Page 19 (1/2)

"What the hell’s going on?" Julianna asked, glancing back at Oliver

The fat rabbed hold of the pitchfork and tugged it frorabbed Julianna by the hand

"Get ready to run," he told her

"What? Don’t do anything stupid"

"Too late Just get ready to run I’ll distract him"

Only when Oliver saw Ixchel did he realize he’d momentarily lost track of the othera shovel Theup in his head

He fell on his face, nearly i himself on the pitchfork A trickle of blood ran down his teret and worry on his face, knelt at his friend’s side and felt for a pulse When he stood, he seemed satisfied

Quickly he ran to the stable doors, cracked thelance outside, then closed and barred them Oliver and Julianna could only watch in amazement, still shocked at what he had done Then Ixchel turned to look at them

"Bascombe," the man said

Oliver nodded slowly, curiously

Ixchel sestured to Oliver and said a feords in his own language Then he shook his head in frustration because he knew they didn’t understand

"You," he said, finding the word "Legend-Born"

CHAPTER 10

The gods came out of Perinthia at dawn, just as they had pro on a rock beside the Truce Road, thinking back to the last ti into the city with Oliver and Frost after their e with the Myth Hunters in pursuit Those had been anxious days, but they had been sweet as well Their intentions had been pure, their understanding of one another unco since Kitsune wished that she could go back But there was only forward, now, to war--and to whatever life held for her on the other side

Boredom had forced Coyote to shed his huh landscape on the outskirts of the city in the hour just before dawn But as the horizon had begun to lighten and the city of Perinthia began to awaken, the coyote had coaze locked on the archway that led into the city The arch connected tatchtowers Dark figures appeared from time to time atop those towers, but Coyote’s attention was on the arch itself On the road

For her part, Kitsune tried her best not to look at the arch, superstitious that if she stared in that direction, the gods rowl in his throat and rose from his haunches, then transfor almost at attention despite his usual slouch, she knew that they would not oddess, Bellona, cah the arch, one hand upon the ponity Only steps behind her caleaht, as did the helm upon his head His eyes were hidden in shadow, but Kitsune could see the thin line of his rim

"Ares," Coyote muttered

Kitsune shot him a look

"It reed The god of war had come How could he have resisted?

Salacia and Hesperos followed, but Kitsune’s lingering gaze was broken by a blur that swept past Hesperos and Salacia, darted around Ares and Bellona, and raced toward her with such speed that she barely had time to raise her hands in self-defense before he came to a stop in front of her His narrow face and thin lie, and there were lines upon his face Yet despite the wisps of white hair, she knew this could only be Mercury

His eyes were alight with youth and poith speed

Then he vanished in a blur, racing off along the Truce Road toward the south--toward Broe and toar

"Where the hell’s he going?" Coyote said

"To scout ahead," Bellona replied

Kitsune turned The golden gleaination But the rust on Bellona’s chest plate and the dents in her helm were not illusions

Ares walked past Kitsune and Coyote without a word, not even pausing to be introduced

Another god ca behind Hesperos and Salacia, a fair-haired male in a pale blue robe who floated several inches above the ground, a s up a dust devil underfoot

"Thank you for co," Kitsune said

"Where are the others?" Coyote asked

"Most of the old gods are tired," Bellona said, glaring at Coyote "But there are those of us who refuse to be forgotten"

Kitsune shot Coyote a hard look

"And we’re very grateful," she told Bellona

Placated, the war goddess gestured around her "Mercury and Ares have gone on ahead Salacia and Hesperos you know" She put a hand on Kitsune’s shoulder "Notus, this is Kitsune of the Borderkind and her cousin, the trickster Coyote," Bellona said, and nodded toward the floating god "And this is Notus, the south wind"

Kitsune bowed her head "We are honored to have you with us"

A gentle wind caressed her face, perhaps whispered soone Notus s the road

Kitsune glanced at Coyote, but saw that her cousin was not watching Notus, nor was he gazing at either of the beautiful goddesses who had joined thee and at the archway between theh the arch, the road buckling beneath the heels of his leather boots With his shaggy beard and dusty clothes, he looked like one of the carnivorous giants who lived along the Sorrowful River, eating ard children and crushing their parents underfoot

Frantic, she glanced around for cover Not all of the Myth Hunters, it seehed softly and both Hesperos and Salacia turned to siant