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

and I can’t really get the idea out of my head.”

“What’s that?” he asked.

Cam looked at his friend, at the burn scars down the side of his face, and felt a shiver in his guts.

“Magic can be taught,” Cam said.

“Obviously,” Theus said. “Your father taught it to you.”

“No, you don’t understand. Magic can be taught to… anyone.”

Theus’s lips tugged down into a frown. “I thought you needed to be born to a shaman.”

“That’s what I thought too. That’s the impression my father always gave. But Sirrin says it’s not true.”

“How would he know?”

“He wasn’t born to shaman, and he has magic.”

“Huh.” Theus sat back. “Interesting. I just always assumed…” He shook his head. “I thought it was special.”

“It is,” Cam said. “It’s still exceedingly difficult. I don’t think most people could learn it, even if it’s possible.”

“So what are you thinking?”

“I want to teach people,” Cam said.

Theus laughed. “Imagine an army of shaman. We’d wipe the wolves out in a week.”

“Exactly.” Cam leaned forward. “I want you to be the first.”

Theus made a face then laughed again. “Come on, you’re not serious.”

“I’m very serious,” Cam said. “I need someone that’s smart, capable, and loyal. I need someone that won’t abuse their power.”

“You really think you can teach me? You barely learned yourself.”

“True,” Cam admitted. “But it hasn’t been too long since my father gave me lessons. I remember most of what he taught me and I think I can pass it down to you.”

Theus studied him for a long moment. Cam couldn’t read his friend’s expression, but every time he looked at the burn scars on Theus’s face, he wanted to get up, leave the tent, and never return.

“I’m not sure I’m ready for that,” Theus said.

“Nobody’s ever ready for it,” Cam said. “You just do it, and one day you figure out how to be better.”

Theus took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “So, what, are you going to make me sit in the middle of the camp and… what do you call it? Meditate?”

“Probably,” Cam said.

“I’m a General. I have responsibilities.”

“We’ll work around them.”

“This is insane. You want me to learn magic.”

“I really, really do.” Cam leaned forward. “You deserve it, Theus. You’ve been with me from the start, and there’s nobody I trust more than you.”

“I’ll do it,” he said. “If you want it, I’ll do it.”

“Don’t take this on if you’re not sure. I can find someone else.”

Theus grinned. “Like you said, I’m brilliant and capable, so.”

“I’m not sure I said that.”

“Sure, you did.” Theus crossed his arms. “So what now?”

“Now we’ll get started. And if it works with you…”

“Then you’ll create your army.”

“That’s the idea.”

Theus laughed and leaned back in his chair. He ran his hands through his hair and stretched his arms up.

“So if I learn magic, will I get a bunch of beautiful women to keep me satisfied?” Theus asked.

“I don’t think it works that way,” Cam said. “I mean, look at Sirrin. The guy’s barely with it most of the time.”

“True.” He dropped his arms and the smile slipped away. “I know this is a huge responsibility. I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t.” Cam pushed his chair back. “Let’s start the first lesson.”

“Right now?”

“Right now. Come on.” Cam brushed past his friend and headed toward the tent flap. Theus scrambled to his feet and followed.

Cam moved out into the evening. Spades dug into dirt. Men laughed around fires. The smell of cooking meat, boiling water, and washing soap resonated. Theus caught up with Cam and walked beside him.

Janter and a stocky man named Madus fell into step behind them.

Cam loved the camp in the early evening, just before the sun fell. Men greeted him as he passed and he stopped to exchange a kind word or two. Cam breathed the campfire smoke. Armorers repaired torn leathers and hammered out dented plate. Weapon smiths sharpened spearheads. Fletchers carved arrows and sanded bows smooth. Camp followers moved between tents and spoke in low voices.

Cam made his way toward the center of the army. He hadn’t actually planned any lessons for Theus. He hadn’t thought ahead at all. He only knew that he needed more shaman if he was going to survive what was to come.

The image of Lycanica hanging gorgeous and perfect and horrifying mid-air was seared into the inside of his eyelids.

Cam reached a ring of tents placed around a crowded fire. The men were infantry, though he wasn’t sure who commanded them. Spears and shields rested haphazardly in the grass.

“Sit with them,” Cam said, gesturing at the fire.

“Why?” Theus asked. “Those are…” He squinted in the low light. “I’m actually not sure who leads them.”

“You do!” one of the men shouted. He had a bushy gray beard. Laughter broke out around him.

“Oh,” Theus said. “Shit, he’s right.”

“Sit with them,” Cam said again. “Don’t speak. Don’t listen. Sit with them and think about nothing.”

Theus groaned. “I was joking about the meditating thing.”

“I wasn’t.” He put a hand on Theus’s shoulder. “You need to learn to control your mind. That’s a big part of what I do.”

“Sounds boring.”

“It’s very, very boring. Until you understand.”

“So I just sit… and think about nothing.” Theus frowned at the infantrymen.

“Not so different from what you normally do!” a voice shouted and more laughter erupted.

“Sit and think about nothing,” Cam said. “Don’t smile at their jokes. As far as you’re concerned, they don’t exist. If you can’t tune out a bunch of idiots with too much time on their hands, you won’t be able to tune out a pack of gibbering wolves.”

Theus took a deep breath. “Alright,” he said. “If you think this will work, I’ll do it.”

“Good. It took me years to learn what I know. You’re going to do it in weeks.”

Theus’s face went pale. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“Get in there.” Cam pushed him forward. Theus walked over to the fire and took a seat between two burly men.

“Should we give him hell, General?” one asked. His belly jiggled as