The Dawn of a Desperate War (The Godlanders War) (27 page)

Corin cocked his head. “Perhaps, but there’d be a bright side too. You’d be dead. You can see how I’m conflicted.”

He
was
conflicted. Even with his nostrils full of the stink of this rotten creature, even standing here five paces from the place where the fiend had killed Aemilia, Corin wavered. Was he strong enough to choose the greater good? Could he sacrifice his own pride, his own consuming vengeance for the sake of a peaceful victory? Could he leave an immortal Ephitel unchallenged for all time?

Ephitel was not caught in such deep consideration. All he’d heard was Corin’s casual slur, and now his lip pulled back in an animal snarl. He slammed his fist against the wall so hard the plaster cracked. “I should have killed you long ago, manling! I should have made you watch when I killed your pretty girl. I should have made her scream.”

Corin closed his eyes and fought to draw a calming breath. “You should have kept that to yourself,” he said softly.

“You wretched worm!” Ephitel bellowed. “I’ve offered you everything you want and better than you could have hoped for. Accept my terms.”

“Can you give me back Aemilia?”

“Don’t be a fool.”

“Then give me Ithale. Renounce your authority, and you can live your life however you please.”

“I am not here to negotiate.”

“Nor am I,” Corin said coldly. He’d hesitated for a moment. He’d wavered. It was an attractive offer, after all. And the consequences grave.

But he’d already told Sera his own terms. Ephitel died, or the world did.

The tyrant god stomped forward and caught Corin’s shirtfront in a massive fist. He lifted him up and smashed his back against the cabin’s ceiling. “Age of Reason, manling, you’ve had all you’ll get from me. Give me the cursed sword!”

Corin tore his gaze from Ephitel’s, and looked down to Jacob. He nodded once, and the tavern keeper did as he had promised. He killed a rabid god with one clean stroke.

And so began the Godlanders War.

About the Author

Photo © 2010 Julie Velez

Aaron Pogue is a husband and a father of two who lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He started writing at the age of ten, and has written novels, 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 has explored mainstream thrillers, urban fantasy, and several kinds of science fiction, including a long-running sci-fi cop drama series focused on the Ghost Targets task force.

Aaron has been a Technical Writer with the Federal Aviation Administration and a writing professor at the university level. He holds a Master of Professional Writing degree from the University of Oklahoma. He also serves as the user experience consultant for
Draft2Digital.com
, a digital publishing service.

Aaron maintains a personal website for his friends and fans at
AaronPogue.com
, and he runs a writing advice blog at
UnstressedSyllables.com
.