He took her hand. “I'm not going back there. The truth is I don't know where I'm going. If Janna will still have me, maybe I'll let her decide.”
“Come to Davos,” Siggi said. “Then we can finally be neighbors.” His brown eyes sparkled with so much optimism he always hated to crush it. “I can't.”
“Why not?” said the Rivannan.
“Because the Five Branches are on Davos. All of those damn books and notes. If I get anywhere near them it's a paved road to madness. Burn them,” he said, squeezing Nasira's hand. “Pick whichever house on that street you like—except for mine. Burn that one. Maybe I can return once the ashes are swept away.”
Siggi shrugged. “That's easy enough. I remember the place.”
Brenn stared into his ale, watching the bubbles. In one motion he got up and drained it, belched, and said, “This is goodbye, then. My tribe needs me.” He started to fidget, unsure of himself. “I hope.”
“It'll work this time,” Argus said. “They know you now. Who you really are.”
The Nalavacian's eyes brightened. “Come here, you old bastard.”
Before Argus had a chance to move, two tree trunk arms scooped him off the chair and hoisted him clear into the ceiling. Brenn apologized, laughing, and threw his old mercenary brother over his shoulder. Argus laughed too, and he was still laughing when Brenn finally put him down and mussed his hair. “Show them what it means to be a true Nalavacian.”
“I will, brother, I will.”
Next he picked up Siggi, who clung to his ale and spilled it all over. They laughed under the suds before Brenn set him down and embraced Nasira. She ran her hands through his unkempt beard, and kissed him before promising to visit in Nalavac.
“This time we'll keep you off that frozen stream.”
She smiled. “I'd like that.”
“Until next time, friends.” Brenn shouldered his way to the door. He looked back, waved, and ducked into the night. They watched the doorway long after he left. The innkeeper's wife added some wood to the fire and set after it with a metal poker. No one said a word.
“I'm going to miss that bastard,” Siggi said.
Argus got up and smirked at him. “Just try not to miss me too much.”
“It's difficult. You're just so lovable.”
“And you're just sarcastic.”
Nasira laid a hand on his arm. “You don't have to go yet. We aren't leaving until morning.”
“I better move along. If I make myself too comfortable in that chair, I'll sleep for a week.” And lose my nerve, at that.
“Come see us on Davos,” said the artificer turned maskal. “We'll keep studying the gods of Eld.”
“That's right,” Siggi said. “Hopefully rebuild our lives in the process.”
Argus smiled. “Just remember to go outdoors. Too many books can get—”
“Tiresome?” said Siggi.
“Lonely?” said Nasira.
“I was going to say 'suffocating,' but you get my point. Good luck to your both. May fortune shine favorably on your face.”
Siggi embraced him, and they pressed their foreheads together in a way that reminded Argus of their trek through the Riven Mountains. “Gods protect you, my friend.”
Next he hugged Nasira. He kissed her cheeks and said, “Take care of yourself.”
She smiled. It was a sad smile, but in its corners lurked the possibility of happiness. “Goodbye, Argus of Leith.”
“To the Legion.”
“To the Legion of the Wind!”
He'd just pulled up his hood when he heard the Rivannan calling him. “Hey, Argus! Go get her, my friend!”
One more wave. Smiling, Argus walked out of the tavern.
* * *
He knocked on the back door, softly at first, then louder until it creaked open and Morgan the chambermaid thrust a lantern toward him.
“Gods,” she said, squinting, clad in nothing but a white cotton nightshirt. “Who is it—oh.”
“Sorry about the hour,” he said, and stepped inside when Morgan beckoned. “I'm glad you're here. Syrio's guards would have left me with something much worse than raw knuckles.”
Morgan eyed the empty alleyway and shut the door behind him. Deadbolts clicked. Within seconds, she'd transformed from a sleepwalker into her typical busybody self. “Please come in. Would you like something to eat? Water?”
Argus's heart pounded. The entire way over, he'd listened to the stranger's words echo. Come to Mael. I'll find you. Show you how to get into that library. Lies, more lies, and empty promises. The only truth in those words was death.
He grabbed Morgan's hand. “I only want a word.”
She nodded. “Of course. I'll wake lady—”
“Morgan?” called a raspy voice from upstairs. She sounded like Argus had caught her in the middle of a good dream. “What's all that racket?”
“Your chambermaid's as quiet as a mouse,” Argus said. “I'm the one crashing about, and if you don't come down and—”
Footsteps pounding on the stairs.
“Argus?”
