Aegis of The Gods: Book 00 - The Shadowbearer by Terry C. Simpson Page A

Harnan.”
    “If that is what you believe.” Again, the creature gave a jagged smile. “Your choices here may doom your people.”
    “Really? How so?”
    “Power seeping into the world from the Nether. Unstable Mater … well, at least for your kind it is unstable. I am sure you have encountered such already.”
    “The same Nether where the gods are supposed to be imprisoned?” Stefan tilted his head as he regarded the creature.
    “Yes. The very same one.” The Svenzar frowned. “You do not believe in the gods?”
    Stefan raised his brows. “Of course I do. I have seen enough to believe they exist. I simply doubt their ability to affect anything in this world.”
    “A shame,” the Svenzar said. “You have seen their power at work. A young Matii and several others are now dead because of it. Choosing to serve us can help prevent some of what is to come.”
    Stefan kept his face smooth to hide his shock at the Svenzar’s knowledge. “Tell me, Svenzar—”
    “Call me Kalvor.”
    “Tell me, Kalvor, why did you choose me for this news or this offer?”
    “Because that is the way of things. The fate of your people rests with you. It is a chance before a step is made from which there is no return.”
    “What if I refuse?”
    “Your people are doomed.”
    “As simple as that?”
    “Like death, most things are simple.”
    The statement sent a chill through Stefan’s spine. The words were eerily similar to those Nerian often uttered. “Who or what will bring this doom?”
    “Your own and the shade,” Kalvor said.
    Lips curling, Stefan resisted the urge to reach for his sword. He took a moment to calm himself before he replied. “My people are more unified now than they have been in ages. As for the shade … we defeated them before … we can do so again. This,” he pointed at the Svenzar and the hundreds of Sven, “show of strength feels like a general laying out an army before an enemy in an attempt to instill fear.” He tilted his head slowly until his gaze met the Svenzar’s eyes. “There is little for the Setian to fear from you or any others. I won’t betray my people to serve you. In fact, we will conquer you and the Harnan.”
    “So be it,” the Svenzar said, his voice once again a basso rumble. “Let it be known the choice was given and refused.”
    With those words, the walls shook. The stones and dirt covering the floor rushed toward Kalvor. As they touched the Svenzar, they became one. Kalvor’s body began to melt, taking on the appearance of thick mud as it slid to the ground. Around the walls and the roof, the Sven once more became humps of earth. When the process completed, no traces of their presence remained.
    Jaw unhinged Stefan stared all around, fully expecting the creatures to reappear again, but nothing happened. Finally, he turned and headed toward his men, his mind swirling with all the Svenzar had said. What did Kalvor mean by the fate of his people rested with him? That by choosing not to serve he had doomed the Setian? It was as if the creature was revealing some distant future. Stefan dismissed the thought. More likely, the Svenzar and the Harnan had an abundance of forces at their disposal no one expected. This was too close to the odd happenings with King Nerian. If the King did intend to resume the old campaign in the Nevermore Heights against the two peoples, he might be walking into a slaughter. Nerain needed to be warned. With news of this encounter, I can save my men after all.
    “What did the beast want?” Kasimir asked.
    Stefan relayed much of what the Svenzar requested.
    “Serve them?” Garrick snorted. “We had them beat if the Tribunal’s Ashishin hadn’t refused to help our Matii.”
    Even as he nodded his agreement, Stefan gazed at the area where moments before hundreds of Sven and a Svenzar had been. Not a stone appeared out of place. Were we really close to winning?
    “So what now?” Kasimir held out the reins to Stefan’s horse.
    “We go