Chapter Sixteen
“Welcome, Ozmand,” I said as I pulled out a seat at the table, and I gestured for the Duke of Edinburg’s bastard son to sit down. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you for a while now.”
“You knew I was coming?” Ozmand asked as his eyes went wide.
“Sir Bash is the God of Time,” Ako informed him in a conspiratorial tone, and I could tell the two had bonded a little during their journey back to Aramore.
“I know all things,” I added in my godly voice.
“I’ve never met a god before,” the younger man said as he took a seat, and he bowed his head low before me.
“What’s for breakfast?” Ako asked as he eyed our empty plates. “Think we can order some for Ozzie and I before we leave town?”
“They have a varied menu,” Caelia supplied as she handed the shapeshifter the piece of paper with the inn’s available meals written on it. “Here, have a look.”
Ako shot me a questioning glance as he accepted the menu from the shopkeeper.
“Yes, I would like to hear what he has to say before we leave Aramore, and I’m sure you are both hungry from your travels,” I agreed, and I turned to flag down one of the serving women. A brunette wearing a blue dress and a white apron rushed over, and I gave her a friendly smile for her speedy service. “Another round of breakfast for my friends, please. Two servings of everything, if you don’t mind.”
“Yes, sir,” the woman replied, and she headed toward the kitchen at a brisk pace.
I was satisfied food was on its way, so I returned my attention back to the guest of honor. I scrutinized him subtly from my peripheral vision, but I learned a lot with a few quick glances. The hooked Edinburg nose was the only similarity he shared with the other offspring I’d met so far, but his brown eyes were warm as he met my gaze. He was a tall man, and his head came a little higher than mine, but he was lean. His hands were callused from physical labor, but he held his shoulders straight like a noble would. The bastard had straight brown hair that hung loose to his chin, and he tucked the strands behind his ears in a self-conscious gesture as he caught me analyzing him from the corner of my eye.
“The meal is very appreciated, Great One,” Ozmand said, and he dipped his head respectfully again. “We rode all night long and haven’t stopped to eat since leaving Zabalas.”
The Great One stuff was going to have to stop before he drove me crazy. I had a feeling the bastard was going to be joining us on our quest to find his father, and I wanted to nip it in the bud.
“You can call me Bash,” I insisted. “I get enough of the Great One stuff to last a few lifetimes.”
“Bash it is.” Ozmand grinned. “Thank you.”
I made a new save point before I continued the conversation, and I waited until both the newcomers had their breakfasts before I cleared my throat. Ozmand looked up at me expectantly, but his shoulders stiffened in a defensive manner.
“Ozmand, what can you tell me about your father?” I asked, and I leaned my elbows on the table while I rested my chin in the palms of my hands.
“You want the whole story?” Ozmand asked with an arched eyebrow. “Or just the best parts?”
“I know much already,” I explained. “I just need confirmation of some details. Start at the beginning.”
“I suppose I should start with my childhood, then,” the bastard mused as he scratched his chin. “Father was different back when I was little…”
“What was it like growing up in Edinburg Manor?” Eva asked with a polite smile. “It must have been rough to live in such a rugged landscape.”
“The desert never bothered me when I was young,” Ozmand admitted. “I stayed in the manor most of the time. I was coddled and sheltered, and my father doted on us with much affection. I thought my life was perfect. I didn’t care if I wasn’t a legitimate heir because I didn’t want my father’s fortune. I only wanted his love…”
“I know how you feel,” Ako sighed, and he clapped his new friend on the shoulder. “I’ve spent my entire life trying to prove myself to a man who failed me and my mother.”
“So, you were treated differently as a kid than as an adult?” I pressed. While I always enjoyed hearing about Ako’s past, I wanted to get to the good stuff. Like where the duke was hiding. “What changed?”
“My mother died,” Ozmand explained. “Before her passing, she fought for me. She made sure I was treated fairly… But then her second child birth was rife with danger, and she lost the strength to carry on, so I was cast out shortly after.”
“That’s pretty fucked up,” I said. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
“I am… fine,” Ozmand sighed. “My apologies for bringing the atmosphere down, but my family history is full of tragedy.”
“Hey, we asked,” I pointed out. “I imagine you were pretty upset about getting cut out of Edinburg’s favor. What did you do?”
“There wasn’t anything I could do,” Ozmand said. “While I was angry at my father, and still am, he was well within his rights. I was born to a servant wench, I was never meant to be treated like a son. I went to Zabalas and found simple work, but I’ve been staying out of the streets lately in fear of my brothers’ wrath.”
