Riwenne & the God-Killing Machine

By Kristen S. Walker

A teen girl has become a prophet of legend. Now she faces her greatest challenge: killing the sun goddess who oppresses her people.

Riwenne has performed countless miracles and saved hundreds of thousands with her powerful magic. With the aid of the moon goddess, she has turned back time and reversed death. The empire is falling apart and its people are looking to the rebels for help. For the first time in centuries, there is hope of a better future. She’s ready to end the violence and find peace.

But her greatest enemy, the sun goddess Chysa, isn’t going down without a fight. She transforms the empress into a demigod who can bring death and destruction on a scale they've never seen before. And together, they make a machine that can kill gods.

To stop the sun goddess once and for all, Riwenne must get her hands dirty again. This time, the evil goddess won’t stop at imprisoning her rival gods. The sun and the moon goddesses are locked in a battle to the death. Riwenne's friends aren't strong enough, so she'll need the help of her own rivals.

Time for her to fulfill her destiny and kill a god.

Riwenne & the God-Killing Machine is the final book in a steampunk fantasy series for teens. If you like magical girls, lesbian romance, and clashes of the gods, then you’ll love Kristen S. Walker’s series of guns and gears.

Preorder it today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kristen S. Walker
• Release date: Jun 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005331177

Kristen S. Walker

Fantasy author Kristen S. Walker dreams of being a pirate mermaid who can talk to sharks, but she settles for writing stories for teens and adults. She's proudly bisexual, Wiccan, a liberal feminist, and lives in northern California with her family and two rescued pets. To find out more about her stories, please visit kristenwalker.net.

Book preview

1

Can't Sleep

Icouldn't sleep.

It should have been easy. I was lying in my warm, comfortable bed with my girlfriend curled up beside me. We were both full of food that we were fortunate to have in plenty, and we were exhausted from another long day of training. I was lucky to have everything I needed and more. So many people were suffering right now—and I couldn't help them if I didn't get any rest.

But I kept staring at Kyra as she slept. Watching for any sign that she was dreaming. If her eyes moved beneath her eyelids, if her breathing sped up, if she twitched or cried out in her sleep. Even if she didn't remember when she woke up, she had to dream sometime.

Tika had told me that most people over fifteen couldn't dream. The priestesses had stolen a piece of their soul, the part that let them receive visions of the gods who could visit in dreams. Kyra had lost that part of her soul. It still seemed impossible to me that something could be missing. Everyone had been able to dream once. Couldn't she get it back?

When I summoned my magic and concentrated, I could see the light of magic that flowed through her. Kyra's soul glowed brighter than most people did. Her soul was tied to her God, Xiso, but she had a power of her own, too. Before I knew anything about magic, I thought I could still sense the light in her. It had drawn me to her the first day we met.

Or maybe she was just that beautiful. Her long, dark hair, her porcelain skin, the curve of her lips—everything about her still took my breath away. I couldn't believe that she was truly here in my arms, choosing to be with me. If she wasn't so deeply asleep, I would have kissed her on the mouth, or maybe that sensitive spot on her neck that made her squirm…

But my magic showed me something else, too. Her life force was fading, just a little every day. Hopefully, she still had decades ahead of her, but she was dying. Every mortal thing around me was decaying, slowly but surely, and I had to watch them slip away.

This was my gift from my goddess, the goddess of death. Quilla. She had brought me back from death once and helped me save countless others. Even she couldn't stop the march of time. Eventually, we would all die in the natural course. Someday, I would lose everyone, and I would die, too. Our souls would move on, letting our energy feed back into the universe which it came from.

If our enemies didn't give us a more violent end first.

So why couldn't she have just one dream? Not a vision of the gods. Just a weird brief scene to give her a break from the real world. A dream where she could fly without an airship, or pretend to be someone else, or eat an enormous fruit tart.

I'd spent months, now, searching for a solution. Some way to heal her soul and give her back her dreams. Everyone told me it wasn't possible, but I'd done so many impossible things already. I had to try.

