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

tent one morning two days after placing Lagon under arrest and lounged back on his furs and blankets.

“There are more rumors about you, you know,” she said.

“I figured there would be.” Cam put his feet up on a chair. His morning beer tasted like grass and wheat.

“The men think you’ll kill any man who criticizes the godlings,” she said. “Lots of people are angry about it.”

“How angry?” he asked, feeling exhausted at the prospect of more rebellion.

“Not so angry that they’re talking about resisting your command,” she said. “But really, Cam. You should let me imprison and torture the lot of them.”

“How much of an army would I have left afterward?”

“Well—” She started then stopped and grinned at him, wolfish and sly. “Not much of one. But it would be very loyal, at least.”

Cam shut his eyes and rubbed at his face. “What would you do, in my position?”

“We just need a few days,” Felin said. “We’re close to the northern pass. Once we seal it off and turn to face the wolf army, there’s going to be a fight, whether you want one or not.”

“I know it,” he said.

“We need the army to stay together until a larger problem presents itself.”

Cam grunted. “That’s a good point.”

“What do you plan on doing with Lagon?”

“I have some thoughts.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“I was thinking I’d release him,” Cam said. “Banish him from the army. Send him back to the Mansion.”

“That’s as good as killing him,” Felin said. “The men would know it. You might as well just cut off his head at that point.”

“That’s an option too.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You’re thinking about executing him.”

Cam spread his hands. “He defied me. He broke out of prison and marched a brigade of men into the wilderness. He got some of them killed.”

“He’s half dead already.”

“True enough. He’ll be lucky if those wounds heal. That’s another option.”

“Just wait for him to die? Not a bad idea. But you wouldn’t be able to use his death.”

“At least I wouldn’t risk him turning into some kind of martyr.” Cam drummed his fingers on the simple wooden table at his side. “I don’t know, Fel. I feel as though the men he got killed deserve some kind of justice.”

“Killing Lagon will send a message,” Felin said. “And it won’t be ambiguous. I think it would buy you some time, at the very least.”

Cam nodded and continued to drum his fingers. The thought of killing a Human made his stomach turn. Now, of all times, Human life was precious and couldn’t be wasted. But Lagon had broken the rules and had endangered others. That couldn’t be ignored.

Too many conflicting emotions. He hated being in this position. He wanted to fight the wolves, not his own people or himself.

There was a noise at the tent flap and Arter pressed his head inside. “Sir, Miuri—”

But before he could get it out, Miuri slipped past him. She patted Arter’s shoulder then stood just inside the tent with her hands clasped behind her back. Sweat shimmered on her pale skin and Cam stood with a flutter of excitement.

“Look at this,” she said. “I find you two just lounging around when there’s work to be done.”

Felin hopped up and ran to Miuri. The women embraced. Miuri kissed Felin gently on the lips.

“I missed you,” Felin said.

“I hear you’ve been scaring the hell out of the men.” Miuri beamed at her. “Good for you.”

“It’s easy,” Felin said. “Just a few threats here, a few broken bones there.” She waved her hand like it was nothing.

“Felin,” Cam said. “I thought we discussed this, no more—”

“I know, I know,” Felin said, rolling her eyes and giving Miuri a look. “No more torturing. I promise.”

Cam joined the girls and kissed Miuri’s lips. He missed Miuri too, just as much as Felin did. He missed all his girls, really. Even though Key and Felin were in the camp, Key was too busy with her duties to spend much time with him, and Felin was always off on her own missions.

“I’m happy you came back,” Cam said.

“It’s been a long trip,” Miuri said. “But I’d make it a few hundred times if it means spending more time with you two.”

Cam laughed, kissed her again, then led her over to the table. Felin resumed her spot on the ground nestled in the brightly colored blankets. Cam poured a mug of fresh water for Miuri, placed it in front of her, then sat back in his chair.

“I assume you bring news,” he said.

“My father marched his forces out of the Mansion several days ago,” she said. “We hit the first wolf encampment and took them by surprise. Swept them from the field, killed as many as we could.”

“And now they’re coming here?”

She nodded. “The plan is to hold back,” she said. “Wait until you engage, then hit them from the rear.”

“Originally, I wanted Haesar to harass them as we marched,” Cam said.

“I’m not sure they’ll make it in time.” Miuri took a long drink from her mug. “They’re dealing with the wounded from their first engagement, then marching to catch up as fast as they can.”

Cam nodded. “But we’re days away from this fight.”

“The hope is that my father can reach us by the time you engage,” she said. “If not, you’re looking at a prolonged standoff.”

“Dig in and pray,” Felin said. “That’s a great strategy. I’ll tell you right now that my people will get very, very angry.”

“They think we should just run out into a field and fight them?” Cam asked.

“That’s how my people operate,” Felin said. “Fights are honor bound. You show up to a fight and you engage with honor. Otherwise there’s no point to any of it. But if people start building forts and changing the rules, everything goes out the window.”

“This isn’t some pack conflict,” Cam said.

“To them, everything’s a pack conflict,” Felin said. “That’s what you don’t get. My people don’t think about the world like you do. We see packs everywhere, little cliques and