“I would be angry, too,” Elissa assured him, and she reached across the table to pat the back of his hand. “My mother died a few years back, but I haven’t been the same since. The pain never leaves us, but eventually it gets easier to bear.”
“My mother’s death was the duke’s fault,” Ozmand hissed suddenly, and his eyes drilled holes into the surface of the table. “He knew she was too old for childbirth, and yet he couldn’t just leave her alone… Not even while she was pregnant…”
The Duke of Edinburg was one horny asshole, but it seemed like he had the hots for one person in particular, and it wasn’t his wife. He’d allowed the one woman to put distance between his heirs and himself, and the family dynasty was on shaky ground because of it.
“Your father will pay for his crimes,” I assured him.
“He will never face retribution for my mother’s death.” Ozmand shook his head. “But I know the truth. Her blood is on his hands.”
“He is guilty of far more than that,” I said. “He was arrested for treason, and I’m on a mission to return him to Vallenwood.”
Ozmand didn’t respond, so I wasn’t sure if he’d heard me, and he scooted the last few pieces of his pancakes around his plate with his fork. I could tell he was deep in thought, and I hoped his memories weren’t too powerful for him to relive. The last thing I needed was a grown man having an emotional meltdown in my arms.
“What happens when you take him back to the capital?” Ozmand asked after a long silent moment.
“The king is holding a trial,” Ako explained. “There are others working with Edinburg who will also face justice, but he must answer for his treasonous actions.”
“So, he finally began his plan to kill the king,” Ozmand sighed.
“He tried.” I grinned. “And he failed miserably.”
“Thanks to Bash,” Ako added. “The Archduke was one step ahead of the plot the whole time, and now he is taking the lead on Edinburg’s capture. We are fortunate to have him leading us.”
“It seems so.” Ozmand smiled. “My father is probably scared out of his mind right now.”
The Duke of Edinburg was scared enough to issue a draft for his army, and I was sure he’d surrounded himself with as many men as he could scrounge up on short notice.
“When you were in his good graces,” I said in a cautious tone, “did he happen to share any emergency plans with you? Maybe he told you where he would go if things went south?”
“My father shared a great deal of information with me during my formative years.” Ozmand nodded slowly, but then he fixed me with a hard stare. “You swear you won’t kill him if I tell you where he is? I want to see him behind bars, not dead.”
“I’m surprised.” I raised my eyebrows. “After everything he’s put you through, I half-expected you to want to kill him yourself.”
“He’s still my father.” Ozmand shrugged. “For better or worse, I have to live with that, but I won’t stoop to his level. I will be the bigger man in the end.”
“That’s very honorable of you,” I complimented. “I’m glad Ako found you.”
“I wasn’t easy to find, either,” Ozmand smirked. “I figured it was only a matter of time before Eurikson sent assassins after me. He always wanted me out of the picture.”
“How come?” I asked.
“Imagine being the heir to a massive fortune,” Ozmand explained. “But then some nobody comes in and takes your father’s attention away from you. It didn’t matter how hard his sons worked for his affection, my father had eyes only for his women… and me by extension because of my mother’s insistence. Eurikson in particular was envious of my mother and me. There were lots of threats exchanged over the years, and I knew the second my father lost power that there would be a price on my head.”
That must have been some powerful pussy to keep the Duke of Edinburg occupied for so long.
“Edinburg was preparing you for something?” Ako asked. “Why give so much attention to a bastard? No offense.”
“None taken.” Ozmand shrugged. “I was never certain what plans my father had in store for me, but apparently they weren’t important enough to keep after my mother died.”
“Maybe he trusted you because he knew no one else would validate your existence?” Eva mused. “Being a bastard son makes you sort of invisible to the public eye, so he could confide in you without it coming back to bite him.”
“Until now,” I chuckled. “Edinburg didn’t plan to have a shapeshifting cat-wizard helping to hunt him down. Now, we have a secret weapon on our side. Right, Ozmand?”
“Right.” Ozmand grinned. “Regardless of how I was raised, I want to be on the right side of history. I’ve seen how evil my father can be up close and personal, so I will do whatever I can to help put him behind bars.”
“Good.” I nodded. “Any information you can give us will help immensely.”
The duke’s bastard son stared at me in silence for a long moment, and I could see an internal struggle behind his eyes. He was torn, but I knew the good in him would win out in the end, so I sipped the rest of my cider and ignored him. After a while, Ozmand cleared his throat, and I set down my cup to give him my full attention.
I was ready for something good.