I pulled her closer to me and closed my eyes to concentrate. I focused on my soul, pushing the energy gently out of me and into her. Letting her take from me what she'd lost.

The magic pulsed through my hands, but it wouldn't move into her. I bit my lip and tried harder. This had to work.

Riwenne, her voice broke through my concentration. What are you doing?

My eyes snapped open. Kyra was awake and staring at me. She grabbed my hands, which were glowing with silver light, and held them up before us.

What magic is this? she asked again.

I let the magic fade away and turned my face to the other side of the bed, embarrassed. Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up, I mumbled.

Riri, she said, her voice softening with her pet name for me. What were you trying to do?

Don't worry about it. I rolled over, away from her, and hid my hands beneath the pillow. It was nothing. Go back to sleep.

She slipped an arm around my waist, curling against my back. Are you still trying to help me dream? Her whisper tickled my ear.

I sighed. There was no hiding anything from her. Something has to work. If I can heal mortal wounds, or regrow someone's arm, why shouldn't I be able to fix this?

Because souls don't work that way. It's part of me in a way that an arm or an organ isn’t.

I stiffened. That makes it more important!

She stroked my hair soothingly with her other hand. It bothers you a lot more than it does me.

It's wrong that they took it from you, I pointed out.

Yes, she whispered. Very wrong. But you can't fix everything the priestesses did. You're just one person. And I can live just fine without being able to dream.

It's still not fair, I grumbled. I can do all these things for other people, but for helping the person I love the most, I can't do anything.

Her arm tightened around me. You help me every day. I wouldn't be alive without you. Think of how many times you've saved all of us.

Mostly the times when I made you risk your life. If I hadn't made you a Divine Warrior, you could have had a normal life.

That still wouldn't let me dream. Or make me any safer from the sun goddess, or the Empire.

I had nothing to say to that. It felt like no one was truly safe these days. But the people who risked the most were my closest friends. And now I was about to bring total strangers into the fight.

Is this really about me, or is it about the ceremony tomorrow?

I cleared my throat. I don't know if recruiting more warriors is really going to help us fight against the sun goddess. These kids don't know what they're getting into.

They volunteered because they want to help, she reminded me. They've seen everything that we've done. Everyone knows how bad the Empire is, and how much they're risking to fight against them. We all just want to do what we can.

I let her words sink in. She was right, as always. Time to stop letting my fears run away with me. I couldn’t do all of this on my own, and we were going to need all the help we could get.

Kyra smoothed my hair back again. Part of being a good leader is letting people help you. But don’t think about it any more tonight. She kissed the tip of my ear. Try to relax and go to sleep.

I closed my eyes and let her warmth comfort me. I was exhausted, and soon as the tension drained away, I felt myself drifting off at last.

The raft bobbed underneath me, rocking on gentle waves. Above me, the night sky was clear and full of stars, with a crescent moon hanging like a jewel in the middle.

One moment, I was alone, and the next moment, an ocean spray caught me right in the eyes. I blinked and rubbed the salt away with a wince. When my vision had cleared, I saw Quilla and Sawycha standing on the surface of the water.

Sawycha’s dress was dark like the deep with only a faint shimmer of the fabric as she moved. Her hair flowed over her blue shoulders like pale sea foam. The sea goddess had a powerful beauty, like a massive wave that holds you in awe just before it capsizes your boat.

Quilla’s hair was short, in silver braids that hugged tight to her scalp, and her white dress barely covered the top of her legs. Her blue-black skin gleamed in the moonlight. The moon goddess was enigmatic, with an unconventional beauty that drew the eye.

Both goddesses towered over me at more than twice my height. They smiled down with a look that warned me I would not like what they had to say.

I sighed. I was feeling sorry for my friends because they can’t dream anymore. But maybe they’re the lucky ones, since I have to put up with your cryptic messages almost every night.

Sawycha’s eyes darkened as she lowered her eyebrows at me. Is that any way to greet your goddess?

I folded my arms. You’re not my goddess anymore. You chose Vilqa as your champion after you abandoned me.

