Meta Gods War 2
Page 1
Meta Gods War 2
BN Miles
Contents
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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
About BN Miles
Copyright © 2020 by BN Miles
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1
Cam felt a drop of sweat roll down his back as he sucked in a heavy breath of stale air.
His right foot shifted forward under him, sliding along the smooth stone floor, and his hands gripped the leather hilt of his father’s bronze sword.
He clenched his jaw and moved.
His sword slashed out, clashing against a longer, more elegant weapon that seemed like an extension of the beautiful Elf girl facing him.
Her face was pinched in concentration but her lips moved as she fought, and he knew she was singing a song to herself. Her blonde braids shimmered in the lamplight, and her emerald green eyes seemed to dance with amusement.
She shifted away, slipping like water, and countered his slice with her own thrust. Cam managed to turn her attack and counter, but she danced away with a laugh.
“You’re getting a lot better,” Miuri said as she backed off and held up a hand, signaling a pause.
Cam took a deep breath and relaxed his fighting posture. He still wasn’t used to the sword, still wasn’t used to the tactics and the stances, but a week of training day and night had given him a little hope that he might figure it out.
Years of hard training with spear and shield had at least given him the instincts he needed to excel with the unfamiliar weapon.
“Trying to at least,” Cam said as he walked over to the water skin he’d set against the stone wall.
The training room was down a flight of stairs and around a corner from their sleeping quarters. It was large, at least fifty feet across and twelve feet high, and empty except for a bench carved into the right side. Cam didn’t know what the room was originally used for, he guessed it had been some kind of storeroom, but it was the perfect size for training and close enough to their quarters to be convenient. The walls were smooth, and the floor had rectangular etchings along it, likely meant to look like stone blocks, but everything around them was carved directly into the heart of a mountain.
Cam glanced up at the ceiling, and he knew thousands and thousands of tons of rock sat just above their heads.
His eyes moved over to the bench. Sitting on it, with her legs crossed at the ankles, leaning back on the stone with a smile on her lips, was Galla Remorn, the daughter of the Lord of the Mansion. She wore a flowing dress in silver and blue that made her light blue eyes seem that much brighter in the flickering lamplight. The lacing around her chest was left open, exposing just a hint of her breasts, and Cam had a feeling that she was trying to draw his attention. She had flowing, curly red hair and a slightly hooked nose, but that small imperfection somehow made her seem even more attractive.
She’d been around a lot lately, especially during their training sessions. She said she was interested in learning how to fight, but he hadn’t seen her pick up a weapon or do much of anything besides watching and commenting.
“I think you almost got her that time,” Galla said.
“I’m not so sure,” Cam said.
“Oh, come on, Cam,” Galla said. “I bet you could take her if you really let loose.”
Cam gave her a look. “That would sort of defeat the purpose, you know,” he said. “Not hurting each other is a pretty big part of all this.”
She laughed and grinned at him. “I’m just kidding. I don’t actually want you to burn the whole mountain down, you know.”
“That’s good,” he said. “Breathing is fun. I’d like to keep doing it.”
She laughed again and stretched. “Do you have any clue how boring things were around here before you arrived?” she asked. “I feel like this is the first time in my life my father isn’t paying too much attention to me.”
“Really?” Cam tilted his head at her. “I thought that’d be a good thing, getting all that attention from a Lord.”
“Oh, not at all.” She leaned forward, hands in her lap, breasts pressed together. Cam fought to keep his eyes locked on hers. He was absolutely positive now that she was trying to get him to look at her chest. “He’s always buying me clothes and other little luxuries, but honestly, until this little war sucked up all his attention, he’d spend his days plotting which Lord’s son I was going to marry.”
“Good thing the wolves are spilling down from the north, then,” Cam said.
“Very true, those wolves are very convenient for me.” She beamed at him and he laughed, shaking his head.
“Are you two done flirting?” Miuri asked, her voice lilting and light.
She was leaning against the wall, sword up on her shoulder. She wore her leather armor like usual, her blonde hair in braids, her long Elven ears jutting out and ending in strange pointed tips. Her green eyes flashed amusement and her pink, full lips pulled back into a little smile.
“Almost,” Galla said. “I think I finally have him just where I want him.”
Cam sighed and walked toward the center of the room. “Come on, Miuri,” he said. “Let’s try again.”
He forced himself not to think about Galla and watched as Miuri laughed and walked over. She winked at Galla as she got into position.
