The Way of the Brother Gods by Stuart Jaffe Page A

messing with things she don't understand, and this is just one of the side effects. Course, not everyone agrees with that. Some think there's no harm in using magic like this. But you and I know better, don't we?"
    "We do?"
    "Magic is the power of the brother gods. Did Kryssta come down here and say that we should meddle in the ways of gods? Did Korstra tap babies on their heads to grant them such power? No. We've stolen the power and misused it. It was never meant for people. That's why we go insane when we use magic too often."
    "What about your music? I've seen it cast spells before."
    "The old Bluesmen did that. The ones that followed Cole Watts to their grave. Ones like my brother," he said and stepped closer.
    Malja recognized him right away — practically a twin. "You're Willie's brother."
    "That's right. My name's Wolf."
    A chill rushed through Malja, but she did her best to hide any outward reaction.
    Wolf went on, "You ought to understand right now that the only one reason I haven't shot you dead is that I want you to take me to Cole Watts. Some of the Bluesmen want to tear you apart, too, but I don't care about you. It's Watts I want. You're nothing. You just got in the way. But that old betrayer — she promised us many things, great power, the chance to leave this ruined world, and we gave her everything — most of us even gave our lives. My brother gave his."
    "Your brother didn't die for her. He followed Old McKinley. They tried to take power from Cole, not give it to her."
    "Because she was failing us. She has to pay. And once she's dead, we'll tear this place down. No one should have power like this. We are not gods."
    "Sorry," Malja said, taking two specific steps into the center of the hall — one foot forward, one slightly back. Not quite a basic fighting stance, but enough that she could maneuver into a better position with ease. "I won't take you to her. If it helps any, she's probably going to die on her own fairly soon."
    Wolf raised the gun. "You will take me to her, or I'll shoot you."
    "You've got a serious problem, now. I've been shot at before by guns that were in far better condition than that thing, and you only get one shot. Chances are that gun won't do much. Even if one of the brother gods smiles on you and the bullet hits me, you'd have to be really lucky to kill me. And that's when your problem gets worse. Because if I'm still alive after you shoot, I'll have Viper cutting open your throat before you have time to get your sword out."
    Though Wolf did not move, his eyes scanned over his gun. Malja watched closely, but Wolf gave away nothing in his face, and his body language was equally silent. She couldn't tell what he planned to do.
    Raising the corner of his lips, Wolf lowered the gun to his side and let it clunk on the floor. "I was hoping the threat would be enough. Too bad, really. Now, I've got to actually kill you."
    Malja felt a twinge of pity. These Bluesmen loved their sword-hidden-in-the-guitar-neck trick. But she would cut him down long before he could get his hand up to the guitar neck. He didn't know it, yet, but he was dead.
    As if reading her thoughts, Wolf shook his head and with the flick of his wrist, a long blade slid from his right sleeve, it's narrow grip stopping perfectly in Wolf's hand.
    As she spun Viper free, Malja's battle grin rose. "Cute," she said.
    "You liked it? Then you can see it again." Wolf flicked his other wrist, and a second blade slid from his left sleeve. He bent his knees and lifted both blades into a ready position.
    Malja lowered into her full fighting stance and let out a calming breath. More than anything in life, she understood this. All her troubles, concerns, and fears vanished as her focus limited the world to the man holding two swords.
    Wolf raised one sword overhead and charged, betraying a lack of experience. If not for the second sword, Malja would easily block the attack and cut down her enemy. But fighting two swords means two