She bent down and stroked an icy hand down my cheek, making me shiver. You still hold a special place in my heart, Riwenne, for the months that you spent serving me. She released me and put her arm around the other goddess’s waist in an intimate gesture. It was my pleasure to prepare you for Quilla.

Quilla turned to Sawycha with a smirk and returned the embrace. I knew I could trust you to train the best champion for me. She took Sawycha’s chin in one hand and drew her face closer, then she glanced back at me over her shoulder. And you should know she serves me, just like the sea follows the pull of the moon. There are many gods under my rule, and those who serve them ultimately serve me.

Sawycha smiled back and let the other pull her mouth into a kiss.

I looked away, embarrassed by their sudden display of affection. I’d never seen a god act like this before, and I didn’t know why they felt the need to carry on in front of me. Was there something I should read into this?

Since my powers came from Quilla, I felt attracted to the champions of other gods who were linked romantically with her. At least, that was what Quilla said when I had trouble resisting Fairuza, because her god, Chelynne, had been Quilla’s lover. Would things be awkward with Vilqa the next time I saw them? What if Quilla had also slept with Sano, the sky god—would Deryt and I feel urges to do something that neither one of us would want normally? I’d had no interest in a boy before, and Deryt had made it clear that he was aro/ace. He wasn’t attracted to anyone.

And Kyra would be jealous about me looking at anyone besides her. Even though she served Xiso, a wanton fertility god, she’d never had problems with controlling her impulses.

While I was grappling with these questions, Quilla and Sawycha had only gotten closer. When I glanced back, I was shocked to see Sawycha sitting on top of the waves with Quilla in her lap. Quilla wrapped both legs around Sawycha’s waist and arched back as the sea goddess trailed down her neck with kisses.

I threw my hands up in front of my face to block the view. Do you mind waiting until after this? I can’t exactly leave here on my own.

Sawycha peeked over Quilla’s shoulder and winked at me. Relax. You should enjoy yourself more. When you’re with beautiful women, it’s better not to keep them waiting.

My face turned bright red. Okay, let’s just do this another time then. Come talk to me when you’re less… busy. I sat down on the raft and closed my eyes shut, willing myself to leave the dream or wake up, anything to get away.

Instead, a bright flash burned overhead, searing my eyes even while they were closed. I looked up, fearing that lightning would catch me, but there was no sign of a thunderstorm. The night sky itself had split apart, revealing the harsh light of noon as the sun pushed the moon away.

Chysa glared down at the other goddesses. How had she gotten here?

Quilla and Sawycha ignored her, lost in their kisses. The sun goddess’s face curled into a sneer, but she turned and pointed at me.

You, she said, shaking the sky with the anger she could infuse into a single word. "You. Never again will you be able to ruin my plans!"

I scrambled to my feet, bracing myself to fight back. I’m not afraid to defy you!

Chysa’s sneer deepened into an ugly. But how will you stand if I take away your precious goddess? She flung her hand out imperiously.

Before I could reply, an enormous machine flew through the hole in the sky. It looked like the combination of an airship with the biggest mechanical beast I’d ever seen—a terrifying dragon, its maw open wide. Sharp teeth glinted inside that gaping mouth.

It dove straight toward Sawycha and Quilla, who were still too preoccupied to notice. The monster was big enough to swallow both of them in one gulp.

I screamed to get their attention, waving my arms desperately. I summoned the biggest gun I could imagine and aimed for the dragon. Praying to every god that would listen, I fired.

And missed.

Smoke filled the air in a trail where my shot had gone wide. Quilla looked up at last, fear in her eyes, just before the enormous dragon came down on her.

Then everything went dark.

2

Where is Your Mind?

R iwenne, look out!

I yanked my head up and stepped back just in time to see the butt end of the spear swinging past where my face had been. The girl, Salki, who was holding the spear, stumbled when she missed, and I kicked her legs out from under her.

Salki fell, but recovered quickly, rolling backward and popping back up to her feet in a fighting stance.

But she had to drop her spear to keep her legs from getting tangled in it. I leaned down to grab it.

Ytta kicked Salki’s fallen weapon out of my reach and struck the back of my hand with her spear.

