Wrend squinted down at the battlefield, but could only see the horde of paladins advancing through the gaps in the broken wall; and further south, the frontline of the battle. And all of that was three hundred feet down. How could Naresh even see Teirn moving among the throng?
“Give it a moment,” Naresh said. “Once he reaches the base of the cliff, you’ll see him.”
Wrend scanned the crowd, especially near the bottom of the butte, and soon Teirn emerged from the throng, heading straight for the slope below Wrend.
“Amazing,” Leenda said. “I thought you killed him.”
Wrend shook his head. “I thought he was dead, but I didn’t kill him. He fell into some poison sage, and I pulled him out.”
Naresh furrowed his brow. “He still should’ve died.”
“You should have killed him, at least,” Leenda said.
Wrend shrugged. “I have enough blood on my hands.”
Teirn reached the base of the cliff, looked up at the group without gesturing, and began to jump up it, just as Leenda and Wrend had done on the other butte.
Naresh gave Wrend an intense stare. “What will you do with him now? What if he tries to kill you again?”
Wrend shrugged. “I won’t kill him. I’m done with killing.”
“In the times to come, that goal may be impossible to hold to.”
Wrend didn’t look at Naresh. He didn’t know what times would come, or what he would do, but it didn’t matter. He didn’t want to kill, anymore.
“I’ll do my best to hold to it.”
As Teirn approached them, they backed away from the edge of the cliff, to stand near the draegon. He growled and barked, and rolled his head from side to side. Leenda shook her head at him with tight lips and raised eyebrows.
“We can protect ourselves, thank you very much,” she said. “There’s no need to eat anyone.”
When Teirn came over the top of the ridge, he landed on a rock about twenty feet from Wrend, and took a moment to orient himself to the surroundings. He stood gingerly, as if dealing with significant pain. From the blood and dirt covering his skin and torn clothing, he looked half dead. Blood still filled the one eye that a cactus needle had punctured, but blood no longer flowed. Instead, it had dried on his cheeks in a red streak. A blotchy redness covered the skin of his neck, hands, and torso where it was visible through his ripped shirt and pants. Most of the bloating had subsided.
He stared at Wrend, his face unreadable, and Wrend looked back. A wind arose, sudden and strong, blowing from Wrend’s right to his left, out over the battlefield. He shivered.
“I’ve realized,” Teirn said. He took a deep breath and released it over several seconds, his eyes locked with Wrend’s. “I’ve realized that you’re right. And I beg your forgiveness for everything I’ve done.”
Hope swelled in Wrend’s chest.
“With me gone, you could be god—uncontested.”
Teirn nodded, his face utterly serious.
“I don’t want it. I see that you were right. This time, we’ll defy the Master together.”
Wrend felt a stupid smile spread across his face. He couldn’t stop it. He couldn’t stop himself from laughing. He rushed forward with his arms extended.
Teirn advanced to meet him, also spreading his arms.
As they embraced, brothers once again, Naresh cleared his throat.
“This is very lovely, indeed, but might I suggest we move on quickly. If we act now, we might salvage the mess you two have made of this situation.”
THE END
A note from the author
Thank you for purchasing and reading this book. I sincerely hope you have enjoyed it and want to return to Wrend and the others in his world sometime in the future. I certainly do.
Please take a moment to visit my website. There’s a link titled “Drop me a line.” I hope you click on the link and send me a note regarding your thoughts on the book.
My website address is http://www.sjamesnelson.com.
In addition, one of the best things you can do as a reader of my book, is review it at the location you purchased it. Please take a moment to return to Amazon, rate the book, and provide a review. It doesn’t have to be a long review. Just a few words on what you thought.
Once again, I am deeply grateful that you purchased and read my book. Your readership and enjoyment is what I’ve wanted since I was a kid.
Best,
S. James Nelson
Acknowledgements
Many people helped with the creation of this book. I wish to thank them because it would not be the book it is today without their help.
Thank you Arthur Nelson for your fantastic job on the cover. You’re a design wizard. If anyone out there needs a book cover designed, shoot him an email at arthurnelson@gmail.com.
My online writing group, the Rough Writers. Nate Cassani. Luisa Perkins. Lee Ann Setzer. Frank Morin. Jennifer McBride. Your feedback has been invaluable to me over the years. Thank you very much.
