Gathering Of The God-Touched (Book 4) (10 page)
Read Gathering Of The God-Touched (Book 4) Online
Authors: Ron Collins
“I don’t care what you think,” Darien said. “We’re not going to start for home without the horses properly healthy. We need them curried and fed before evening is out.”
“Which we will accomplish through our magic,” Reynard replied.
Garrick’s appearance brought a hush to the field.
“Garrick,” Darien said. “It’s good to see you.”
Garrick nodded. “What’s wrong?”
“Lord Garrick,” Reynard said. “The men are tired, and Commander J’ravi is commanding us to expend energy we do not need to give.”
“The horses need to be curried by hand,” Darien said. “There is more to this than cleanliness, and the horses know the difference.”
Every gaze fell upon Garrick.
“The horses prefer to be curried by hand,” he said. “And a wise traveler takes care of his animal.”
Reynard gave a sigh, but turned to the Freeborn. “As Garrick says, we will curry the horses by hand.”
“No,” Garrick replied. “This is as Commander
J’ravi
said. He has earned that respect and more.”
Reynard held Garrick’s gaze a moment too long. “I agree, Lord Garrick.” He held his hand to Darien. “I apologize, Commander. I meant no disrespect.”
Darien shook Reynard’s hand.
“I will be in my tent, Commander J’ravi,” Garrick said to Darien. “When you are finished with preparations, I would like a word.” Then Garrick turned to leave.
“Lord Garrick?” Reynard said.
He hesitated.
“The order needs a leader if it is going to grow into Sunathri’s vision. Will you serve?”
“I am a poor choice.”
“You are god-touched.”
“That alone makes me an unwise choice.”
“With all due respect, Lord. You are the only one who thinks that.”
The mages looked to Garrick again. Garrick said nothing. Life force stirred inside him, though, and he felt the urgency of Braxidane’s desire. He knew better than take command of the Freeborn, though. He had no desire to lead, and no skills. And he would not expose Sunathri’s order to the whims of this abysmal force inside him.
“The Lectodinians remain strong,” Reynard continued. “And we cannot be foolish enough to think the Koradictines will not rise from their ashes. We have to grow our roots now.”
“I come with considerable baggage,” Garrick said. “The order does not want me at its helm.”
“Then we are lost,” Reynard said.
The wizards murmured with disappointment.
“You are not lost.”
All eyes turned to Darien.
“The only way the Freeborn would be lost would be to coerce Garrick into serving against his will. He must be free to decline, otherwise you corrupt the base ideal of Sunathri’s vision for the Torean House itself.”
“We need a leader,” Reynard replied.
“If you would have me,” Darien said, “I would lead your house.”
Reynard smiled. “You are no mage.”
“You’re right. But I believe in what Sunathri stood for. I have fought for it. And I’ve grown up amid those who organize things. I can help you build this order.”
The mages shared glances as Darien continued.
“But I am not blind to the fact that I cannot cast magic, and without that I might well struggle to lead. So, if the Torean Freeborn will have me I propose to name a board of mages to provide me counsel in this area. My first two selections will be you, Reynard, and, of course, Garrick.”
“I’m not joining the Freeborn,” Garrick said.
“You don’t have to be Freeborn for me to ask your opinion. It’s always best to hear all sides in a conflict. In fact, your voice, coming as a free citizen, brings its own value.”
Garrick had nothing to say. He didn’t want to tell Darien of his decision in this public moment.
“It could work,” Reynard said, turning to look at Garrick. “Will you serve as Darien’s counsel?”
Garrick put his hands on his hips.
He thought about Sunathri.
He remembered the velvet touch of her kiss and the strength of her passion.
Reynard was right. This arrangement could work. And he wanted to do something for Sunathri. Could he find a way to make this work in conjunction with his own needs?
“I will be away often,” he said. “And for long periods.”
“Your learnings in these travels could aid the order,” Darien replied.
“My god-touch makes me dangerous.”
“And half of our army is alive due to that same touch.”
Garrick nodded.
The proposed arrangement was really no different from the arrangement they had come to God’s Tower under, and Darien’s response told him he was free to travel on his own as he had already planned.
“I can live with it,” he said. Or at least try.”
“Then I will serve, too,” Reynard replied.
The mages gave a disjointed cheer.
After a moment, Darien raised his hand and everything quieted.
“I have only one requirement for taking this position.”
“Which is?” Reynard asked.
“The decision must be unanimous.”
A smile grew over Reynard’s lips, and he turned to the rest of the mages. “Are there any of the Torean order of the Freeborn who would reject Darien proposal?”
Faces turned to faces, all afraid of what might happen next.
No voice spoke against the arrangement.
“It is done, then,” Reynard said. “Darien of Dorfort is the Torean Lord Superior.”
The order cheered once again, and this time Darien did not stop them.
* * * * *
This is the end of
Gathering of the God-Touched
, but the story of Garrick, Braxidane, and the struggle between the orders continues in
Pawn of the Planewalker
, due to be published January of 2015!
Available at:
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Ron's Ramblings
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The Saga of the God-Touched Mage includes:
Glamour of the God-Touched
Trail of the Torean
Target of the Orders
Gathering of the God-Touched
Pawn of the Planewalker
Changing of the Guard
Lord of the Freeborn
Lords of Existence
APPENDIX
* * * * *
Map of the Plane of Adruin
image by Ron Collins
Acknowledgements
The universe of Adruin and All of Existence has many people to thank for its existence, not the least of which are Tim Brown, Mike Cox, Ken and Jackie Peters, and my wife, Lisa.
I need to single out a few others for their efforts beyond all the rest.
My friend, collaborator, and pre-reader John Bodin's help was—as always—superlative. I want to thank my daughter, Brigid, for stepping into the fray when I needed her. And I want to give thanks to my cover artist, Rachel Carpenter, who was great fun to work with and who did a fantastic job bringing Garrick to life.
Mostly, though, I have to thank Lisa for everything she's done for me.
The Saga of the God-Touched Mage
has gone through more twists and turns than I could ever have predicted when the idea first hit, and she's been with me through every step. (Don't worry, honey. It's really done. Really, I mean it. It's done. You don't have to read it for the 111th time!).
About Ron Collins
Ron Collins is an award-winning author who lives in Columbus, Indiana, with his wife, Lisa.
Gathering of the God-Touched
is the fourth volume in the eight-part
Saga of the God-Touched Mage
. Ron published
Five Magics
, a collection of his short fantasy, in 2012.
Five Magics
includes two tales from
Dragon Magazine,
a
Marion Zimmer Bradley’s FANTASY MAGAZINE
Cauldron Award winning story, and another tale that was awarded Honorable Mention in Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling's “Years Best Fantasy.”
Ron is the author of two road trip, alternate-history, fantasy, science fiction baseball novels, the first being
See the PEBA on $25 a Day
(2010), and the sequel being
Chasing the Setting Sun
(2014).
He has contributed numerous short stories to professional science fiction publications including
Analog
,
Asimov’s
, and
Nature
. His writing has received a Writers of the Future prize, and a CompuServe HOMer Award. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and worked developing avionics systems, electronics, and information technology before spending a decade in Human Resource management.
Discover other work by Ron Collins at:
Subscribe to
Ron's Ramblings
to be the first to hear about new publications!(*)
(*) We promise not to spam you with anything beyond information regarding Ron's work!
The Saga of the God-Touched Mage includes:
Glamour of the God-Touched
Trail of the Torean
Target of the Orders