Meta Gods War 3 by B. Miles (the ebook reader txt) 📕

She kept walking, face forward. Hammers clanged against steel. A man barked a laugh. Someone shouted a name.

“It was a long time ago,” Gwedi said. “Humans came to our village, back before we understood what they wanted. We broke bread, shared drink, made promises. They left and we thought that would be the end of it, until three nights later, they returned and wanted more.”

“Wanted more of what?”

“Steel,” Gwedi said. “Elven metal. Elven weapons. Humans still can’t make metal like we can, and back then, they couldn’t even make your brittle copper and bronze.”

“They came for metal?” Cam shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

“You wouldn’t. Metal was worth more back then, so much more. They came in numbers and we met them in battle the best we could, but they came in the night. They killed women, they killed children. Haesar managed to rout them, but not until the damage was already done. After that, we never treated Humans the same way again.”

Cam was quiet as Gwedi reached an intersection. Lamps burned in both directions. She stopped and faced him, arms wrapped tight across her chest.

“You met bad people,” Cam said. “But that doesn’t mean all Humans are bad.”

“No, they’re not,” Gwedi said. “But they weren’t the last to try and take what we had.”

“I’m sorry that happened.”

“Like I said, I don’t need your apologies.”

“I’m not here to take from you, Gwedi. I’m not here to hurt your people.”

“But plenty of Humans hate us, don’t they?” Her eyes flashed down the hall. Voices dripped out from the rooms. “You see the way they hide, don’t you?”

Cam followed her gaze and realized she was right. In every other wing of the Mansion, people would be out in the halls. But here, they stayed in the rooms.

“People are afraid of what they don’t understand,” Cam said.

“And instead of reacting to that fear with peace, they turn to violence.” Gwedi shook her head, stray hairs flying. “I’ve seen it again and again with your people.”

“They’re trying,” Cam said.

“Not hard enough.”

“What can I do to convince you that we’re on your side?”

“Nothing,” she said, staring at him. “I don’t want your side, or any side. I just want to be left alone.”

“But that’s not the world we live in,” Cam said. “Like it or not, those wolves are coming, and we’re all going to be put to death if we can’t figure this out.”

She dropped her arms and her hand ran along the length of her sword’s pommel.

“That’s the only reason I haven’t left yet,” she said. “You’re not the worst of them, Cam. But there are those among your people that would gladly see all the Elves put to death alongside the Wolves.”

“They don’t speak for everyone.”

“But they might.” She shook her head. “I’ll do what I can to help this fight. I’ll obey my master and follow orders. But you can’t expect me to set aside everything I know about Humans. I’ve made that mistake before, and I won’t make it again.”

She turned, her fist gripping her pommel, and walked down a long, twisting passage. Cam watched her go, her lamp dipping as she walked.

She was right about a lot of that. He knew there was a vocal group of Humans that mistrusted all godlings and would like to see them all dead. But that was a fringe, a minority, a violent and dangerous minority, but still a small foolish group. What happened to Gwedi and her people was awful, but it was also a long time ago, and Cam refused to be blamed for the actions of people long dead.

He had the living to worry about now.

Children ran from the rooms again. The toddler stopped and gave him a toothy smile. Cam smiled back as the toddler’s sister dragged him stumbling down the hall again.

He turned from the scene and walked back to the eastern wing, listening to voices, laughter, arguments drifting off the rocks around him.

10

Cam leaned back against a wooden cart, his fingers tracing the chipped grain, as Theus stalked in front of the ranks of assembled men. Arter stood at the far end of the line, his back straight, his spear and shield hefted up against his chest.

“This isn’t just some training exercise,” Theus said. “This is the training exercise. This is the only training we’re going to get. When we leave the Mansion, we’re out in enemy territory, and that means we might have to fight for our lives at any point. If any of you aren’t up for it, turn and walk away now. But those that stay, you’re going to be the elite of the elite, the best of the best.”

Theus stopped in front of Arter and stared into the man’s eyes. Arter’s back straightened and his chin tilted up.

“Nobody’s turning back,” Arter said.

“Good,” Theus said. “Are you prepared to take command of this rabble?”

“I am.” Arter smashed his spear against his shield. “Our lives for the shaman.”

Cam felt his throat go dry.

“Say it again,” Theus said, his eyes moving down the ranks. “All of you, say it again.

“Our lives for the shaman,” the men barked.

“Good,” Theus said and turned back to Cam. “I think they’re ready.”

Cam took a moment to gather himself. He’d heard oaths of loyalty over the last day or so from most of the general staff, though some remained stubbornly elusive. But this was the first time he’d heard men pledge their lives to him without hesitation or reservation.

The responsibility sent a chill down his spine.

He pushed away from the cart and approached. He clasped his hands behind his back as Theus stepped aside.

“Do you all understand the purpose of what we’re doing today?” Cam asked.

“Yes, sir,” Arter said, and the assembled men echoed him.

They were bears in old leather armor. Some of them looked more like scarecrows. Scraggly beards blew in the slight breeze. Their voices echoed through the enormous entrance cavern.

“We need eyes on the wolves,” Cam said. “And