The Ranger of Marzanna (The Goddess War #1) - Jon Skovron Page 0,48

and slowly turned toward the priest. There was an alarmingly mischievous glint in her eye.

“Uh, Sonya, perhaps we shouldn’t antagonize him,” murmured Jorge. “Live and let live, you know. Everyone has their beliefs. I know the Aureumians can be a little… demonstrative about their religion, but it’s not like they outlaw native religions.”

“Maybe not in Raíz, but they do here.” Sonya didn’t take her eyes off the priest as she spoke. “Since the Rangers led the resistance during the Winter War, any worship of the Lady Marzanna is punishable by death.”

“I hadn’t realized there was a religious component to being a Ranger,” admitted Jorge.

Sonya nodded slowly, her eyes still fixed on the haranguing Aureumian priest. “It’s the most important part.”

“I see…,” said Jorge. “Still, it probably wouldn’t be wise to draw attention to ourselves.”

“I just want to ask him a question. That’s all.”

Jorge wasn’t sure he believed her, but he followed nervously behind as she sauntered over to him.

“Priest! What do you know about these Uaine?” she asked in a tone that could not have been less respectful.

He loomed over her. “The greatest threat to our people since time began! Blue-skinned demons with spikes for hair who cavort with the dead! If you don’t repent, they will come with their skeleton army and tear your flesh from your body until you are one of them, a slave for eternity!”

She smirked at him. “Uh-huh…”

This seemed to irritate him even more than a smart comeback might have. “You will know despair unless you place yourself in the protection of God and the great Aureumian Empire!”

“Nah,” she said. “I’ll take my chances, thanks.”

He drew himself up to his full height, and a vein pulsed nastily on his forehead. “I would expect as much from an ignorant savage with the stink of the wild about her! Go back to your mud huts and hovels in the wilderness, you miscreant, and let the dead army of the Uaine have you!”

Sonya’s grin looked almost feral, and took on a menacing edge. “Maybe I will.”

Jorge took her arm and smiled weakly at the glowering priest. “My apologies, Holy Father. She is still recovering from terrible, life-threatening injuries and meant no harm.”

The priest grunted. “Keep your filthy peasant girl under control, Raízian.”

Jorge ignored that and gently led Sonya down the crowded street. She didn’t resist, but she still had that unnerving grin, which made Jorge very uneasy.

19

It was a brilliant idea. Or a terrible one. Sonya couldn’t decide which.

“Is everything okay?” Jorge looked apprehensive for some reason.

“You said before that there’s no way I could get the empire out of Izmoroz on my own.”

“Well, perhaps I meant—” he began.

“You said I’d be like a fly bothering a horse.”

He winced. “I might have said that.”

“And you’re right. I’ve been striking at the empire as hard as I can for more than a year now and they haven’t even noticed. Not a wanted poster or anything, which is a little discouraging.”

“I’m sorry, you want to be a hunted fugitive?” asked Jorge.

“Maybe, just a little,” she said. “You have to admit, it would be impressive. Anyway, my point is, I can’t do this alone. I need help.”

“But who could help? You said yourself that the other Rangers are probably all dead. All that’s left are peasants, most of whom have little experience fighting, and no weapons, armor, or magic.”

“Right. Which is why I was thinking of looking outside Izmoroz for help.”

His eyes narrowed. “I thought you were merely antagonizing that priest, but you were genuinely asking about the Uaine?”

“The empire is clearly terrified of them. They’ve got my brother all worked up about it. He’s convinced he’s going to ‘save’ Izmoroz from an invasion—as if we haven’t already been invaded, but whatever. And their priests are trying to work up a panic among the commoners about it, too. Clearly, they’re gearing up for some kind of conflict, and they want to make sure the people of Izmoroz are on their side. Why would they care, unless they’re concerned the Uaine might actually liberate Izmoroz from the empire!”

“You’re making a pretty big leap there,” said Jorge. “They might just take Izmoroz for themselves.”

“I know, I know,” she said impatiently. “But even if they aren’t planning on liberating us, maybe I could strike a deal with them.”

“What sort of deal could you offer them?”

“I could convince them that what they really want to do is invade Aureum. After all, Izmoroz is poor! Why would they want us?”

“It’s not that poor,” objected Jorge.

“Really? Have

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