Free Guardians Inc.:Thundersword (Guardians Incorporated #2) by Julian Rosado-Machain

world. Like the other pillars, she was dormant, but the coming of the Oracle had begun to permeate the world with Magic and the Pillars were stirring. The Guardians had a room devoted to monitoring the known Pillars. The fire elemental, Mi Tze-a-da-zi, that slept under Yellowstone was of particular concern to the Guardians since a volcanic eruption could send the world into a new Ice Age. Ukiah resided on the Mendocino National Forest, and her power fueled the redwoods growth and many populations of Fauns and especially of the Elves. Eidameran, the seat of King’s Seryaan kingdom and home to Elise’s family, was very close to Ukiah.
          “Lush as always,” she said. “Nothing to report.”
          “Good,” Idar grunted. “Now pleasantries aside, what can I do for you?”
          “I brought a couple of friends to meet you.” She pointed toward the door where Thomas and Bolswaithe were waiting patiently for them to finish their meeting.
          “A human,” Idar said, sniffing the air, “and something else.” He approached them, growing larger with every step.
          As the faun approached, Thomas finally recognized his species.
          It was a wolf!
          Strong, muscular, and incredibly imposing. His dark fur was streaked with white, and his muscles rippled under its fur. It was like looking at a Hollywood movie monster coming to life, and Thomas could not refrain from taking a step back.
          “Don't be scared, little one.” Idar smiled at Thomas, his jaws full of glistening fangs. “I don't bite.” He extended a claw toward Bolswaithe. “I am Minister Idar of the Raksha clan.”
          “A pleasure, sir.” Bolswaithe shook his hand. “My name is Bolswaithe.”
          Idar approached Bolswaithe and sniffed twice. “And you're not human,” he said matter of fact. “You smell of oil and grease and metal and plastic. No offense intended. What are you, Bolswaithe?”
          “A robot, sir.”
          “A robot?” Idar glanced back at Elise. “Not mere toys and tools anymore, are you? Are you sentient?” he asked. “And are you an individual, or just an extension of some human sitting on a chair?”
          Thomas grimaced; intended or not, the questions seemed incredibly offensive.
          “I am my own, sir,” Bolswaithe told him with a smile, which Minister Idar returned.
          “Congratulations then, Bolswaithe!” he said, “and welcome to the world of sentient beings! Maybe your tribe will have a delegation down here in the future.”
          “Thank you, sir. I'll certainly propose it when we become a tribe.”
          The Minister nodded at Bolswaithe appreciatively and then turned toward Thomas, extending his paw at him. “And you?” he asked. “Who might you be?”
          Thomas extended his hand; Idar’s paw completely engulfed his, and he felt the strength in those fingers despite the Minister’s refrain from shaking or even squeezing a little bit. “Thomas Byrne, sir,” he said. “Nice to meet you.” 
          Idar kept holding his hand. “Byrne?” he asked. “I heard about some things attached to that name already.”
          “What have you heard, sir?” Thomas gulped.
          “Oh…” he waved his claw nonchalantly in front of Thomas’s face. His ears folded close to his head in a very threatening posture. “Something about Hussahassalin and something about the Warmaster. But you can't have been in both places at once, can you?”
          Thomas gulped again and exchanged a worried look with Elise. She walked toward them “You slick wolf!” she said. “You already know there are two! You're just looking for confirmation. Stop torturing Thomas.”
          The Minister let out a laugh and let go of Thomas’s hand. “The world's a little place,” he told them as his ears lifted up, “and I have big