Free Lesser Gods by Adrian Howell

for your mother’s cooking.”
    “What’s in it?” I asked.
    “Oh, this and that,” Mr. Simms said airily. “Bit of a trade secret. But I guarantee it’ll put some hair on your chest.”
    Alia hastily put her spoon down and stared at me. “I don’t want a hairy chest, Addy.”
    I nearly choked laughing. “I’m sure he’s joking, Alia.”
    Once we were about through the meal, Mr. Simms leaned back in his chair and, stretching his arms, said, “Okay, to business, then.”
    “Sure,” I replied. Patience was never one of my strong points, and I had been itching for him to get down to business all through dinner.
    “First off, Mr. Baker told me that you were fourteen years old. Is that correct?”
    “Yes,” I answered in a defensive tone because I knew, of course, why he asked. Alia and I were both small for our respective ages. With Alia, it was most likely because of malnourishment during her early childhood, but in my case it was probably hereditary: my father wasn’t exactly a beanstalk either.
    “Very well,” replied Mr. Simms, looking curiously at me. “So, Adrian, the main reason I asked you to join me this evening is that I want to know why a fourteen-year-old wild-born is so eager to go on a dangerous Guardian mission. You are an Honorary Knight already, and receiving the full pay of a veteran Knight. Isn’t that correct?”
    I nodded. I had received my first pay in cash at the end of April, and May’s salary was put into a Guardian-controlled bank in New Haven. I hadn’t actually gone to the bank yet to withdraw any money, but I knew it was there, and more would come at the end of this month and every month for the next three years. That was how much the Guardians valued my role in rescuing Cindy.
    Mr. Simms continued, “Do you realize that you are the first child ever to be granted this status? Furthermore, Honorary Guardian Knights are usually ordinary Guardians, peacefully employed, that do some great service to the Knights. As such, these people do not commonly take us up on mission offers. To be perfectly blunt, Adrian, why are you here?”
    “Terry is my friend, and I promised her that I would fight,” I said, and then added quietly, “because of what the Angels did to her brother.”
    “You feel sorry for Terry’s brother?” asked Mr. Simms. “You wish to avenge him?”
    “I never even met Gabriel, Mr. Simms. I feel sorry for Terry.”
    “I see,” said Mr. Simms, stroking his beard. “But Adrian, pity is a very poor excuse for walking onto a battlefield. Is there nothing you want for yourself in this matter?”
    I took a sip of lemonade before I answered, “Maybe you already know this, Mr. Simms, but I have another sister who is in Angel captivity. I hope to rescue her someday, if I can. But I’m guessing that to do so will take a fair amount of fighting, and I want to be ready for it. So far, if you don’t count the towboat incident, I’ve only tagged along on one mission with the Knights. And on that mission...” The Angels had set us up on that mission. They had ambushed and decimated our team.
    Mr. Simms nodded. “Yes, several good friends of mine were killed that day. Some of the best Lancers we had. Mr. Baker assigned you to me because I lead the Raven Knights. We specialize in non-psionic engagements, which means that your skill in blocking psionic control is not a major issue. We hunt God-slayers and Wolves, and occasionally bring in wild-borns who are not controllers. We do not do battle with the Angels or other psionic factions.”
    “Even so, I should become more familiar with Knight missions,” I said.
    “I suppose that’s true,” said Mr. Simms. “Then you are in it for the experience?”
    “Yes.”
    “Alright, Adrian. It’ll be my first time having a child on the team, but if you’re fourteen, I suppose you’re not much of a child anymore. Mr. Baker has requested, and I accept.” Mr. Simms rose from his chair. “Welcome to the Ravens, Adrian,”