Book 08 - Petty Pewter Gods Read Online Free PDF Page B

that she
sounded entirely convincing.
    The big guy closed his eyes, breathed lightning. His companion
had better control. She had gotten herself down to six feet tall
and was quite attractive in a mature, country sort of way. I had no
trouble picturing her galloping across the sky on a stormy night,
wearing an iron hat with horns, scattering ravens while harvesting
the fallen heroes. Trouble was, she eyed me like she had no trouble
picturing me dangling across the neck of her mount.
    My head still hurt. My stomach kept rolling over. I wanted
desperately to go back to sleep.
    I said, “I’m not comfortable here.” I was
also, still, very confused, completely distrusting of my senses.
“Is there somewhere we can sit down, just you and me, so I
can get a handle on this without being distracted?” If I
wasn’t trying to keep from stepping on my tongue when I
looked at the blonde I was worrying about the big guy’s
temper or about the ugly brothers taking a notion to bang me around
again. I did know I was in one bad spot, whatever these things
were.
    The big guy spat from the side of his mouth, like those country
boys who chew weed instead of smoking it. A ball of fire hit stone
a few yards from my hand, melted right down into the slate.
Charming.
----

8
    There was another cellar above part of the one where I had
awakened. It was more normal, used for wine storage and lumber
rooms. Lots of dust and spiders. Plenty of rats. Refreshingly
mundane. My companion illuminated our way with a light from within
herself. She seemed fuzzy but appeared solid once we climbed into a
kitchen where a dozen women were cooking and baking. They paused to
stare, baffled. Who was this guy coming out of the cellar?
    Apparently they didn’t see Magodor. Nor did they seem
inclined to challenge my presence. They went back to work. That was
not reassuring. It meant they were used to strange doings and to
minding their own business.
    Their number meant I had to be way up the Hill. And that meant
the house probably belonged to one of the great and most wicked of
the sorcerers who are the true powers in Karenta.
    I hate it when I get noticed by those people. That never is good
for me.
    Magodor led me into a small drawing room apparently set up just
for us. She told me, “You will have to manage without
refreshments. We’re not allowing ourselves to be seen by
mortals.”
    I dropped into a chair so overstuffed I sank almost out of
sight. I caught an arm and saved myself. In moments I was so
comfortable I was ready to sleep. I knew I had a concussion, so I
fought the drowsiness. “How come?”
    “Our enemies would find out where we are.”
    “That’s a problem?”
    She offered me a sour look. Must have been my tone.
“You’ve never seen a war of the gods. Pray you
don’t.” The woman with all the teeth and arms and the
snake problem shone through momentarily. “Neither we nor the
Shayir need worry about injuring mortals under our
protection.” But wasn’t that sort of thing supposed to
be bad for business in general?
    The nasty side faded. Lovely. Yum!
    “That wouldn’t be smart, Garrett.”
    “Huh?”
    “Your thoughts are obvious. They were with Adeth. They
were with Star. They are with me. You should know that my lovers
seldom survive. I offer the warning only because we need you
healthy. I am Magodor the Destroyer.”
    Into my head flooded images of famine and pestilence, of acres
of bones, of cities burning and ravens darkening the sky. Boy,
would she be a fun date. When the visions cleared, Magodor looked
her loveliest yet, a
make-the-celibate-monks-howl-at-the-unfair-moon sort of girl.
    “Resist me.”
    “Will do.” I was not sure that these Godoroth were
not just slick con artists with a little hedge wizardry, aiming to
use me as a stalking-horse. But why take chances?
    “Until we triumph over the Shayir.” If anything, she
grew more desirable.
    “Uh,” I said, wondering if I ought not to hold a
hand over my eyes.