Like everyone in her village , young Heloise fears devils , agentive role of destruction summon by the blink of a wizard ’s eye . But in truth , she ’s really more frightened of the Order — the vicious faction that wanders the country slaughtering anyone who even breathes the countersign “ wizard ” or “ devil . ”
In the suspenseful first chapter of The Armored Saint , the first in author Myke Cole ’s newfangled Sacred Throne epical fantasy serial , we get a good sense of why the Order , who are sadistically warm of hit down the humble mass they claim to protect , are such a source of dread . And we also get some foreshadowing that smart , curious Heloise — already tired of cowering from men invest by a supernatural scourge she ’s not even sure really exists — will spark a long - delinquent rising in the near future .
And it shall be as a plague unto your people
From father to son , from female parent to daughter , until your source is junk .
My redemption is the Emperor . My Bob Hope is His outstretched hired man .
He has made my way plain , and asked only this of me ,
Suffer no wizard to be .
— Writ . Ala. I. 14
CHAPTER 1
THEY’LL get word YOU
Heloise took her sire ’s hand , squeezing it hard . Samson ’s supercilium nobble as he squeezed hers back . “ Been a long metre since you take your old father ’s deal . What bechance to you being intimately a woman acquire ? ”
The warm roughness of his palm made her palpate safe , but she only smile up at him , shrug .
“ The route to Hammersdown ’s the safest in the valley , ” her father said . “ No bandit’d risk running into the Holy Order . ”
“ It ’s the parliamentary procedure that affright me . ”
“ Me , too , ” Samson agreed , “ but they ’re a muckle better than a wolf pack or a robber banding , eh ? ”
She did n’t want to see that something frightened him now . She wanted Samson the begetter and defender , not Samson the friend . Her father was a grown man , and if his hair had gone gray and his belly droop over his belted ammunition , he more than made up for it with his panoptic shoulders and thick hands . For all his talk of being frightened , Samson ’s eyes were intemperate , “ Serjeant ’s eyes , ” the village Maior called them . He had fought alongside her father in the Old War . Do n’t allow his component ’s hands fool you , Heloise . Your father was a shield - hewer , the strongest pikeman I ’ve ever known . The very name Samson struck terror into the hearts of the Emperor ’s enemies .
“ Well . ” Samson pulled her into an embrace , deem her tightly to his side as they walked , his branch strong and satisfying . “ This old man will take what he can get . ”
“ I love you , Papa . . . ”
“ I hump you , too , dive . ”
Hoofbeats .
Samson stopped , glanced over his articulatio humeri . Heloise sour .
Dust was move up on the road behind them , billowing out behind a column of riders . Too many to be brigand , even if they were brave enough to hazard the Order ’s main road . Heloise heard jangling range of mountains and look for a cart , but could n’t see one .
“ Papa , what ’s . . . ”
The dust gyrate and cleared to reveal Pilgrim , their grey cloak flapping away from leather armor , flail held out before them . At their head rode a Sojourner . His cloak was edged with gold , the bright red textile so neat it shone , as if the junk dare not touch him .
The Sojourner held his flail across his chest , lead over one shoulder , opprobrious atomic number 26 spikes nestled against the scarlet framework of his cloak . The loss meant he had completed the great Sojourn , a twelvemonth on the road to visit the website where the Emperor had fought the deuce until they were pushed back into blaze . The Pilgrims ’ Robert Gray mark them as lesser valet de chambre who ’d done only the fortnight - long Pilgrimage . They were pale imitations of their loss leader , their cloak simple .
Only their flails were adequate : the same stout , well - oiled woodwind . The same inflexible , black length of chain .
The Order had arrived , as if talk of them had made them appear .
She get a line her Father of the Church gasp in recognition , and then he was jerk her out of the route and into the chill clay . Heloise fell to her knee joint , gasped from the cold wet seeping into her dress . “ Eyes down , ” Samson said , “ rima oris shut . ”
The terror was as intense as it was sudden .
She obeyed him , close her mouth and casting her eyes to the ground . The coolheaded air feel short spicy , the all-encompassing sky pressing down on them .
The hoofbeats came nearer , and with them , the phone of the jangling chain .
“ Bow your head , young woman , now ! ” Samson hissed .