“No one else knows about this, but my father built a secret bunker beneath Edinburg Manor,” Ozmand informed us in a low, conspiratorial voice. “I used to play in it when I was little, and even when he made it off limits, I would still sneak down there to play the end of the world.”
Now, that was what I was talking about. There was no doubt in my mind Edinburg was holed up in his bunker right about now, which meant he would be easy pickings once I got to him.
I’d take the duke away from his rat cage like I was taking candy from a baby.
“Would you be able to show us the way to the bunker?” I asked as excitement coursed through my veins.
“Aye,” Ozmand confirmed. “But I want to go with you to Vallenwood as well. I want to ensure no harm comes to my father.”
“A valiant effort,” Ako said. “We can honor that, I believe.”
“We can.” I nodded. “Thank you for all your help, Ozmand. This will go much faster next time.”
“Next time?” The bastard shot me a look full of confusion.
I merely grinned as I reset back to my save point with a wave of my will.
Chime.
The familiar tingling sensation faded, and I stood in the common room of the Overnighter with Ako and Ozmand standing before me. The bastard had a cautious look on his face, but Ako wore an ear-to-ear grin. The shapeshifter was obviously proud of his little side quest to fetch the duke’s illegitimate son, and his tail flicked with excitement.
“Bash it is.” Ozmand grinned. “Thank you.”
I let the bastard and Ako eat their breakfasts before I pressed them for conversation since I already knew everything Ozmand had to say, and the girls talked amongst themselves while we waited. Once the empty plates were pushed away from them, the two newcomers leaned back and let out contented sighs.
“Almost makes me hungry for more myself,” Caelia said as she cast an amused smile at the empty plates strewn across the table.
“Me, too,” Elissa added. “But I’m the pregnant one, so I have an excuse.”
“Caelia is too skinny,” Eva teased. “She could eat three breakfasts and not gain a pound.”
“So, Ozmand,” I said in a casual tone. “If I promised no harm came to him, would you help us find your father?”
“Why are you looking for him?” Ozmand asked as he furrowed his brow.
“It’s like I already told you,” Ako interjected. “The Duke of Edinburg was caught plotting to overthrow and possibly kill King Frederick. He was arrested on charges of treason, but he escaped imprisonment. The Archduke volunteered to return him to justice.”
“Thank you, Ako,” I said, and I dipped my head toward the shapeshifter. “That is exactly right.”
Ozmand sighed. “What do you need to know?”
“Not much.” I grinned. “I merely need you to lead me to the secret bunker where your father is hiding.”
“How did you know about that?” Ozmand gasped, and he leaned forward to gape at me with wide eyes. “That is a secret kept even from members of the Edinburg family. I was sworn to total secrecy! Did you read my mind?”
My companions exchanged knowing smiles, but I could tell they were equally impressed with my knowledge, and Ako clapped the bastard on the shoulder.
“He’s the God of Time, my friend,” the shapeshifter explained in a patient tone. “You’ll get used to it.”
“You’re one to talk,” Eva snorted.
Mahini fixed the blonde with an arched eyebrow, and the duke’s daughter fidgeted uncomfortably.
“Alright, so maybe I just started to get used to it as well,” Eva admitted with a sheepish grin. “It’s not every day you fall in love with a god, after all.”
“It is a strange sensation…” Caelia murmured, and her chocolate eyes danced across my face before they darted down to the surface of the table.
“So, you’ll travel with us to Edinburg Manor?” I asked Ozmand, and everyone refocused on the current topic of conversation. “You can even travel with us to Vallenwood after we capture your father. That way you know personally no harm has befallen him.”
“That would bring me great comfort.” Ozmand nodded. “Thank you, Great One. Your power is truly amazing. My father underestimated you.”
“Then let’s go catch your daddy.” I grinned. “But I have one more question… Ako, you didn’t take your horse from the stables, so how did you get to Zabalas so fast?”
“I went full shift.” The shapeshifter grinned, and his two fangs gleamed in the lamp light. “I can run faster that way, but Ozmand took a horse on the way back, so he already has one of his own.”
“Awesome.” I scanned the bright, smiling faces around the table. “Looks like we’re ready to ride, then.”
“Let’s go!” Elissa whooped with joy, and she sprang up from the table.
Apparently, pregnancy hadn’t dampened her usual enthusiasm for life, and I was glad for it.
“Lead the way, Sir Bash,” Ako said, and he flourished out his hand dramatically.
“Once we get to the manor,” I said, “Ozmand will take the lead. I’ll get us inside, but then the rest is up to you. Can you handle that?”