I yelped and yanked my hand back. Without thinking about it, I summoned my magic to heal the wound.

A sharp whistle broke my concentration. Stop! Tika called.

We lowered our weapons and turned to the front. The little sandpiper’s voice was shrill and carried across the training grounds, but everyone instantly stopped to listen closely.

Tika hopped off her perch and glided over to land on my shoulder. You weren’t paying attention, Riwenne. The point of this exercise was not to use any magic.

I ducked my head, feeling my face growing hot. It was bad enough to make a mistake without getting called out in front of everyone. I’m sorry, I mumbled. It hurt.

Tika peered closer at me. This isn’t the first time you’ve had to fight through the pain. Where is your mind today?

I chewed on my lower lip to keep from answering.

She waited a moment longer in silence. Then she bobbed her head at my attackers. Good teamwork, girls, she praised them. Remember, you have a longer reach with those weapons, so you need to take advantage of it. Keep Riwenne on her toes. She leaped back into the air. Reset!

I shook my head to clear it and raised my short sword, made of wood for practice. Salki and Ytta dropped back into fighting stances and raised their blunted spears, preparing to attack me again. Around us, other groups of fighters were doing the same thing.

Last night’s vision was distracting me. I did not know what my dream meant. Was it even a message? The gods didn't act like they normally did when they appeared to me in a vision. If it was a warning, it didn't tell me anything new. Maybe it was just my fears getting all mixed up in my mind.

Since I didn't know what to say about it—and it was more than a little embarrassing to talk about—I didn't bring it up with my friends like a normal vision. I shrugged it off and focused on the new day, at least until now.

These training sessions were just one more new thing going on. Lyndamon had been going through many changes over the past few months. Some schools had closed down completely because of lower enrollment. Other schools had transitioned to day classes so children could be with their families in the evening, living in homes instead of dorms. We'd successfully placed most children with parents or other relatives after the government started giving each family a stipend per child, along with free parenting classes. St. Jenatta's was the only school we left with children. We would make sure that every child had a home, whether or not a family claimed them.

Not everyone was ready to raise their children, since they had never done it in the Empire. And some parents had died or left the city. But an inspiring number rose to the challenge.

It did not surprise me when we realized that most children stayed in the same city as their parents, though. In the Empire, privileged people who lived in the cities kept their places, so there wasn't much room left for people from the mainland. The claim that each person earned their place with an equal chance was a lie.

When Choosing Day had come for the newest class of graduates, we didn't assign anyone to job training. Instead, each student got a grade transcript that showed their strengths and applied to the positions they wanted. Then businesses and trade organizations accepted the candidates they liked best. It had taken much longer to get everyone sorted out, but it felt more fair than the old system. There was no secret nepotism where the sun priestesses manipulated lives and called it the will of the goddess.

The thing that shocked me the most was how many young people asked to follow me. I hadn't known what to say when Eberet had brought me a large stack of applications.

What do they want to do? I waved my hands at the city's place of worship—a large square full of shrines to honor hundreds of gods, but nothing compared to the old temple complex before it was destroyed. We don't have anywhere for them to live or any actual work for them to do. The only building left is the library. Do you and Kyra need help with the books?

Eberet swept his green hair out of his eyes. I’ve selected a few candidates to train as library pages, he said. Then he pressed the stack of paper on me a second time. But these aren't for the temple. They want to follow you. He pointed at the middle of my chest—and my locket.

I looked down at the heart-shaped locket which held my god crystal. They want to be… warriors for the gods?

Until now, I had chosen the warriors based on intuition. Usually, when I looked at someone with potential to serve the gods, I could see the light shining through them. But all I did was hand them a crystal and tell them to pray. It was the gods' decision to grant them power.

Eberet raised his eyebrows at me. He was one of the few men as short as I was, but when he put on his solemn priest look, he could still stare me down.

A war is coming, he said. You will need more than a handful of soldiers to face what's coming.

And so we'd begun training sessions. To make it fair, I let anyone join who was interested. I wouldn't send children to fight, although they could train, but I also let older adults join if they could keep up with the physical demands.