The hoofbeats seemed to continue endlessly . The phone of the chains lift as they pull nigher . Heloise could see the radio link playing out behind the horses , dredge in the turd . A dead womanhood slid past Heloise , green and bloated , caked with road filth . She was wrapped in the long , gray rope of her viscera , tangled in the metal link until Heloise could n’t secernate her guts from the chains . The horses hale another body beside her , wrapped in metal like a wild wilkworm in molt .
Heloise ’s oesophagus spring up at the stink and she choke , clap a hand to her mouth . Another moment and they would be preceding . Please do n’t notice us . Please taunt on .
The jangling stop as the riders halted .
Heloise could n’t resist glancing up . The Sojourner had a narrow face and a smile that was somehow worse than a scowl . He slowly turn his cavalry , a bleak animate being taller and broader than any Heloise had ever witness . Heloise felt fear climb her spine , followed by anger at him for make her afraid .
“ You , there , ” the Sojourner called to Samson . “ Attend me . ”
Samson uprise , eye still on the ground . “ Your note . ”
“ You populate here ? ”
“ Yes , your eminence . We hail from Lutet , just up the — ”
“ I get it on where Lutet is , ” the Sojourner state . “ What I need to hump is where Frogfork is . ”
“ If you cod on past the Giant ’s Shoulder , ” Samson enunciate , “ you will see a James Earl Carter Jr. ’s cartroad through the woods . Take it until the ground goes to marsh , then head into the quag . You ’ll see it . ”
“ Can we make it by evenfall ? ”
“ Yes , my lord . If you ride without cease . ”
“ Very well . In that character , have you anything in that satchel to slake my thirst ? mayhap some bread ? I will beg a cycle for your someone and the Emperor will bless you for supporting His own Hand in the valley . ”
“ I ’m sorry , your eminence . I am a factor on my means to take letters . ”
“ That is not an result to my question . ”
“ All I have is my book of account , pen , and ink . ”
“ He ’s a villager , Holy Father , ” one of the Pilgrims said . “ They are breed to lie . ”
He flex to Samson , held out a hired man . “ Give it here . ”
Without plagiarize his eyes , Samson give the satchel over .
The Pilgrim fumbled with the atomic number 26 warp before cursing and rive it unresolved , beam a popped stud vanish . He thrust one gauntleted hand inside and seized a handful of her father ’s pens , tossed them into the clay . One of the ink bottle follow .
Heloise ’s judgement spin , count the cost of the precious items , project how they could be repair . It was n’t so tough . The playpen were wood and alloy . Some had o.k. confidential information , but provided she was deliberate when she cleaned them , they would n’t be damage . She squinch as the ink bottle struck the soaked mud , but she did n’t think it had collapse . So long as he did n’t thrust out any of the . . .
The Pilgrim ’s hand disappear back into the satchel , emerged with a handful of crumpled paper . Heloise was only capable to half - strangle a cry as he throw away the treasured canvass in the line . They drifted in the fart , made their way down toward the blotto clay .
Before Heloise sleep with what she was doing , she had take a prospicient , lunging step , her hand lashing out to savvy at the falling report . The sudden move call down the wind , and the cute sheets danced aside from her , float obliquely and down , always down , until the ground snatched them up . Heloise chased them , knowing it was useless , ineffective to stop herself , optic lock on the slowly spread stain that was wet mud ravenously devour the tools of her trade .
A hoof stomp in the clay so close that she had to leap back , her eyes darting up to entrance the Pilgrim ’s . They were a dazzling greyish - blue , like the skim of ice over flowing water . “ What in the Emperor ’s name do you think you are doing ? ”
Heloise straightened , terror blossoming in her gut . “ Just picking up the . . . I only mean to pick up the paper before it got pixilated . ”
“ Heloise ! ” Samson read .
“ Your distinction , ” she summate .
“ If the newspaper is on the ground , ” the Pilgrim read , “ it ’s because I mean it to be there . ”
Even now , Heloise had to fight not to bend down and pluck the paper up . He only threw out some of it , she distinguish herself . It ’s not all destroy . The thought help her to be still .
The Sojourner leaned on his bicycle seat motor horn , gestured to the bodies in the chain behind them . “ See that , fille ? ”
Heloise glanced back at the body . She knew she should answer , but she was robbed of speech , first by reverence , then by madness . The Sojourner ’s smile easy pass as he waited .
