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“And?”
“And it would be unwise to tell them that Faris sent us here.”
I chuckled. “Don’t worry, honey. I can be discreet.”
He blinked. “Since when?”
I didn’t answer that. Instead, I gave him a wink, then quickly moved into the couple’s path before they turned down another street. “Excuse me.”
They stopped. Looked us up and down. Then backed up a step.
Well, weren’t they skittish? Thank goodness we’d opted for hiking clothes instead of the usual Legion battle leather—and left our swords at home. Though, admittedly, Nero was impressive no matter what he wore. He was just so big. And the way he carried himself…with that I-could-kill-you-with-a-single-thought kind of confidence. No wonder these people felt intimidated.
“Hi,” I said with a smile, putting myself between my husband and the scared strangers. “We’re travelers.”
“From where?” the man said, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“From another world. A place called Wayland,” I said.
I’d totally made up the place, but the strangers probably wouldn’t notice.
“Why have you come here?” the woman asked.
“Zarion rules over our world, and he’s…” I pretended to pause to catch my breath. “…well, he’s a real jerk.” I made a big show out of wincing and looking up, like I was afraid Zarion might smite me.
“Do not fear, friend.” The woman set a comforting hand on my arm, smiling for the first time. “The old gods have no power here. Here, we are safe.”
“Are we?” I swallowed hard. “So it’s not just a rumor?”
“What’s not a rumor?” the man asked.
I just rolled with it. “People say you drove the old gods from your world.”
The woman nodded. “With the generosity and guidance of the great Solarian, yes.”
“Who is Solarian?”
“A god completely unlike any other. He heard of our suffering under the cruel, goat-faced god Faris. He freed us.”
I almost snorted. Goat-faced. That was an epithet Faris would be sure to love.
“So Solarian fought off Faris’s soldiers?” I asked.
“Better.” The woman smiled in satisfaction. “He gave us the power to fight them ourselves.”
Nero stirred beside me. “He bestowed you with magic?”
“No,” said the man. “The old gods bestow magic on people and call it a gift. But they aren’t giving you a gift; they are putting shackles on you, twisting your bodies and minds and wills to serve their sinister purpose.”
The woman nodded along. “Solarian is different. He didn’t bind us with magic to make us his slaves. He gave us weapons that can wound a god. Weapons to make us free.”
“What kind of weapons?” Nero asked. “Swords? Knives? Guns?”
“We want to know because we were hoping that you could help us free our world too,” I said quickly because the strangers were looking skittish again.
“Of course,” the woman said, her smile returning. “We would be happy to help. The Great and Powerful Solarian asked us to spread the word of what happened here, so people would see Faris’s soldiers for the false gods that they are. They are not omnipotent.” A vicious light sparked in her eyes. “And they do bleed.”
“You captured Faris’s soldiers, didn’t you?” I said.