He smiled at the bottom of the stairs as those footsteps grew louder. Grinned when Janna rounded the landing and dashed down them two at a time, blinking, hair in tangles. Kissed her when she jumped into his arms.
Morgan said something about a fire and scuttled away. Argus was too busy intercepting Janna's lips, wiping away her tears.
“You came back.” She pulled away and studied him, making sure this wasn't some kind of joke. “And you're soaked. Covered in cuts and bruises too, though I can't say that's a surprise.”
“But I'm here.”
“Yes. That's the surprising part. And that's all that matters.”
“Shh.” Argus pressed a finger to her lips and let his hands trail wherever they willed. He ran fingernails through her hair, across the nape of her neck, down to her shoulders.
He stopped, and leaned closer.
Draped around Janna's neck was his mother's silver locket.
The one he'd given her for safekeeping.
The Most Important Thing You Can Do to Spread the Word
Thanks so much for reading my book.
There are a million different things you could have done with your invaluable time and attention. So it means the world to me that you gave The Legion of the Wind series a chance. You rock. Seriously.
But I’d appreciate it if you could do just one more thing (it’ll only take a minute)…
If you enjoyed my story, please leave a rating and a review today.
WHY YOUR REVIEW MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE
For centuries, publishers and booksellers determined which books saw the light of day. Not avid readers like you. You only got to experience a few stories – the ones that made it through all the gatekeepers.
But as Bob Dylan says, “The Times They Are a Changin’.”
Now you have all the power.
Now readers like you and writers like me can cut through the red tape and interact directly.
Now reviews separate books that get found and read from those that don’t.
There are a ton of great writers out there publishing their own work. But it only takes something as simple as a two or three sentence review to help writers you enjoy separate themselves from the pack.
That’s why your review is so important.
I’m not wild about being so upfront and asking you for one (it makes me feel like I’m one of those dudes in a telethon), but as a new writer, getting discovered and reaching new people helps me do what I love most: keep writing.
Ultimately, I’d continue whether I had millions of dear readers or if it were just me and my computer screen. The numbers aren’t as important as the itch – the drive to create characters and worlds. I’ve written for over 10 years now, knowing deep down it was what I was meant to do. So I’ll go on doing that in any way I can.
But I’d much rather connect with you and others. That’s when something magic happens. I have so many stories to tell, and I
want to keep telling them to you forever.
Your reviews – even though they only take a few minutes – fuel my ability to go after my dreams. That’s how important they are. The more of them I get, the more stories I’m able to tell, the more time I can spend telling them, and the more experiences we can share together.
WILL YOU JOIN MY ELITE ONE PERCENT?
Do you know that only about 1 in 100 (1%) of people who read a book actually review it?
It’s true.
Some people don’t care about that stuff.
Others don’t understand how important it is (especially to new self-published authors like me).
Some people don’t leave them because they feel like they don’t know what to say.
And everyone’s busy.
So, if you can’t leave a review for whatever reason (or it you just don’t want to), I totally understand. The most important thing to me is that you gave me a chance – that you’re reading and spending time with the stories I created.
But if you do want to step up to the plate and leave a review, understand you’re joining a very special group of readers making a huge difference in my life. You’re helping me get noticed and reach new people. You’re helping me follow my dream.
The toughest thing for indie authors is finding an audience. Word-of-mouth and reviews at places like Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads can make all the difference whether a new reader will find me.
If you have a few minutes, you’ll make a BIG difference in how my story as a new indie writer unfolds. This is a story we can write together!
Your review doesn’t need to be long, dramatic, or flowery.
Just honest.
A few sentences why you liked the book is all it takes. I’ll consider it a personal thank-you.
Thank you for reading,
Corey Pemberton
* * *
About the Author
Corey Pemberton is a freelance copywriter and storyteller who finally worked up the courage to share something he wrote. He’s been writing in his spare time for over 10 years now, filling up desk drawers and flash drives with short stories, novels, and plenty of bits and pieces. Fortune's Toll is the second installment in The Legion of the Wind series. He has also written Demon Marked, an ongoing urban fantasy series. The journey has just begun, but it’s already been an unforgettable ride!
Corey loves dark, character-driven fiction where the real and the fantastic collide. Some of his favorite authors are Stephen King, Robert E. Howard, Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gene Wolfe.
When he isn’t pounding his keyboard, Corey is reading, doing something outdoors, or sweating his butt off at his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym. He lives in Austin, Texas with his beautiful wife Alejandra. And he appreciates your support more than you know.
Connect with Corey and stay in the loop about upcoming stories here:
http://coreypemberton.net
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Fortune's Toll (The Legion of the Wind, Book Two) Page 26
