“You’re all aware of the threat the Lords of Kismet pose,” Blade began. “You’ve also heard by now that Thanatos is alive and well, and has offered to ally himself with us against them. We have a decision to make. Do we or don’t we? For myself...,” and Blade stared directly at A.l.v.i.s., “....I don’t trust the Dark Lord as far as I can throw the SEAL. And I don’t care if he’s listening. Because the truth is, we can’t defeat the Lords of Kismet alone. You saw what happened when just one of their Reptilians infiltrated our compound. Eventually, their superior numbers, and superior technology, will tell. So against my better judgement, I’m proposing we accept the Dark Lord’s offer. But it can’t be my decision alone. Nor our Leader’s. Every one of you deserves a say. We’re going to take a vote. A show of hands. If you agree that the Family should accept an alliance with Thanatos, raise your arm. We’ll give you a bit to talk it over and decide.”
When Blade called for the vote, it was unanimous.
“So it’s come to this,” Geronimo said in an aside to Hickok. “Allied with our worst enemy.”
“No sweat,” Hickok said. “And when we’re done with the lizards and their high-and-mighty lords, it’ll be his turn.”
“Why are you grinning like that?” Geronimo said.
Hickok patted his Pythons. “I’m thinkin’ of all the lowlifes I’ll get to shoot.”
Blade turned to Rikki-Tikki-Tavi and bobbed his chin and stepped aside, and Rikki came forward. Everyone grew quiet. “There is another important announcement to make,” he began. “I don’t need to remind you that not long ago we lost four Warriors. We have grieved ever since. Now the time has come to replace those who fell, and restore our Warrior ranks.” He paused. “Would the trainees who took part in the run to the Valley of Shadow step forward.”
Out of the crowd came Eleanor, Kanto, Crom and Sherlock. They wore serious expressions except for Crom. He winked at a girl his age and laughed at a baby that wriggled its fingers in his direction.
“Line up in front of me,” Rikki-Tikki-Tavi said. After they complied, he raised his voice. “It is my great pleasure to announce that our Warriors will soon be at full strength. These four you see before you are to be formally inducted at a special ceremony in three days time.”
Applause broke out. Rikki let it subside before he continued. “Time and again on the recent run they proved themselves. Time and again they were put in peril, and survived. Time and again they showed their courage and dedication.”
More applause followed.
Rikki stared at each of the four in turn. “To be accepted as a Warrior is a great honor. With that honor comes great responsibility. The fate of the Family, the lives of everyone around you, is often in your hands. Yes, you are inexperienced. Yes, you have have much to learn. But I have every confidence, after having seen you perform, that you will be equal to our trust.”
Some of the Family started to clap but stopped when Sherlock stepped forward and said loudly, “Not me, I’m afraid. You’ll need to find someone else.”
In the stunned silence that ensued, Blade stepped up next to Rikki. “What are you saying?”
“That I must respectfully decline,” Sherlock said. “I thought being a Warrior would best suit my abilities. I was mistaken. Warriors are all about fighting and combat. My talents are best devoted to mysteries and more cerebral challenges.”
“For someone who is so smart, you have it exactly wrong,” Blade said. “To be a Warrior is to be about protecting others. It’s about safeguarding the family and the home and the society you are a part of. To be a Warrior is to be the ultimate servant.”
“Granted,” Sherlock said. “But there is a terrible amount of fighting involved. And while I enjoy the thrill as much as the next person....”
“Not as much as me,” Crom interrupted.
Sherlock continued. “To spend so much time on the battlefield, as it were, would affect my ability to be of benefit to the Family in other ways. I am, after all, as devoted to science as I am to anything else. Even more so. Which is why I feel that I can put my abilities to better use by making myself available where needed. Should Tesla, say, need assistance with a scientific or technical problem, I might be able to help. Or should the Warriors encounter a situation that needs unraveling, I would relish putting my mind to the task.”
“Do you bake cookies, too?” Crom said.
Hickok chuckled.
Blade was appraising Sherlock. “Very well. No one is ever forced to be a Warrior. We all have freedom of choice. You can do as you please, and no one will hold it against you.” He held out his hand.
Shaking, Sherlock said, “Thank you. I’m sincerely sorry. But to spend hours patrolling the walls when I could be working with my microscope and chemicals....”
“No need to apologize. We all have our purpose, and everyone’s is important.” Blade moved to the next candidate, Kanto, and offered his hand again. “Congratulations. I hear we have something in common.”
“Sir?” Kanto said.
“A fondness for knives. You with your stilettos and me with my Bowies.”
“I hope I can live up to the trust being placed in me,” Kanto said.
“You will.”
Blade moved to Crom, who shifted his war axe from one hand to the other so he could shake. “Rikki says you’re a bit impulsive and headstrong. That sometimes you don’t think before you act.”
