Wine of the Gods 4: Explorers by Pam Uphoff Read Free Book Online

splashed. "Damn. That hasn't happened in centuries. And I'm not sure he really believed in the God of War anyway."
    Harry snorted. "No doubt he does now. Why don't you get your horse out of my tavern, then come back and tell us all about it?"
    The Auld Wulf laughed and disappeared. Horse and all. Only the smell remained.
    Nil sighed. "I really do wish he'd leave the horse behind, occasionally."
    Harry shook his head. "He hates the idea of his horse getting old and dying." He propped the door open, and started opening the windows. Lefty could feel the delicate little spell that triggered the breeze that thinned the horse fug from the air. I never noticed, before. They were just here , like the earth and the sky.
    He tried to get his mind back to the expedition, but gave it up gratefully when the horde of school children flooded in to find parents or sustenance. Quitting time. School's out.
    Rustle and Havi, with their closest friends came through long enough to get permission to explore the west ridge, and departed, passing the Auld Wulf as he entered. Rustle hung back and looked him over, then Havi grabbed her and pulled her out.
    Nil looked at the god. "So? Have any fun?"
    "Pax leading, so to speak, Auralian troops in the New Lands. Be careful out there. If you four see a good looking blond man, twentyish, golden eyes, run away or yell for help. The God of Peace is badly misnamed." He looked clean and tidy for the short time he'd been gone. But then perhaps he'd skipped the walk down from the winery. Hair and beard short, mostly gray. Dark eyes with a rim of warm reddish brown. Crisply ironed shirt and pants, without the usual wolfskin vest. He didn't look at all like a god.
    Now.
    Harry walked out of the kitchen. "Pax? Haven't seen that nasty little commie for . . . I don't know how long."
    "He hasn't changed a bit. Still all mouth, and no guts. I'll go talk to Rufi, warn him."
    Lefty hesitated. Maybe they were just kidding me. "You know, I really hope that all those stories about wars between the gods are just fables. Especially since I don't believe in gods, umm."
    Both putative gods grinned.
    "I'm afraid we have clashed regularly. But we try to leave other people out of it." Harry looked over at the Auld Wulf. "The three of us have always stood together, and Romeau's back now. I wonder if everyone is waking up?"
    Never bit her lip. "Waking up from what? And how many gods are there? I mean, we grew up around you three, but I never thought about there being more . And is there a reason for them to wake up, now?"
    Harry shook his head. "Romeau's awakening seems to have been accidental. There were thirteen gods. Barry Virtue—Ba'al, if you prefer—has got himself trapped in time dilation and good riddance. Chance was in Scoone for a while, before we all left. And I've caught news of Pax, off and on."
    "I've seen him twice since the comet fell." A gorgeous woman walked in on Sir Romeau's arm.
    "Oh, missed opportunities.
    Of these I have plenty.
    But not with him."
    Sir Romeau grinned and tossed his outrageous hat at a peg on the wall. Lefty felt the little touch of levitation and push he used to correct his throw. Gods! It was enough to make him glad to concentrate on the real work in the real world. But he hadn't gotten to where he was by not being curious.
    "Since the comet fell? That's a myth, told as one of the reasons for the death of the old world." Lefty eyed the woman . . . surely this wasn't . . . Lady Gisele. Goddess of Health and Fertility. The myths said she was the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone. He'd met Lady Gisele, the old woman with the herb garden across the alley . . .
    "Oh, one of the Farm Group. It killed nearly everyone, and caused the first of the dark ages." The Auld Wulf kicked back in his usual chair and grinned.
    That brought a pause to all conversations around them.
    Some rather alarming information about comets, remembered from books read decades ago, surfaced in his mind. This was going to