Other readers who have guided me on this path. Julie Mangan. Dixie Nelson. Zachary Nelson. Gary Bartholomew. Stephen Livingston. Thank you.
A special thanks to David Farland. You’ve taught me more than any reasonable person could hope or expect. You’re one of the kindest people I know, and I’m thankful for your expertise and insights into writing in general, and my writing in particular.
Lastly, and most importantly, my wife. Liesl Nelson. Words cannot express my gratitude to you for how you have supported me as I’ve pursued my dreams. You’ve sacrificed time, money, and probably some sanity. You have always encouraged me to travel and spend time away from home or in front of the computer in order to succeed in this quest. There is no question that without you there would be no Demigod Proving. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
By the way, did I mention I’d like you to visit my website?
www.sjamesnelson.com
Or leave a review of the book on Amazon.com?
Table of Contents
Part I: A young branch
Chapter 1: Not so good news
Chapter 2: Laughter no more
Chapter 3: Unexpected attention
Chapter 4: A lesson in Ichor
Chapter 5: Seeking safety
Chapter 6: A proving promised
Chapter 7: Wearing human flesh
Chapter 8: No time for patience
Chapter 9: A brother’s secrets
Chapter 10: Confession
Chapter 11: Bound
Chapter 12: Interrupting the Reverencing
Chapter 13: A simple question
Chapter 14: Starting out at a disadvantage
Chapter 15: Certainty
Chapter 16: An attempt at mass murder
Chapter 17: Escape
Chapter 18: Binding Ichor
Chapter 19: An old foe
Part II: In the pleasant garden
Chapter 20: Seeing forever
Chapter 21: Not confederate
Chapter 22: A mother’s counsel
Chapter 23: Weakening god
Chapter 24: A disgrace to draegons everywhere
Chapter 25: A second chance
Chapter 26: Divine correction
Chapter 28: Chasing living flame
Chapter 29: An unexpected compulsion
Chapter 30: Becoming a mother
Chapter 31: Heavy burdens
Chapter 32: A conspiracy uncovered
Chapter 33: A minor inconvenience
Chapter 34: The Strengthening
Chapter 35: Too many options for death
Chapter 36: Running from god
Chapter 37: The dutiful wife and mother
Chapter 38: Killing a son
Chapter 39: Nothing beats a good cow
Chapter 40: A tasty draegon treat
Chapter 41: Admission
Chapter 42: Not who he said he was
Chapter 43: Accusations
&nb
sp; Chapter 44: Accelerated plans
Chapter 45: The deep recesses
Chapter 46: Fire in the veins
Chapter 47: Tipping the scales
Chapter 48: Willful disobedience
Chapter 49: Interrupted
Chapter 50: Situation in flux
Chapter 51: Kicking god
Chapter 52: Grounded
Part III: Pruning branches
Chapter 53: In the Valley of the Elder Gods
Chapter 54: Brotherly hate
Chapter 55: Deferring the Strengthening
Chapter 56: The Task
Chapter 57: Brother against brother
Chapter 58: A mother’s price
Chapter 59: The nature of the test
Chapter 60: On the inside
Chapter 61: An unexpected complication
Chapter 62: The right choice
Chapter 64: The first kill
Chapter 65: Victor of the proving
Chapter 66: Parting and joining
Chapter 67: Gone to war
Chapter 68: By starlight
Part IV: Ax to the root
Chapter 69: The southern limits
Chapter 70: The past explained
Chapter 71: The choice is made
Chapter 72: Breaking point
Chapter 73: Inexorable path of violence
Chapter 74: Cut in half
Chapter 75: Protected
Chapter 76: Engaged
Chapter 77: In a tangle
Chapter 78: Distant application
Chapter 79: Last embrace
Chapter 80: Too far away to help
Chapter 81: Never again
Chapter 82: God rage
Chapter 83: Unwilling to leave
Chapter 84: It’s what a draegon does
Chapter 85: A new friend
Chapter 86: No way around
Chapter 87: Re-commitment to life
Chapter 88: Remembered memory
Chapter 89: Something like victory
Chapter 90: Just the beginning
Chapter 91: Saved
Chapter 92: Renewal
A note from the author
Acknowledgements