Read The Black Gods War for Free Online Page B

armies are leaving for the day. Please give Ilario my best and tell him I look forward to seeing him. I am sure you are growing even closer now. I hope to be the first to welcome you both to our camp. Together, we will watch a golden history unfold.
    The light will come.

    By Ysa's Grace,
    Lucia

    She exhaled a heavy sigh and lowered her chin to her chest. The sense of defilement still plagued her body.
    The clamor of soldiers came from all directions. A guard said through the doors, “Your Grace, the army is gathering.”
    Lucia glanced again at Ysa’s sword and shield. “Tell the Strategos I’ll be there soon.”

Author’s Note

    From here on out, the novella veers off in a different direction from the novel. If you think you might want to read the full novel, my suggestion would be to get the novel now and keep reading at chapter six (chapter six in the novel is different than chapter six in this novella). Of course, you can continue on with this much shorter version of the story, but be aware that this novella is missing some of the early chapters that are in the novel. This novella is 15 chapters. The novel is 85 chapters.

Chapter Six: Cranes in a Stormy Sky, Obscured by Dust

    AFTER SEEING THE SOLAR FLASH and understanding its portent (that Rezzia’s Haizzem had ascended to Dux Spiritus), Pawelon’s prince left his nation’s capital city Kannauj on a journey to their ancient citadel. Since the start of the war nearly ten years ago, his father, giant Rajah Devak, had led the nation from inside this mountainous fortress perched on the edge of the desert canyon separating Pawelon from Rezzia. The people of Pawelon could thank the stone structure for thus far preventing their defeat and subjugation.
    After graduating from his lifelong training as a sage with the highest evaluations in decades, Rao decided to join the war even though his father forbade it. He arrived shortly after sunrise, five days after Rezzia’s Haizzem ascended to Dux Spiritus. After a brief reunion with his father—one in which the rajah smashed the back of his hand against his son’s face—Rao was sent into the field alongside his father’s supreme general to support Pawelon’s troops on a unique engagement.

    ~~~~~

    Rao struggled to remain centered in the midst of Pawelon’s forces, as they marched into the valley. A well of emotional pain gushed within, aftershocks of his father’s blow. He breathed in and out in specific ratios, attempting to assert control over his feelings. In: one … two … three. Out: one … two … three … four … five … six.
    In his current condition, he knew he’d be useless if General Indrajit, who walked beside him, needed him to access his powers. Effectiveness as a sage depended on acute presence of mind, detached observation of all internal and external phenomena. Both the inner and outer worlds were pummeling his awareness.
    Their troop created a menacing spectacle: fanged long spears and great bows raised high above thundering footsteps, death-lust in the warriors’ eyes. Hatred and fear blanketed the atmosphere, palpable to Rao’s keen senses. His years of training rescued him from total overwhelm; he concentrated on breathing.
    The desert felt increasingly oppressive as the sun climbed and they descended the sloping path. As Rao trod the baked earth, after five days of hiking from Kannauj, his sandals chafed his sore feet. Red cliffs enclosing the winding passage blocked most of the sky. Heavy clouds flew at a bizarre speed above them. Rao wiped the moisture from his face.
    It’s too humid. This weather isn’t natural. Something’s happening.
    As he watched the scene around him, an image flashed in his mind. The army’s legs swung forward—right leg, left leg, right leg, left leg—kicking boulders down the path with each stride. His mind intuited the symbolism: The war’s momentum could not be reversed, stopped, or even slowed. Every person was merely a spectator of the unfolding