The Godson's Triumph (Godkindred Saga 2)

Mistress Commander Angharad Godkin hates politics... so of course, her ruler the Godson sent her to replace the Governor of barely tamed Shraeven province. She hates religion, so naturally, the native gods began to plague her the moment she arrived. And since she hates both, the gods started playing politics--and the politicians began playing at godhood. In Flight of the Godkin Griffin, Angharad, a creaky old veteran of the Godkindred Kingdom's many wars of conquest, was dragged out of retirement only to discover her newest assignment--to rule a province in peace--might finally be the death of her.

But she wasn't anticipating getting the attention of her own monarch. And she certainly wasn't expecting to face off against him in a battle that will decide now just her own fate, and not just the fate of Shraeven Province... but of the world itself.

The Godson's Triumph returns us to the world of Angharad Godkin and her comrades and concludes their epic journey. But who will be left standing when the fires burn out and an ancient truth is finally revealed?

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https://soundcloud.com/m-c-a-hogarth/the-godsons-triumph-retail-sample

Genre (setting): sword & sorcery (Godkindred)
Tags: religion, politics, mythical creatures
Rating: R for implied violence

Excerpt from Chapter 4

In my dreams, it is very easy for me to hold my enemies in my hands. I know their names, their faces, their motives. I can rise on spread wings with a spear in my hand and target their leader and cut him down. Their forces dissolve in the fog of dreams, and I am victorious.

In the true world, when I awake sodden with exhaustion from my ordeal, I realize I skirt defiance (even treason) against the nation I have served all my life. I consort with gods of other people’s faiths, turning my back on my own. My army is swollen by the illegal ranks of my adopted country. I no longer remember the distinction between the godkin and baseborn mongrel…and I have borne a child to my enemies.

Ragna can perhaps be forgiven for hesitating when she sees the expression I wear when I wake.

“You should go back to sleep,” she says, holding an empty teapot in her coarse hands.

“How can I sleep with all this noise?” I reply irritably. I realize then that there is noise, and I don’t know what’s causing it. “What is that noise?”

Ragna looks sheepish. “The party,” she says. “They celebrate your safety and the birth of your child.”

I rub my forehead. “Where is the egg, anyway?”

The pard nods to the corner of the tent. Someone’s built a nest for it, gods love them, a bleeding nest. Hay stolen from mounts, a box that held repaired armor (still streaked with grease), some soft scarves, a blanket. And the egg, the egg which is larger than my fists pressed together. Something that big came out of me? No wonder my body feels stretched senseless.

“Celebration,” I repeat.

“Yes,” Ragna says. She goes back to making the tea. “I would not recommend exiting your tent at this time, Mistress.”

I imagine the mob rushing for me and have an unpleasant, visceral memory of the pards who are responsible for this egg. “No. I assume those are Negrat’s gathered reinforcements?”

“Silfia and Donal organized them while you were sleeping. They have their own provisions, plus places to stay.”

“But not for long,” I murmur. I can supply my own men, but an army of this size needs more than my quartermaster’s contingency plans can support. I’ll have to make my move quickly. Fortunately we’re close to the capital...

…which is when I remember the sea.

Sister...

Not yet, I think. I am too tired yet.

“More sleep sounds wise,” I say, sinking back to the blankets. At least in dreams I know how things end.

Ragna tucks me in. “It will be night soon. Then you can slip away.”

Of course she knows that I need to. I blink my parti-colored eyes at her and say, “What will happen when all the gods mark me?”

“Then you will be lucky and cursed,” Ragna says. “But you will still be Angharad Godkin of the Godkindred Kingdom, our Mistress Commander, and even the gods will bow to your intransigence.”

I laugh and rest.