Miuri stood six feet away from him, lowering herself into a defensive stance, her blade swept back, her body half facing him. He took an aggressive posture, blade in two hands and held forward.
His father’s sword gleamed in the light. Training with edged weapons was a risk, but Miuri insisted on it, saying he’d learn to respect the sword faster that way. He just thought she didn’t want to have to ask Lord Remorn for training weapons. It didn’t matter though, and he pushed all those thoughts from his mind.
He stared at the blade for another moment then tried to center himself. He reached for the meditative state that would allow him to touch his magic, and although he didn’t actually reach for the priori and draw it into himself, he could feel it there just at the edges of his awareness.
In his calm state, the world moved slower, made more sense. He found he could keep up with Miuri if he kept himself centered right in the
calm of the darkness, and so he wrapped it around himself like a cloak.
His father’s sword moved, almost unbidden. It was wider at the base and tapered to a point, and the weight was balance toward the hilt. Miuri explained that it was a common type of sword, cast in bronze, the best metal available to Humans. The blade had two edges, and the wider end was for slashing while the thinner tip for stabbing. She’d shown him how to hold it, how to parry with it, shown him stances and motions and combinations, but for the past few days they’d done nothing but spar.
Miuri caught his sword with her own and batted it aside. He kept coming, slicing again, catching her blade and twisting it. She let out a grunt and kicked at his knees, but he lifted his foot and caught the blow on his shin. He pressed the attack, slashed, thrust, and Miuri parried each blow, losing ground step by step.
He felt the moment coming. He could see each move before he took it, could see Miuri’s reactions. She moved quicker than him and with a grace he could never match, but he was bigger and stronger, and he could use that to his advantage.
Miuri caught his blade on her own again as he shoved back against her, the metal ringing out in the stone room, echoing around the space. Their weapons locked, and he refused to let Miuri turn him away. She was so good at controlling the blades when they met, but he forced her hand by using his superior strength. He heard Galla gasp, but only from a distance. He was deep in his trance as he held her there, their weapons locked together. She was backed up against a wall, her eyes wide, as he pressed his blade harder.
He stepped up against her, putting his weight against his steel, and felt her own sword slowly edge toward her face. Her eyes went wider in alarm as he leaned closer. He could smell her sweat and her skin, like fresh earth and leather, and he couldn’t help but smile as her sword moved within an inch of her throat.
He leaned close, eyes locked with hers. She opened her mouth to say something but stopped herself.
Cam leaned his head between the blades and kissed her.
She returned his kiss with a surprising hunger. He relaxed his weapon and stepped back, giving her a wild grin.
“Got you that time,” he said.
“I don’t count it,” Miuri said. “You’re a brute.”
“Playing to my strengths.”
She made a face. “That’s not what I taught you.”
“I took what you taught me and improved it a little bit.”
Galla clapped from her little bench alcove and stood. She was an inch taller than Miuri, though both girls were significantly shorter than Cam. She was slim and her skin was very fair, and Cam guessed she’d never seen a hard day’s work in her entire life. Miuri was fair as well, but she was roped with muscle from years of hard training, and she had a surprising strength hidden beneath her softer curves.
Galla came over and hugged Cam, pressing her breasts against his side, leaning her head on his shoulder.
“Oh, Cam,” she said. “You did it! I honestly never thought you would.”
“Not sure how I feel about that, but okay,” he said.
She laughed and grinned at him. Miuri sighed and smiled, though Cam could tell she was annoyed. He was learning a lot about his Elf Princess lately, and he’d come to realize that she was very much a sore loser.
“And you,” Galla said, turning away from Cam and crossing her arms over her chest to look at Miuri. “You’re too much. Don’t be angry that Cam beat you, okay? He’s a big strong man and we’re just little, dainty women.”
Miuri rolled her eyes. “You always say that, Galla. But I have a feeling you’re more like a viper than a dainty woman.”
Galla laughed and tossed her hair back. She turned, got up on her toes, and kissed Cam on the cheek. He looked at her and felt his heart beat faster as he pictured those lips pressed against his, the taste of her tongue flooding his mouth, her dress dropping down to the floor.
He had three girlfriends already, all of them beautiful in their own way, and yet Galla still enticed him. Maybe it was her forward manner, or maybe it was just her unconventional beauty. Either way, the more time she spent around him, the more he wanted to taste her.
