by Aaron Pogue
"Enough," the king barked, his eyes still fixed on mine. He nodded at me. "That's some romantic show, swearing an oath that was already owed. But you have no right to gather these men. You have no right to raise these walls. This is an insurrection."
"Humanity's an insurrection," I said. I started to say more, then shook my head and climbed back to my feet. I would kneel to him no more. "All of civilization is just willful rebellion against the reigning night. But I have no desire to be a king. I want to fight the dragonswarm. That's all."
He shook his head. "Have you not seen the dragons in the sky? You can't fight that."
"Have you not heard the cheers outside?" I asked. "I've killed them all." I drummed my fingers lightly on the Chaos blade's grip. "And I'll kill many more. I will not let you stand between me and that."
He narrowed his eyes. "Then why swear oath?"
"For you. For your petty pride." I glanced over my shoulder to the crowd, then back to him. "For politics. I will have none of it. I have a war to wage."
The king measured me for some time. Then he dipped his head in a fraction of a nod. He rose and raised his voice. "I find it well with you, Daven, Son of Carrick. I grant my grace for all you've done in defense of this kingdom."
"So kind of him," Lareth mumbled, but Isabelle silenced him with a glare.
The king pretended not to have heard. "I ratify you Sir Daven of Teelevon, and name you Chief Defender against the Dragonswarm. I grant you the land, the men, and the resources necessary to wage that war. Serve us well."
A cheer went up at that. His men knew when to cheer their king. I didn't smile.
The king spoke beneath the roar of their applause. "That was done well," he said with grudging admiration. "Now you should offer me a feast within your halls. To show that we are friends. Three days would be best, but a banquet will do. My steward can assist you—"
I raised the blade still in my hand, and he fell silent. "I have no more time to spend on you. I fight a war to save mankind. Now take your men and leave this place forever." Chaos thrummed in my ears. "Quickly, sire, while I still believe the dragons are the greater threat."
THE END
Daven's story continues in June 2012 with The Dragonprince's Heir.
While you're waiting, you can find more fantasy by Aaron Pogue in the short story anthology
A Consortium of Worlds
A Consortium of Worlds is a quarterly speculative fiction magazine showcasing the talents of Consortium Books’s array of authors. In the first issue you’ll find stories by:
Jessie Sanders
Joshua Unruh
Thomas Beard
Rebecca J. Campbell
Courtney Cantrell
Bailey Thomas
Aaron Pogue
A Consortium of Worlds is your window into Consortium Books’s outstanding stable of speculative fiction authors. A Consortium of Worlds is a showcase of new and innovative voices in all types of fiction from a publisher dedicated to allowing every writer his or her own voice. There are no slaves to trends or what’s-hot lists here, only writers imagining newer and brighter vistas of unseen tomorrows, untold yesterdays, unknown todays, and untouched worlds of pure imagination.
In addition to riveting fiction, you’ll find reviews of all types of speculative fiction. Our expert reviewers will take a look at novels, comic books, TV shows, or movies that you maybe haven’t heard of but will wish you had.
A Consortium of Worlds is a quarterly magazine. Approximately 35,000 words.
About the Author
Aaron Pogue is a husband and a father of two who lives in Oklahoma City, OK. He started writing at the age of ten, and lays claim to more than a dozen finished novels, as well as a handful of short stories, scripts, and videogame storylines. His first novels were high fantasy set in the rich world of the FirstKing, including the bestselling fantasy novel Taming Fire, but he's explored mainstream thrillers, urban fantasy, and several kinds of science fiction. Gods Tomorrow represents the introduction to a long-running science fiction cop drama series focused on the Ghost Targets task force.
Aaron is also a Technical Writer with the Federal Aviation Administration. He has a degree in Writing and has been working as a Technical Writer since 2002. He's been a writing professor at the university level, and is currently pursuing a Master of Professional Writing degree at the University of Oklahoma. He also runs a writing advice blog at UnstressedSyllables.com, and is a founding artist at ConsortiumOKC.com.
About the Publisher
Consortium Books is an innovative publisher with a unique mindset. All proceeds from Consortium Books sales are donated to an organization dedicated to injecting money into artists' pockets and art into the culture.
To learn more about the unshackled, free-thinking publishing world that is Consortium Books, please take a step through the looking glass:
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