“Yes, sir, Great One,” Ozmand answered without hesitation.
I squared up with the inn and left a sizable tip in gratitude for their great service, and then I led my companions away from the Overnighter. The stables were our next stop, and a short while later, all seven of us had mounted our steeds.
We rode out of Aramore with the morning sun heating the back of our necks, but a warm southern breeze hit our faces. I squinted into the glaring light as the sun rays bounced off the desert landscape, but I wrapped my scarf around my face until only my eyes were exposed, and the dark fabric absorbed most of the glare.
I made a new save point while the walls of Aramore were still visible behind us, and then I focused all of my attention on the road ahead. We made a V-shape formation as we galloped down the dirt path, and we passed several other travelers while we were still on the outskirts of the city. Adobe houses dotted the landscape with small gardens stretched in every direction, and the breeze ruffled the leaves of the vegetation.
It was a peaceful landscape, but I’d started to miss Bastianville with its cool forest shadows and snow-capped mountains in the distance. I’d have a wedding to attend as soon as we returned home, and I suddenly realized I had yet to invite Ako.
I slowed the pace of the horses to a trot, and I maneuvered Goliath beside Ako’s horse as I flashed him a friendly smile.
“Hey, Ako,” I said. “What are you doing after we return to Vallenwood?”
“Well, I suppose I must begin my tenure as the court wizard of Arginold Hold,” the shapeshifter mused. “Why do you ask, Sir Bash?”
“So… I’ve got a wedding coming up,” I said, and I raked a hand through my hair. “I think it would be pretty fun if you came.”
“Are you asking me to be one of your groomsmen?” Ako’s eyebrows wiggled.
“Perhaps,” I laughed, and I did a quick tally of possible bridesmaids in my head. Eva was close to Elissa, Mahini, and Caelia, so I would need three groomsmen to pair everyone up equally. Riondale and Jaxtom were obvious picks for best men, and Ako would make a great third. “Yep. It’s settled. You should be my third groomsman.”
“Ah, I see what it is like.” Ako mock pouted. “Your general and your blacksmith have higher favor than I.”
“No offense.” I smirked. “But I have known them a lot longer.”
“I suppose I can survive this situation,” Ako said, and his tail twitched to emphasize his point.
“Good,” I chuckled. “Now, I just need to tell Eva.”
“Tell me what?” My fiancée’s voice rang out behind me.
I swiveled in my saddle to give her a broad smile. “Ako is coming to the wedding. He’s going to be a groomsman with Jax and Rion.”
“That makes perfect sense, my love,” Eva replied, and her smoky-gray eyes twinkled with amusement. “I suppose you have already predicted my choices for bridesmaids?”
“Oh, me, me, me!” Elissa gushed. “I want to wear a pretty dress and hold flowers.”
“I would be honored to be included,” Mahini said, and the obsidian-haired beauty dipped her head self-consciously. “But I understand if you do not feel close enough to me.”
“Oh, hush, Mahini,” Eva cooed. “Of course, you’re going to be one of the bridesmaids. In fact, all of you girls are my picks. Caelia, that means you, too.”
“You truly wish for me to accompany you on your wedding day?” The shopkeeper’s chocolate eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, Eva, I would love to!”
“You’re getting married?” Ozmand asked with a curious lift of one eyebrow.
“Yep,” I chuckled. “As soon as we finish this mission, anyway.”
“I would have imagined a god as powerful as you would have his pick of any woman,” Ozmand mused, and he shot an appreciative glance at the women around him. “What a life…”
“You have no idea,” I smirked, and my chest puffed out in pride as my gaze flicked to the beautiful women who accompanied me everywhere.
I was one lucky man.
Then I picked the pace back up, and we made good time the rest of the day. We camped beneath the stars once the sun had fallen below the horizon, but we were on the road again well before dawn. The sun had only started its ascent toward the middle of the sky by the time the walls of Edinburg Manor came into view.
But then I saw the tents.
Hundreds of hundreds of white tents dotted the landscape, and the walls of the manor were completely surrounded by them. The duke had amassed his army, and they stood between me and completing my mission.
There was no doubt in my mind. Eurikson Edinburg was waiting for me, and he would stand in the way of me reaching his father at all costs. The duke’s oldest son didn’t know I had the bastard on my side, though, so he was about to learn what happened when you stood in the way of a god.
I’d killed armies before, but nowhere near this size, so it was going to be a challenge.
A challenge I was up for.
The God of War had arrived.