The Last Road Quotes

“We are kin, Sayan.” His voice cracked. Weak, as if every word fought through smoke and blood to shape itself. “We make ourselves kin, we do, as deep a truth as that I am my parents’ son, as deep a truth as that I am my brothers’ brother.” He had not been. Foundling, abandoned baby, claimed and loved. Truth. “We share a name, Sayan. My mother gave me your name and you blessed it. You’ve let me hide in you from my enemies. Held your hands over me so many times. Hold on to me now.” Words clearer now. Stronger. More certain. Feeling…truth, making a shape in the world. “I’m not a god, but what is a devil, Sayan? We warred against the Old Great Gods. We are powers to destroy gods of the earth. I’m not strong enough, whole enough, to stand against Jochiz. I’ve lost my own name. But I can be—” He hardly had words. Friend. Love. Brother. Where it mattered. In the heart, the soul. “You are my brother, I name you so, as you name me yours.” Tightened his grip on the god, illusion though that might be. Wrapped him, pulled him close, drowning brother, kin to kin, heart to heart, soul to soul. “Hold to me. Hide in me. Let me carry you.”
― K.V. Johansen, The Last Road