Eberet was one of the first to join, saying that he needed to step out from behind his desk. So did Sergeant Raisha and other former temple guards, who had once devoted their lives to protecting the priestesses. It helped that they had combat experience, although their fighting was nothing like what my friends and I did.

Salki, Ytta, and Vynala were reluctant at first until I specifically invited them. They’d been our enemies once, novices who stayed with Mother Lyda after I chased them from the city. Chysa had given them minor powers, so they knew how to fight with magic, but then they’d switched to my side when I rescued them from being sacrificed to the sun goddess.

Are you sure that you want us there? Salki had asked me, speaking for all of them. She twisted a lock of hair around her fingers nervously.

I nodded. What you did before is in the past. We know that you’re on our side now, and your experience could really help us. Maybe you can give us some special insight into how the enemy fights.

Ytta nodded first, then the other two joined in. We’d be happy to, she said. Anything to repay what you’ve done for us.

The largest number of new fighters were the Dreamers. That's what they called the young people who had graduated outside of the Empire and who never had their dreams permanently stolen. Most from Lyndamon City, but others traveled from villages in Dinarneda or even Lake Totdo when the news spread. Not everyone was a genuine believer in the gods, but they'd seen what my friends and I could do.

They wanted magic. I told them I couldn't give them power, and they would have to ask the gods to choose them, but I could teach them how to use what they already had.

The sun priestesses had guarded their knowledge of magic closely. Now I made it freely available. Anyone could use at least a little magic. Everyone had their own energy, but the priestesses had stolen it through their prayers, and inventors had made machines built to harvest energy directly from people. All people had to learn was how to call on the power they already had and direct it to do what they wanted.

Tika had been my first teacher, and she led the basic lessons in magic and combat. After her morning sessions, my friends and I each taught different skills. Janera, as a former guard, could teach many physical combat techniques. Kyra taught how to handle ranged weapons and information about the gods. Nexita and Deryt explained magitek and other ways to combine machines with magic. Vilqa was afraid of public speaking, but they found their place in things like how to breathe underwater and control the elements. Amena trained spies and other stealth fighters in her specialized methods. I taught healing and dream interpretation for the Dreamers.

At first, Fairuza and the other planetary warriors had called these classes a waste of time. But Yanis, who was never quite part of their team and new to his powers, asked if he could join us for practice. When he started bragging about all the new things he was learning, the others became more interested.

I wanted all of us to get used to working together, so I invited them to a special training session in the evening. Our seven warriors plus their five in an expanded team. We would still have the best chance of facing Chysa directly, so we had to prepare. We didn't fully trust each other yet or even know what abilities we had. It was awkward, but I hoped it would get better.

One day, as we were finishing a training session, Fairuza saw me dabbing on some of Janera’s healing salve on a bruise. I thought you didn’t need that to heal, she said, pointing at the jar with her chin.

I don’t, but it helps, and that way I can save my magic for bigger things, I said. I held the jar out for her to try. Janera makes it with herbs from her garden.

Fairuza smirked and pulled out her own jar. I make it myself. I could probably teach you a thing or two about herbs.

Do you want to join my healing class? I blurted out. Seeing her hesitation, I added, As a co-teacher?

Fairuza’s eyes slid past me to Kyra, who stiffened, but said nothing.

Sure, Fairuza said, her smile returning. I think we’d make excellent partners.

Then Namburo asked how we used magic to pilot airships. Deryt began sharing his notes with the other boy, and the two of them broke off into a flight class. They reinforced our meager fleet of ships and began building new ones that could use magic more directly.

Mano was also new to magic and didn't have many athletic abilities, so he admitted he could use some help. He became friends with Janera, although he liked to talk to her more about plants than fighting.

Ixi had tons of experience, since she had been a warrior almost as long as Amena. She gravitated toward Vilqa's class and helped the shyer person open up.

But as the others became more experienced, I had to pay attention to keep up with them. I couldn’t zone out in the middle of a training session—especially one where I wasn’t allowed to use magic. I shook away my distracting thoughts and narrowed my eyes at Ytta.

