The Black Gods War

the yurt. The soldiers dropped to their knees and prostrated again. Caio thanked them for their service and walked among them, touching the backs of their heads to bless them.
    As Ilario hunted for movement in the darkness, with his ears keen to every rustling noise, anxiety still vexed him. “Is she … ?”
    “She’s all right. She wants to see you. She’s getting dressed.”
    Ilario nodded and tried not to look too eager to see the most arresting woman he’d ever laid eyes on. Over the years, he’d hid from his feelings for her with countless pretty faces and fleshy bodies that meant nothing to him. All the while, Lucia rejected every suitor who proposed to her. If she was actually waiting for him, she wouldn’t be able to wait much longer.
    Lucia opened the doors of her yurt, rivaling the beauty of the moonlight. She wore a flowing, long-sleeved brown dress. The fabric clung tightly around her hips and ruffled near her shoulders and feet. Her breasts were fully covered, but prominent enough. “It’s good to see you, Ilario. Come in.” She touched his shoulder with one of her gloved hands and met his gaze with her guarded eyes.
    Already you give me more than I deserve , he thought.
    Candles glowed atop a dresser and from two tables on opposite sides of her bed. Against the fabric wall to the left, the armor and sword of Ysa glinted in the wavering light. Ilario bowed his head to pay respect to the goddess’s relics. Amber resin incense burned and smoked atop an antique chest.
    Lucia sat at the edge of her cream bed, facing the doors, and Caio and Ilario sat down in wooden chairs before her.
    “Are you all right?” Ilario asked.
    Lucia glanced down and narrowed her eyes, blinking.
    Caio rested his elbows on his thighs and leaned forward. “Dear sister, you are safe now. The messengers told us the goddess Ysa saved you?”
    Lucia looked away and wiped a tear from her cheek. “Yes, Ysa saved me.”
    “They only told us you were found unconscious,” Ilario said.
    Lucia seized him with her obsidian eyes. “After we survived the object from the heavens— truly a miracle—Ysa channeled a great storm through me, through her implements, and then …” She stopped and struggled to swallow. “I felt a great evil around me. Dark Pawelon magic. I felt a presence. I am certain someone was there, close to me. I thought I was going to die. That’s the last thing I remember.”
    Ilario jumped to his feet and pounded the floor as he paced the side of the room opposite Ysa’s ancient metal. “We are going to find whoever did this to you.” He finished each thought with a swing of his fist. “We are going to find him. And I am going to bloody kill him. I swear to you, I am going to kill the pig that did this to you.”
    “I wouldn’t mind that,” she said, “but I need to tell you, I’ve had a change of heart about the war. I never liked the idea of it, but after seeing its worst, Ilario, we’ve got to end it.”
    Ilario stopped his pacing and stared at her. First Caio, now you?
    “I agree,” Caio said. He knelt on one knee at Lucia’s feet. “We almost lost you. We’ve lost so many. Palla and Nese are gone forever. How many more?”
    “I’m not really important here,” Ilario began, “but isn’t it your duty to win the war? We could put an end to all this at any time by fleeing, but then Pawelon would actually win. And all this effort, all these lives, would be for nothing.”
    “Ilario is right.” Lucia’s steady voice put Ilario’s mind at ease. “Our people have sacrificed too much for this to end without our victory. My hope is that we can force Pawelon to surrender. I have a proposal, if I may, Dux Spiritus.”
    “Of course, Lucia. I always trust your counsel.”
    “I believe if you can deal a quick, decisive blow, we may be able to shock them into surrender. They’re desperate. They’re clearly afraid of you. If you can overwhelm them in your first engagement, we could send a shocking message.”
    “We haven’t engaged them since you were hurt?” Caio asked.
    “No. Duilio and I decided to wait for you. Since the battle, they’ve remained close to their fortress. We don’t really know if their tactics will be different when we next face them, so we may have the chance to meet another sizable force. Caio, if you pray to Mya and I to Ysa, we can ask that our advance be concealed with a great rain until we come upon them. If our goddesses are with us, they’ll grant our