by Jon Kiln
“Maybe, but if that were the case, the frequency of these patrols and questions should be on the decline, right? As time passes and other needs crop up, fewer resources would be allocated to it. But that’s not what we’re seeing. If anything, the pressure is building on the Drammata side of the line. Like they’re preparing for something.”
“So?” Draken said, finally sitting up. He poured another mug of his spirit, but didn’t drink it yet. “You want me to go ask them to stop?”
“Cute,” Pul said, and he almost sounded the way he did in the old days, before either of them had even heard of E’ghat. “But, no. What I want is for you to tell me what you know. All of it.”
Draken squirmed. He was too drunk to think up excuses, so he kept his mouth shut.
“I know you know something, Draken. I don’t know how I know, but I do. I’m happy you’re here with us, even if it’s been slow-going to make you feel like one of the inner-circle. It’s time to give yourself one-hundred-percent, okay? Let go of whatever it is you’re hiding. Tell me about it, and I’ll deal with it, and nothing will get in the way of your fun.”
“And being a warrior for your god.”
“For our god, yes, but that’s not until you’re ready. Think about it. You can live this life of luxury for years before we ask anything of you. That’s a promise.”
Those words churned in Draken, and he pictured it. Free-flowing drink, women, even violence when he desired it. He could gamble and rage and kill and drink and live however he wanted for years. And he believed Pul’s word. Oh, he knew a terrible reckoning awaited at some point. He would be forced to do horrible things in the name of E’ghat, but his addict’s mind assured him that this future did not really exist, and that the pleasure of the now was paramount.
Almost without meaning to, he opened his mouth. “I know something,” he said, and then it was too late. He’d gone too far to turn back.
“What do you know?” Pul said without emotion, simply prodding the words that seemed to tumble out of Draken’s mouth of their own accord.
“They’re coming.”
“Who?”
“Figa’s army… and a monk named Jace. You’ve met him. He was my friend.”
Glossary
THE FOUR-FIVE GODS:
Dramm-Teskata (dram-teh-skah-ta) – Twin goddess of life and death.
Kohlel (ko-lel) – God of sustenance.
Rada (ray-da) – God of struggle.
Shinna (shee-na) – Goddess of beautiful things.
THE FORGOTTEN GOD:
E’ghat (ee-got) – God of bears.
PLACES:
Eda (ee-dah) – Country south of Drammata, home of the cult of E’ghat.
Dippa (dih-pa) – Semi-metropolitan area above the city of Figa, home of Jace’s first monastery.
Figa (fee-gah) – Largest city in the country of Drammata, lies in the center of the country, home of the most popular combat arena in the world.
Merri – A small town in the Merreline area, nearby the monastery in Merreline.
Merreline (meh-rih-lin) – Northernmost area of Drammata, home to Draken’s first monastery.
Whey (way) – Country south of Drammata, east of Eda.
Drammata (drah-mah-ta) – A large, wealthy country in the center of the known world, its name comes from the ubiquitous worship of Dramm-Teskata.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47 : Epilogue
About The Author
Jon Kiln writes heroic fantasy.
Sign up to his mailing list or contact him at JonKiln.com.
More Books by Jon Kiln
Blade Asunder Series
Mercenary
Guardian
Warden
Champion
Honor Bound Series
Forsaken
Betrayal
Dominion
Veiled Dagger Series
Assassin’s Quest
Assassin’s Shadow
Cold Fury Series
The Gladiator
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47 : Epilogue
