Age of the Gods: The Complete, twelve novel, fantasy series (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) by Jeremy Laszlo Read Free Book Online

walking back towards the inn.
    Seth and his twin watched their father trudge, shoulders slumped, up the steps to the inn. James got to the door and paused as if to turn around for one last goodbye. But he heaved the door open and walked inside, never looking back. The twins watched the inn for a moment longer, then with a shared look of pain and remorse, put on as best they could a pair of determined faces and slowly walked to where Ashton was waiting for them.
    They paused briefly when they reached him, just long enough for him to put away his book and grab his things, then started off together down the trail, Ashton falling in alongside them. An hour passed with them walking in silence, the twins dwelling on their home, their father, their past. Ashton had inhaled loudly several times in this hour as if to say something, then thinking better of it decided to let the twins brood in silence.
    Ashton again took a deep breath and hesitated, but tired of the gloomy silence continued.
    “You guys have a very nice father,” he stated sincerely. “He didn’t charge me a single copper to stay last night, nor did he charge me for my food or drink.”
    Both Seth and Garret were looking at Ashton now, each with a small grin on their faces.
    “You know,” Ashton continued. “You guys are really lucky too.” Again the twins waited for Ashton to continue, looking at him with questioning glances. Ashton noted their looks and again continued again.
    “Twins are really rare. So, it occurred to me that sure, sometimes a kid might go to The Choosing with a neighbor, or a cousin, or even a good friend, but how often does anyone get to go with their brother or sister? It just seems to me that you guys are lucky. It’s kind of like you get to take a little bit of home, of normal everyday life with you.”
    Seth pondered Ashton’s statement and realized that indeed he was quite lucky having Garret along with him. Seth imagined how Ashton must have felt leaving home alone, traveling two days through the mountain passes until he reached Vineleaf.
    “You know, Ashton,” Seth began, breaking his silence for the first time, “you are absolutely correct. We are blessed to be twins. However, when I say it’s nice to not be going to The Choosing alone, I say it meaning not only am I glad to have Garret along as my brother, but to have you along as well as a friend.”
    “That goes for me too, Ashton,” Garret added.
    Ashton smiled at them both, obviously glad the silence was over. Seth could only imagine that he had had enough of that traveling through the mountains by himself.
    The three continued to talk, most of the day and into early evening, telling the stories of their lives up until this point. Seth spoke mostly for himself and Garret, with his brother adding in details he missed along the way. Ashton told too of his past with his family in Glenvale. His father had been a soldier in the armies of Valdadore, his mother a priestess of Lorentia, the goddess of healing
    When Ashton’s father was injured in battle and near to death, he was given into the hands of Ashton’s mother to be watched over and taken care of. She had spent months healing his wounds, and in that time they had fallen in love. Not wanting to lose each other, and since their enlistments to the kingdom had expired, they left their services to the king and moved to Glenvale. Here they had two children, Alex, the eldest son, now in service to the kingdom following in his mother’s footsteps as a priest of Lorentia, and Ashton, the younger son, hoping to follow his mother’s and brother’s calling as well.
    “How do you guys make a living?” Seth asked. “That is, if I’m not asking anything too personal,” he added as an afterthought.
    “Well, my mom continues to heal people,” Ashton said with pride, “though she only accepts donations because some people can’t afford much, if anything at all. My dad no longer wields a sword. He spends most of his time