Valor (The Faithful and the Fallen, #2)

by John Gwynne

‘Akar. Did you see Romar fall?’ ‘Aye.’ ‘And…’ ‘Calidus spoke true,’ Akar said. ‘A giant did slay Romar.’ ‘Oh,’ said Veradis, both surprised and relieved. He had been so certain that Calidus had been involved. ‘A giant wielding a black-bladed battle-axe,’ Akar said, then turned and strode into the darkness.

Uh oh

Then he knelt, whispered a prayer, asked for forgiveness and swore a new oath. And this one I shall not fail, except by death’s intervention. Jael shall die by my hand. He drew a dagger from his belt and cut a red line across his palm, let his blood drip onto Kastell.

Storm lunged forward, her weight pinning him to the ground. There was crunching, bones breaking, and the warrior’s scream rose in pitch, then was cut short as black blood and gore splattered trees and foliage. ‘I’m glad she’s on our side,’ muttered Camlin. In the distance they heard the first sounds of the camp stirring, a dog barking, a voice calling. Storm was standing with one paw on her kill, her muzzle dripping. She raised her head and howled.

If divine meant nightmares, sleepless nights and yellow eyes boring into you every time you closed your own eyes, then he was blessed beyond all men. Nothing is ever as you imagine it; even consorting with a god.

Storm has yellow eyes. Could she be Asroth or Elyon?

‘Time to go,’ Alcyon said. ‘Stay safe, True-Heart.’ Alcyon offered his arm to Veradis, who gripped the giant’s forearm. ‘What did you call me?’ Veradis asked him. ‘True-Heart. It is your name,’ Alcyon said, then turned to Cywen. ‘On your horse, child.’

From the prophecy

‘Where are they, Uncle?’ Conall said as he stood before the old man. ‘You’ll have to earn that knowledge,’ Rath said. ‘Drop your weapons, Uncle. You can’t win.’ ‘Sometimes it’s not about the winning, Con. It’s about how you lose.’ ‘It’s always about the winning,’ Conall said. ‘That’s always been your mistake,’ the old man said, shaking his head sadly.

Then Rath had a foot behind Conall’s leg, was pushing him back. Conall stumbled, somehow regained his balance, used his momentum to slip out of range as Rath’s knife whistled where his throat had been. Rath taught him, Veradis realized,

‘Memory is a double-edged sword, Uthas. It can keep you strong through dark times, but it can also cripple you, keep you locked in a moment that no longer exists.’