Free The Dawn of a Desperate War (The Godlanders War) by Aaron Pogue Page B

door.
    Corin grinned and knocked again. She didn’t answer. He shouted through the door, “Sera, please! I bring grave tidings and important news!”
    But still the door didn’t budge. He waited through long minutes , then pounded once again. “I only ask for a moment!’ The sound of footsteps answered him this time, and then the door opened to show him the farmboy.
    That was the first name Corin had ever heard him called, but looking on him now, it seemed ludicrous. This man was a warrior. He was a hero. He stood head and shoulders taller than Corin, broad of shoulder and sure of stance. His hands and forearms showed the scars of hard years as a free lance, though he could not have seen two dozen summers yet.
    Sera lurked in the corner behind him, arms crossed beneath her breasts and an angry pout on her regal lips. Auric threw a nervous look her way.
    “Master Hugh,” he said by way of greeting. And then, a touch embarrassed, “Perhaps we should speak outside.” He squeezed out through the door and pulled it delicately closed behind him.
    Corin suppressed a smile. “It is a lovely night.”
    “It is,” Auric said, eyes darting nervously toward the door. He shook his head in apology. “Forgive me, Master Hugh, bu t Sera—”
    He flexed his hands, helpless. Corin could only stare. Here was a man who’d faced death for Corin’s actions, a man whom Corin had impersonated to deceive his bride, and a man whose bride had nearly died for Corin’s actions as well. And yet Auric was flustered at her honest display of discourtesy. It wasn’t in his nature to speak ill of his lady, but neither could he let her rudeness pass without apology.
    Corin hid his amusement as he raised a comforting hand to the farmboy’s shoulder. “No apologies are needed. I have not always treated her or hers fairly, and she has right to show me some coldness.”
    Auric chuckled. He wasn’t blind to the truth. Then he nodded past the house, away from the village road, and started walking in that direction. Corin fell into step beside him.
    “I’m sure you’ve come to offer explanations and apologies,” Auric said. “Sera didn’t think you’d come at all, but I’ve been expecting you ever since we heard the rumors. It will do her well to hear your reasons, I think, but you must understand that it will take her time before she’s ready—”
    “Rumors?” Corin asked, confused. “Apologies? For what?”
    Auric stopped in his tracks and stared down at Corin for a moment. Then a light kindled in his eyes. “You didn’t do it?”
    “I can’t even fathom what it is!” Corin said.
    Auric grinned and slapped him on the back. “You’d hardly overlook a thing like this.” His voice turned grave as he bent closer to Corin’s ear. “Someone’s attacked her brothers while they were at worship.”
    “Oh, that ,” Corin said. He frowned harder. “I did that. Is she concerned?”
    “They were her brothers!”
    “They were awful men!”
    “Still, they were her brothers,” Auric said. He’d begun to take control of his surprise, and an angry reprimand began to growl beneath his words. “How can you believe she wouldn’t grieve over a thing like that?”
    Corin spread his hands. “In truth, it never crossed my mind. Vestossis aren’t men; they’re monsters. I would not have believed the princess loved them. I can scarce believe it now.”
    “Well . . .” Auric said, hesitating. “Perhaps not ‘loved.’ She should! Family is family. But in truth, I’d say she’s more . . . concerned that you could kill so callously. She doesn’t think I should be friends with someone like that.”
    He sounded concerned himself—like a man afraid he might be on the brink of disappointing his beloved wife. Corin took a glance up at the big man’s face and found an expression of nervous concentration. The farmboy was working hard on the puzzle of it.
    Corin couldn’t wholly hide his grin, but perhaps the night was dark enough. He