“I’m glad that didn’t stop me from being picked,” Crom said.
“I know someone else who was a lot like you when he was your age,” Blade said, and glanced over at Hickok. “He turned out to be one of the best Warriors we’ve ever had.”
Crom grinned and waggled his axe. “Bring on the bad guys. I’ll show them what they get when they mess with the Family.”
Blade grinned. “Yes. Rikki is right. You’re just like him.” He moved on to Eleanor, who thrust her hand out and clasped his firmly. “Rikki tells me you’re quite adept with that longsword of yours.” He indicated Wrathbringer, which was slung across her back.
“I do my best, sir,” Eleanor said. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”
“Thank me if you reach old age,” Blade said, not entirely in jest. “Few Warriors do.”
“The Lord is our shepherd, yes?” Eleanor said, grinning happily. “Surely He will see us through.”
“Time will tell,” Blade said.
FINI
Did you miss the previous two ENDWORLD books? Order them today!
ENDWORLD #29
THE LORDS OF KISMET
The Warriors decide to carry the fight to their new enemy. There’s only one problem. Those who would destroy them are half a world away. How to get there is the least of their worries. Making it back alive is the real challenge. Especially since those they are going up against claim to be living gods!
ENDWORLD #28
DARK DAYS
The science fiction series that sweeps its readers into a terrifying Apocalyptic future continues. The Warriors of Alpha Triad face their greatest threat yet. Their survivalist compound, the Home, has been invaded. Not by an enemy army. Not by the horrifying mutates. This time a shapeshifter is loose among the Family. Able to change into anyone at will, it is killing like there is no tomorrow!
Be on the lookout for more great reads by David Robbins!
A GIRL, THE END OF THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING
Courtney Hewitt lived a perfectly ordinary life. Then several countries let fly with nuclear missiles and chemical and biological weapons and her life was no longer ordinary. Now Courtney has chemical clouds and radiation to deal with. To say nothing of the not-so-dead who eat the living. A lot of people might give up in despair. Not Courtney. When the going gets tough, the tough kick butt.
(ENDWORLD fans! This is a prequel! It ties directly into the Endworld Universe!)
BLOOD FEUD #2
HOUNDS OF HATE
Chace and Cassie Shannon are back. The feud between the Harkeys and the Shannons take
s the twins from the hills of Arkansas to New Orleans, where Chace has a grand scheme to set them up in style. But if the Harkeys have anything to say about it, they’ll be ripped to pieces.
THE WERELING
The original Horror classic. Ocean City has a lot going for it. Nice beaches. The boardwalk. Tourists. But something new is prowling Ocean City. Something that feasts on those tourists. Something that howls at the moon, and bullets can’t stop. The Jersey Shore werewolf is loose.
HIT RADIO
Franco Scarvetti has a problem. His psycho son has whacked a made man. Now a rival Family is out to do the same to his son. So Big Frank comes up with a plan. He sends his lethal pride and joy to run a radio station in a small town while he tries to smooth things over. But Big Frank never read Shakespeare and he forgets that a psycho by any other name is still....a psycho.
WILDERNESS #67
THE GIFT
Evelyn King is sixteen and in love. She is also headstrong. She conspires to run away with the warrior she loves. But they haven’t gone far when they discover four killers are on their trail. Now love will have to wait. Staying alive is more important.
WILDERNESS #68
SAVAGE HEARTS
Nate and Winona King thought they were doing the right thing when they rode deep into the Rockies to return a little girl to her people. Little did they realize: some good deeds are fraught with perils.
WILDERNESS #69
THE AVENGER
Zach King has given up the ways of the warrior. His wife is about to have their baby, and he looks forward to family life. Only unknown to him, the past is about to rear its violent head in the form of a man out to do Zach in for killing his kin.
ANGEL U
LET THERE BE LIGHT
Armageddon is a generation away. The forces of light and darkness are preparing to clash in the ultimate battle. To prepare humankind, the angels establish a university of literal higher learning here on Earth. A young man and a young woman meet, and begin to fall in love. Only to be caught up in demonic warfare when the ruler of Hell decides that Angel U must be destroyed at all costs.
ANGEL U
DEMIGOD
Gilgamesh the Destroyer. Demon Slayer. Giant. Son of the Moon. Seeker of Immortality. Two parts god, one part human. He wants nothing to do with the war between Heaven and Hell. Then Gilgamesh learns that he is not who he thought he was. He is not what he thought he was. To uncover the truth, Gilgamesh will venture where few have ever dared.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
PREVIOUS TWO ENDWORLD BOOKS
MORE GREAT READS BY DAVID ROBBINS
MORE GREAT BOOKS
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ANGEL U SERIES
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