“I should go,” Galla said. “I’m sure my father has Warden Dore searching all over for me. And imagine the scandal if he found me here in a training room with a shaman and his Elven girlfriend?” She laughed and touched her cheek. “Oh, they’d never stop talking.”
“You know that’s sort of insulting, right?” Cam asked.
She laughed and waved a hand at her. “Bye Cam, bye Miuri.” She walked off, sweeping from the room.
Cam shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. He wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve and turned to Miuri.
“She likes you,” he said.
“She likes you a lot more.” She gave him a look and slid her sword back into her scabbard. “That girl’s trouble though, Cam.”
“No doubt about that,” Cam said.
“What should we do about her?” Miuri gave him a little smile. “Invite her into our bed and see how things shake out?”
Cam laughed and sheathed his own sword. He still wasn’t used to wearing it at his hip, but his movements were better, and he forgot about it most of the time, so he was getting there.
“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “We still need Lord Remorn’s support right now, remember? No sense in scaring his daughter.”
“That’s a shame,” Miuri said. She walked over and pressed herself against Cam’s chest. “Imagine having her, though. All four of us at once…”
He laughed and kissed her. Miuri returned his kiss, eager and hungry. He held her close, his body tired and sore from training so hard, but he felt good. Their kiss broke off and she tilted her head.
“We should get back,” Cam said. “Make sure Key and Felin are okay.”
“You just don’t want to get all riled up without all your girlfriends around to please you,” Miuri said.
Cam laughed and touched Miuri’s cheek. “Not exactly.”
“Sure, whatever you say, shaman.” Miuri pulled away and sighed dramatically. “There was a time when I was enough. Do you remember that?”
“No,” Cam said, picking up his water skin. “I don’t. Maybe you can remind me?”
“I’d be happy to,” Miuri said. She leaned against Cam again and he slipped an arm around her shoulder. He guided them over to the alcove and they sat, Miuri’s warm, sweaty body pressed against his own.
Miuri took a deep breath and relaxed against him. He leaned his head back against the stone and closed his eyes as he enjoyed the feeling of Miuri’s body.
“I’m worried about Felin,” Cam said, his voice low. He didn’t want it to echo, but it was hard to avoid that in a place made entirely of stone.
“I know,” Miuri said. “But she’s a strong girl. She’ll be okay.”
“That’s the problem. She’s a little too strong.” He opened his eyes and frowned. “You’ve seen the way she… looks at people.”
“She’s protective,” Miuri said.
“She’s overprotective. And she doesn’t like being cooped up.”
“You’re worrying too much. You can’t worry about Felin, and the army, and Dagan and the village and everything else.” Miuri touched his chest and kissed his cheek. “Let us take some of that worry.”
Cam grunted, his jaw tense, but he couldn’t agree with her.
He had hoped things would be better once they arrived in the great mountain Mansion. He thought Lord Remorn would have warriors ready for battle, or at least enough men to hold the Mansion from the invading Werewolves that were spilling down from the north in greater numbers every day.
But instead, they found the Mansion nearly empty. Lord Remorn had already sent his army into the field, but lost contact early on. Cam’s village arrived a week ago and they still hadn’t heard from the army. Lord Remorn had sent scouts to try and find out what had happened, and so far nobody had come back with any news at all.
<
br /> Cam couldn’t stop the bleak thoughts from bouncing around his skull. On top of the missing army, he was dealing with the other village Elders and their competing desires, trying to keep his own village together, and taking care of his girls.
It was a lot, he knew it, but it was his responsibility to bear. He wouldn’t turn his back on any of it, especially not his girls or his people.
Miuri put a hand on his cheek and smiled into his eyes. She looked no older than Cam, twenty at the most, but he knew she was much older than that. Elves were immortals, and their aging slowed dramatically when they came of age. He’d seen very few Elves in his time, but they all looked like they were in their twenties, except for Lord Haesar, who looked like an ancient thirty year old.
“We’ll be okay,” she said. “My father will return with his Blades and the army will be found. Even if they lost, there has to be some survivors. We’ll rebuild our strength.”
He nodded and took a breath. “I know, you’re right. I just wish the damned Elders would listen to reason.”
She gave him a look then sighed and stood. She picked up her own water skin and took a long drink before stretching her back.
“Come,” she said. “Let’s go see Key and Felin. Maybe they can cheer you up. I hate when you get gloomy.”
“I’m not gloomy,” he said.
“You’re gloomy.” She grinned at him. “Come on, shaman.”