Free Duty Calls: The Reluctant War God Book 1 by Bill D. Allen Page B

want. No rules, no laws, no boundaries.” She came closer and laid her right hand on my crotch.
    “Will you please stop?”
    She rolled her eyes. “I love toying with you, Kaltron. You are such a prude. Between your morals and your mortals you exasperate me.”
    “For every ounce of pleasure you provide a pound of pain is extracted as payment. Between war and love we are the most guilty of torturing humanity.”
    “Here we go again, brother. What of true love and honor? We have aspects of purity within us that transcends all the pain.”
    I shook my head. “Yeah, whatever, let’s not start this argument again. I’m not in the mood for it. Besides, the only aspect of purity that’s ever in you is the penis of the occasional virgin ploughboy you catch alone in a barn.”
    She squinted a bit and paused, staring at me, then licked her lips. “I know what you’re in the mood for, even though you don’t want to play with me. You’re quite taken with Angelina, aren’t you?”
    I nodded. “It’s been good to spend time with her. But I can’t hope for much more. We both know where that leads.”
    “I think you’re scared. You should open yourself up more. Be willing to let her in.”
    “You can stop with the counseling to the lovelorn. We both know why you’re here. Dad sent you. I already spoke to Yond and Enyo. Now, it’s your turn. But you’re right. I am scared. In fact, I’m petrified. I just came from a scouting trip to the Jegu camp. It didn’t go well.”
    “How so?”
    “Long story. Suffice to say I didn’t get anywhere close to Jegu and the only thing I learned is we have a lot to worry about. What is dad saying?”
    “End of days. Signs and portent. The usual mumbo-jumbo. Nothing much useful as far as I can see. He hasn’t been very complimentary toward you. Yond reported back about the argument you had with him. He said you’re a coward and would rather sit and watch everyone die, even the gods rather than risk yourself. Dad seems to agree with the assessment.”
    “What do you think?”
    “I know your heart, brother. I think you’re more afraid of Angelina than of Jegu.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “When it comes down to it, I don’t think you’d think twice about doing whatever it takes to oppose Jegu. Even if it means your death. But I know your heart. You like the girl and you dread the thought of watching her grow old and die like others before. You usually compensate by running away from your mortal loves. But, it stops you from being honest with yourself. You’re more the home body than the playboy.”
    I sighed. “Gods who fear love, next on Oprah. Why are you here? I am not in the mood to be analyzed.”
    Nanaya crossed her arms in front of her, pushing up and her breasts prettily in the process. I’m sure it was a reflex action by this time. “I’m here to help, brother. That’s all. We’re at a crossroads. Either Jegu will sweep over the land and take it for himself, or the old gods will prevail. I of course would prefer to live. I understand you’re torn. Perhaps you even think Jegu can do no worse than we did.”
    “No, I’ve seen what Jegu is capable of. It is far worse than anything we have ever done.”
    “Then your path should be clear. Take up the Bright Sword and lead the gods and these mortals against the Jegu.”
    “To tell the truth, Nanaya. I don’t think it’ll work. Jegu is more powerful than you can imagine. I think we’d be committing another atrocity against humanity and it will be all for nothing. I think there’s something else required to defeat Jegu. I don’t know what it is, and I don’t know if we’re even capable of attaining it. But I know I can’t lead these people to their deaths for a lie. Not again—never again. We’re not the guardians of the afterlife. There’s no paradise. This is the only life these mortals will ever have as far as we know. I won’t lie and tell them otherwise, even if it would make them stronger in