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Kindle Notes & Highlights
by
Shirtaloon
Read between
August 14 - August 18, 2024
“They could be trouble,” Colin said. “I should go up there and eat them before they wake up.” The others all turned to look at him. “It was just a suggestion,” he said defensively.
“Still doesn’t change what we have to do,” Colin said. “We fight, we win, we eat what’s left. Oh, don’t look at me like that; there aren’t any vegans here.”
“It would make for better planning,” Colin said. “How do you figure that?” Jason asked. “I think better on a full stomach.” Gordon’s orbs flashed a sequence that pointed out that Colin belonged to a species that devoured every living thing on entire planets, suggesting he was incapable of having a full stomach. “That’s a good point,” Jason said as Colin glared at Gordon. “Do you even have a stomach?” “Do you not remember when I ate that world-taker worm queen?” Colin complained. “It took me weeks to sleep that meal off.” “Ooh, you’re right,” Jason conceded. “He’s got you there, Gordon.” Gordon
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Oh, but Jason was still dead, so we had a duck guy instead.” “A duck guy?” “Yeah, you know. Quack, ponds, being quite comfortable in the rain. Ducks.” “I know what ducks are.” “Then it’s odd you asked for clarification.
“You didn’t pull out any notes before drawing out the magic diagram,” Emir observed. “No,” Clive confirmed. “It’s a rather niche ritual to have memorised.” “I didn’t have it memorised,” Clive told him. “I just made it up.” “You just invented a complex, wide-area ritual, off the top of your head?” Clive snorted a laugh. “Sure, complex.” “Clive, I’d try and poach you for my treasure-hunting operation again. I’m just not sure I can afford to pay you what you’re worth.”
She sprang up on alert, turning to find a messenger standing in front of her. It was the quiet one whose name she still didn’t know. The one she wanted to get rid of before enacting her plan. He wasn’t floating in the air the way messengers did, but that was not the change from his normal appearance that left her startled and disarmed. She didn’t react as he moved forward and gathered her in a hug, his bushy moustache tickling her ear.
Real auras, I mean, not the stuff your aunt with the crystals talks about.” “I’m the first member of my species; I don’t have an aunt.” “The universal aunt. She’s an archetype.
“I took their lives,” Boris said. “I can at least leave them their dignity.” “You sound like one of the lesser races,” Fiola said. “Now that we’ve come this far,” Boris said, “that is the last time you say ‘lesser races’ in my presence.”
“You should be careful with statements like that,” Jason said. “My friend Clive’s wife said the same thing, and that turned into a whole mess. I mean, worth it, but still.”
“You have a sense of how effective Clive’s plan was, right?” Jason asked Gary. “We just confirmed on our side that any dead priest will take energy from the avatar, freshly killed or not. The question is, does killing these pricks off weaken the avatar?” “It does,” Gary confirmed. “By how much?” “By more than we’d feared and less than we’d hoped. We need to kill a lot more priests.” “Gary,” Jason said. “You just gave me a little atheist chubby.” “Little, huh?” Neil said. “I hope you didn’t disappoint—” “Neil,” Clive said, “I swear to your god, if you say a damn thing about my imaginary wife,
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“Just tell me!” Neil snarled. “Fine,” Clive said, his tone reluctant. “It was my wife.” “Oh, you son of a—”
“I bet if we fought the god of sandwiches, you’d eat it,” he grumbled under his breath.
“What did I do wrong? I haven’t eaten any babies, even though they’re really easy to catch.”
“You realise most people don’t need to point out that they don’t eat babies.” “Well, in fairness, he didn’t say he doesn’t eat babies. He said he hasn’t eaten any babies.”
“So, who is selling these fake avatars of doom in a side alley?” “It’s not quite like that. It’s the avatars themselves. There are a few that have remained attached to the throne since the sundering. The real avatars bolster their numbers by creating constructs that are, to almost every test, identical to the genuine article. There is only one practical difference.” “Which is?” Boris lifted an arm to point at the glowing cloud. “Only the real ones can do that.”
Both men turned to look at the cloud that was now pulsing with blue and orange light. “Time to go, Boris,” Jason said. “We can pick this up when I don’t have a god to kill.” “I know that’s technically inaccurate on a number of levels,” Boris said, “but that is a great line. Which I kind of ruined by talking about it instead of just leaving, I guess. I’m just going to go.”
It was Jason’s aura at its most unyielding and merciless.
he was going to fuck that giant up.
As Neil finished speaking, the cloud palace exploded. “I’m sure it’s fine,” he said.
“I want to fight, you know I do. I just don’t think I can.” “If the spirit is willing, do you think it matters if the body is weak? In this place? You think that’s air you’re breathing?”
“You said we need help,” Humphrey said. “What kind of...” The land shook with the thunder of footfalls as a fourth giant appeared alongside the avatar, the robot and Stash. It looked like Clive, except with the clothing, physique and hairstyle of a woman. “Belinda,” Clive said through clenched teeth. “Yes, Clive?” she asked, innocent as a puppy. “What is that?” “I think you know who that is, Clive.” “That is not my wife!” “Oh,” Belinda said with an awkward wince. “Marital problems?” Clive’s response died in his throat as they all turned to stare at the avatar as it finally started to move.
But I have heard both Rufus Remore and his father Gabriel mention that their family runs a school.”
“I have considered that point, and I have a plan. You don’t have to worry.” “I hate to break it to you, Jason,” Belinda said, “but you having a plan is when we worry the most.”
“See?” Stash said. “Not a chicken.” “You just yelled out ‘COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!’” “And now you did too,” Stash said. “At least I’m a chicken. You’re the guy who yelled ‘cock-a-doodle-doo’ in the middle of a battle.”
“I always imagined the goddess of Wind as a Susan.” “Susan?” “It’s got that wooshing sound. SOO-san. Like the wind.”
Time, gods help me. Actual time to study and test without a civilisation dying if I don’t get it right in the next half-hour.”
“I know I’m out of the ordinary, but unique in the entire cosmos? Even I’m not arrogant enough to think that.
“Thank you for Dawn,” she said. Jason turned to look at her, eyes narrowing with curiosity. “Same,” he said after a long moment. “Thank you for sending her my way.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m going to let you take over my daughter’s education. Why should I even consider doing that?” “My family runs a school.” “A school for warriors. I don’t want my daughter to be a warrior.” “Not warriors. Teach to fight, yes, but also teach to not fight. Your child will have power. Those with power can choose peace, but peace not always choose them. Will not train warrior, but will teach. Will make ready.” “Ready for what?” “For everything.”
“Mine is a brutal world. You saw what it did to your uncle. Be grateful that your civilisation isn’t watered with the blood of the young.”
Farrah and Jason had done a decent enough job during their time on Earth, but they were ultimately amateurs. Rufus’ family ran a school.
Clive returned to the doorway. “What are you doing?” he asked. “We need to go.” “I owe this guy one,” Sophie said. She kicked Pochard hard in the stomach. “And that’s for sleeping with Clive’s wife,” she added. “Wha…?” Pochard asked as Clive rolled his eyes. “Really?” Clive asked. Sophie flashed him a grin and then was past him in a blur of movement. Clive shook his head and followed.
You’re never going to find the dragon inside when you insist on being the little spoon.”
