder to open every portal so far?" With his superhuman strength and that electric barrier he could indeed do quite a lot of harm to the non-Ascended. Jigano didn't think that Remi or Phoebe would fight, though. Or at least, Phoebe wouldn't fight effectively, so Sam's only real obstacles were himself and the Shield of Safrin. Did his loyalty to his goddess push him to attack even his friends and guildmates in pursuit of her goals?
