Page 98 of Sun Warrior

“You’re going to ask him to join us? To become a Reaper?”

“Not so blatantly, but yes,” Death said. “I am going to present him with a choice.”

“Do you want me to follow him? Perhaps take him captive again—with his canine—and bring him to You, my Lord?” Iron Fist asked.

“No, I have a better way to reach Thaddeus. His wounded Terrier has provided it for me.”

“I still don’t understand.”

Death blew out a long breath, wishing He had someone to talk with who wasn’t a complete dolt. “The creature—the canine—he is wounded. Badly enough that he is susceptible to my touch, even from a distance. And if he is susceptible to me, so his Companion will be. Watch and learn, my Blade. There is much for us to do.”

“Give me a task, my Lord! What would You have me do?”

“The next task is not yours. Lizard, though, is going to doeverything.”

The God was pleased that Iron Fist asked no further questions, and He increased his speed so that the man would have to strain to keep up with Him. It wasn’t long before they came to the place they had left Lizard, hidden far enough from the Tribe that their sharp-nosed canines wouldn’t alert on the scent of rot that clung to the diseased man.

“My Lord!” Lizard went to his knees as the God and His Blade approached. “How is it with the Others?”

“It is even better than I hoped. The Tribe of the Trees is very close to self-destructing,” said the God. “All they need is a small gift fromDeath to complete the process.” He walked to the sick man and gently lifted him to his feet. “I need you to do something for me, Lizard.”

“Anything, my Lord!” he said without hesitation.

“Anything, even if it is unpleasant?” Death asked.

“Yes, my Lord.”

The God rested His hands on the man’s shoulders. “Your fidelity pleases me greatly, Lizard.” Death turned to Iron Fist and commanded his Blade, “Go. Find evidence of hog scat. We weren’t far from here the day the boar crossed the stream. There must be others about. I will wait here with Lizard.”

Iron Fist looked surprised but bowed and sprinted off.

“Come, sit.” The God gestured beside Him. “This shouldn’t take long. The fire has caused the beasts of the forest to be out of sorts.”

“And Iron Fist is our best Hunter,” Lizard said. With a groan he sat beside the God.

Death studied him. “Is your pain great?”

“It is nothing for You to be concerned about, my Lord,” Lizard said quickly.

“And yet I am. Answer my question truthfully.”

Lizard’s gaze fell to the forest floor. “My pain is great.”

“Are you weary of it?”

His eyes found the God. “I am.”

“Ah, I can see that. Your suffering will soon be over.”

Lizard’s pale face lit with hope. “Thank You, my Lord!”

“Rest now. You will need all of your strength for what is to come.”

Lizard did as the God commanded. He closed his eyes and slumped to his side, sighing wearily. As he fell into a fitful sleep, Death dismissed him from His thoughts. Instead, He meditated, entering a dreamlike state, searching… searching…

With little effort, the God found the bitter connection that linked Him to the small, wounded Terrier named Odysseus. He followed the thin thread of pain, feeling with the immortal sixth sense that had connected Him to humanity and the mortal world for countless ages.

The God could not see the creature. He could only feel Odysseus—his pain, his stress, and the heat that was building in his little body as it tried to fight off infection.