Hey,
This is Ran, Sarn’s son from the Curse Breaker series, reporting to you from my fantasy world where things are happening! But I can’t talk about them yet. I need to give out more spoilers for the Rogue Gods Trilogy instead.
This week, we’re leaving the ex-war god, but you’ll read all about his adventures sneaking into the Library of Forbidden Knowledge when you get your hands on a copy of Gateway to Hell.
For now, we need to move forward a few chapters to meet Evarian. Who is he?
Evarian is the son of the ex-goddess of the past (Istianna) and a human man. He’s also the nephew of the ex-god of history, and that makes him a very confused young man. Poor guy!
If you read Rogue Ranger, then you met Istianna and her brother, the ex-god of history (Hithaglier). Robin met them in the enchanted forest.
At the time, my scribe didn’t know why they were there. They just showed up and added themselves to the story. Istianna says she was just passing through with her husband. But her brother showed up to tease Robin instead of helping her fight off the demon.
Since there’s no tv or movies in our world, the ex-god of history found Robin and her quest to save her daughter as the most entertaining thing ever. He picked a spot to watch her battle a demon and shout out “helpful advice” like he was her coach or something. Robin didn’t enjoy that at all since he was distracting her when she needed to concentrate.
I can confirm that so far, the ex-god of history hasn’t shown up to bother Papa or me. But I kind of want him to show up and give Papa some “helpful advice” just to see what Papa will do. Don’t tell him I said that.
This week, we’re skipping ahead to chapter 5 of Gateway to Hell, book 1 of the humorous epic fantasy trilogy, Rogue Gods, so you can meet Evarian. When you get a copy of Gateway to Hell, you’ll find out what Guerren did in the three chapters we skipped. I can confirm he got into deep trouble in them for your enjoyment.
And now, here’s Evarian. He’s a bit shy, so he won’t stare into your soul. I’m sure you can use a break from that anyway.
Rogue Gods #1: Gateway To Hell
History Is Tricky (Chapter 5, scene 1)
“Why did you bring me here?” Evarian tread carefully over the ruins of a temple. Stone columns, collapsed by some event long ago, lay in pieces on the stone platform. But he still didn't know why his uncle brought him here.
“This was the seat of our power once.” Uncle Hithaglier extended his arms as he spun slowly, his eyes glowing white with his power.
“And now only ruins remain. But that doesn't explain why you flashed us here.” Evarian squashed the jealousy ignited just by thinking about that. I'm the son of an ex-goddess, and you'd think that would give me the power to teleport like my mother does. But no, I didn't inherit that ability. He folded his arms. There was nothing he could do except wait for his uncle to transport him back because no way would he walk back.
“Sometimes I miss the old days when they revered and feared us.” Uncle Hithaglier stopped and stared at the ruins of a city surrounding the raised temple.
“Well, I won’t worship you. That would be weird anyway since you're my uncle.” Evarian tried not to roll his eyes.
His uncle was so dramatic sometimes. Uncle Hithaglier was the god of history long ago, and the twin of his mother. At least Mom isn't trying to relive her glory days. Instead, she was pretending to be human and raising half-human demigods while living a mostly normal life in northern Shayari.
“I don't want you to.” Uncle Hithaglier folded his arms as the breeze blew his long white hair away from his ageless face. No one would ever guess he was thousands of years old just by looking at him.
“Then why are we here? You could have given me a history lesson at home. We didn't need to come here for that if that's what's on your mind.” It probably was since those were the only lessons his uncle ever gave him. Evarian wished his uncle would get to the point of this strange meeting. He had chores to do, but he couldn't do any of those things until his uncle transported him back home.
“I didn't choose a side in the War for Heaven. My sisters pledged their lives to the Creator, and I followed their lead. I figured Fay would pick the right side since she can see the future, and I can't.” Uncle Hithaglier strode toward a large, throne-like chair that was also made of stone.
Did no one use any other material back then? Or had time and thieves removed everything but the stonework? After all, the war his uncle spoke of happened thousands of years ago, not last year.
“I know. Aunt Fay told you and Mom what she planned to do, and you all went together.” This was all ancient history since it happened thousands of years before he was born. Evarian rubbed his temples. Why did his uncle want to talk about it now?
“Yes, but many of our kind rebelled. I never wondered what happened to them until I ran into one.” Uncle Hithaglier ran his hands down the beading on the sides of his silk tunic. The man liked his finery. Everything he wore cost more gold coins than Evarian would ever have.
Now his uncle wasn't making sense. “How did you run into one of the rebel gods? Mom said they're all in Hell.” And she wouldn't lie about something like that.
“I sensed my cousin, Guerren, the former god of war, and I flashed myself to him just to see if I could.” Uncle Hithaglier smiled but there was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, which meant there was more to this story than he was telling.
Evarian thought about calling him on it, then sighed because maybe he didn't want to know. Whatever his uncle was up to likely wouldn't affect him or his life one bit, and pulling the truth out of his uncle would require more time and patience than he had right now.
“Don't you want to know what I found?” Uncle Hithaglier ran his hands over the top of the stone throne.
No, not really, but Evarian suppressed a sigh and asked just to move this along. “What did you find?”
“He was creeping around a library! Imagine that. My how The mighty have fallen. A former god of war's reduced to stealing books from a library in Hell.” Uncle Hithaglier threw back his head and laughed.
Evarian didn't know what was so funny about that. Nor would he ask because that would just prolong this. “Why did you really bring me here?”
Uncle Hithaglier gazed at the ruins, eyes gleaming with nostalgia. “I miss the old days when our kin reigned over all, and mortals worshiped us. You never saw those days. If you had, you'd miss them too.”
Evarian shifted uncomfortably. His uncle's powers made him uneasy at the best of times. “I doubt that. But it doesn't matter because those days are gone. You can't relive them.” That part of the past was closed to all visitors, even ex-pagan gods like his mother and uncle.
“What if there was a way to bring those days back? Would you help me do it?” Uncle Hithaglier turned and smiled as he extended his hand.
***
Find out next week. Don’t forget to follow the Kickstarter, so you know when it launches. Guerren is on the right. Rosalie is in the middle, and Evarian is on the left.
This chaotic trio will either save the world or destroy both. Only one of them will have fun doing it. You can guess which one.
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