Thwack!

A spear caught me across the back of my legs. I cried out with the sudden pain and crumpled.

This time, Janera’s whistle saved me. Beside her, Tika sighed and shook her head.

Let’s break for lunch, she said. Riwenne, you’re allowed to heal yourself now.

I bit back a whimper and placed my hands on my injured legs, closing my eyes to summon the magic. Relief flooded through me.

We finished the training session as we always did, with a prayer to the gods. Instead of leading a formal ceremony, we simply bowed our heads and let everyone say whatever words they felt moved to use. Usually there was no magic or anything else that happened.

But this time, we got a response. Light glowed brightly over Sergeant Raisha’s head and then a god appeared before her.

He looked twice the size of a human man, his entire body bound with ropy muscles, and ram’s horns curled out from his head. Kind of like Xiso on steroids. I’d only seen him before as a painting in Xiso’s abandoned temple, but I realized who he must be.

Utan, I greeted the god of strength, stepping forward with my hands raised in prayer. Thank you for blessing us with your presence today.

Utan folded his arms, which made his muscles bulge out and looked down at Raisha. You have showed many types of strength, he said, nodding to me. But I am here to speak with my champion—if you will have me.

Raisha, normally calm under the most high-pressure situations, burst into tears. Yes! she gasped out, falling to her knees. Th-thank you!

Utan opened his hand and revealed a gleaming crimson stone. Then take this and make me proud.

Raisha wiped her face on her sleeve and accepted the godcrystal, raising it high overhead so everyone could see how bright it shone. Everyone cheered.

I stepped back so she could have this moment with her god alone.

Utan reached for her and helped her back to her feet. When Raisha stood, her grimy exercise clothes transformed into black and crimson armor. She looked like a storybook hero. He blessed her with a last kiss on her forehead before disappearing.

As we gathered up our training equipment and left for lunch, I could hear the others talking about Raisha with a mixture of excitement and envy. It happened every few days that another god appeared and claimed a champion from our trainees. With hundreds of gods—and hundreds of new fighters training with us—we were growing our ranks of divine warriors.

Salki, Vynala, and Ytta had all been chosen right away by ocean gods. Eberet was claimed by Abraqchidy, the goddess of knowledge and libraries, who didn’t give him many combat powers but still fit his needs. Tamarau, who used to be Ixi’s patron before she upgraded to Amme, had appeared and demanded a new champion, so a shy girl named Des had volunteered.

They were mostly minor gods. None of them were strong enough to stand against Chysa. But every one added to our numbers and strengthened our army.

An army preparing for war.

Magic healed my bruises and soothed the aches in my muscles, but it couldn’t make me feel better about my mistakes. I was quiet for the rest of the day as we went through the rest of our training sessions. Fairuza took the lead during the healing class, taking us on a tour of the city’s communal garden to find herbs and other plants that could enhance our magic.

Tika pulled me aside before the last exercise of the day, our joint training session between the champions of the planetary gods and the champions of the industrial gods. She took me to a corner of the training grounds, which had been an empty lot after we’d cleared it of the ruins from the old temple. A streetlamp, still unlit in the late afternoon, gave her a perch to sit on just above my eye level.

Is something wrong? she asked me again.

I shook my head. Sorry, I’m just having trouble focusing today. There is so much work to do every day that I don’t know how I can keep up with all of it.

I wish I could give you a break, but I don’t think we can afford to let up now, Tika said in a sad tone. If we send these new warriors into battle and they’re unprepared, they’ll be slaughtered.

I clenched my hands into fists. I won’t let that happen. No one else is dying.

She sighed. You can’t save everyone—

I will, I snapped.

No, she chirped sharply. That’s not what a leader does. You have to make tough decisions, and sometimes that means sacrificing others. But if you try to be everywhere and save every single person, you will lose this war. Stay focused on our real goal.

I glared back at her. "Spare me the lectures. I’ve heard it all before. If I’m leading these people into battle, I’m going to keep them safe. No one else is dying."

She tilted her head so one beady