Samson ’s elbow in her ribs . “ Answer him ! ”
“ Yes . ”
Her father ’s articulatio cubiti in her ribs once more , almost knocking her over . “ Your eminence , ” Heloise add again .
The Sojourner nodded , whether for the elbowing or at her result , she could n’t state . “ Such is the fate of wizards and those who give tax shelter to wiz . They betrayed the Emperor . ”
The Sojourner gestured to the cadaver with one red - gloved mitt . “ This is why the Writ counsels obedience above all , girl . For a chance at business leader , they would have rent the veil and rent the ogre walk among us . Is this not more than they merit ? ”
Heloise looked sidelong at her founding father , but his eyes were on the priming , his jaw clenched .
Heloise looked back to the clay . The dead woman ’s natural language had swollen out of her backtalk , fat and gray . The present moment dragged on . The Sojourner had ask her a dubiousness , she had to do .
She pictured herself roll in those chains , dredge behind a horse . Her lips move by themselves . “ No , your eminence . ”
The Sojourner straightened , quenched . His small grinning hark back . “ Very well . Brother Tone , I take it there is nothing of utilisation in that rag ? ”
The Pilgrim looked up from Samson ’s satchel . “ No , Holy Father . The villager speaks truth , for once . ”
“ have ’s get moving then . He is probable speaking truth about the ride to Frogfork as well . ”
“ Yes , Holy Father . ” Brother Tone turned his horse cavalry , project the satchel over his shoulder as he went .
Heloise observe it turn ending over end , the lid flapping outdoors , the remain composition threatening to lessen out . She could see the wind plucking at them , quick to roll them down to fall in their familiar in the ruinous mud . She felt herself start out to cry then , because it was the rest of what they had , because she knew that most of their pay for the next time of year would have to go to replenish their supply , because . . .
She heard a ho-hum thud , felt something soft strike her hands .
Her Fatherhood ’s eyes widen and the remains of the Sojourner ’s grin disappear .
Heloise looked down at the satchel nestled in her outstretched arms . She had displace . She had caught it . “ I ’m grim . . . ” Her lip feel numb . She did n’t have it away why she ’d done it . It was as if her consistency had been ineffectual to accept the outcome , not when it could do something about it . “ I did n’t mean . . . ”
“ Perhaps you do not translate what the Holy Writ means by ‘ respect . ’ ” The Sojourner ’s voice was cold . His spur jingled as he touched them to his horse and the animate being took a step toward her .
“ Please , your eminence . ” Samson moved between them . “ She ’s only a girl . ”
Brother Tone twitch the reins and pulled his horse between Samson and the Sojourner .
“ She ’s near a fair sex grow , ” the Pilgrim said , his gamy eyes blaze . “ Old enough to live what she ’s doing . ”
“ Please , your eminence , ” Samson say , looking up now . “ She ’s my only child . ”
Tone sit up straight , hand tighten up on his flail . “ fare here . Show me your oculus . ”
“ Holy Brother , there ’s no — ” Samson began .
“ Your . Eye . ” The Pilgrim cut him off . “ Open it . ”
Heloise hand for her male parent , but he place a broad hand on her belly , jostle her back . With the other , he reached up to his right center , nose it wide open with thumb and forefinger .
tint looked for a long time . At last he sat back , change state to his master , nodded .
“ I see no hepatic portal vein , ” the Sojourner fit in . “ There is no wizardry here , only pride and the foolish love of a Father of the Church for his minor . Your first love should be the Emperor . Above all things . ”
“ Yes , Holy Brother . ” The substitute in Samson ’s voice made Heloise angry and sad at the same time .
“ You ’re favourable we ’ve push line of work , ” the Pilgrim read , labour his horse back into the column . “ Otherwise , I ’d teach you a example . ”
“ Yes , Holy Brother , ” Samson said again , but it was lose in the hammer of hoofbeats , the jangling of chains , and the rising dust as the passenger originate go again . Heloise and Samson stood , still and frozen , as the whole column trundled into the distance , until at last they turned with the road and go out of mountain .
Samson did n’t take his hand from Heloise until the hoofbeats had faded into the aloofness . Heloise glared after them .
“ love child , ” Samson tell , pat the rubble from his trousers . Then he turned to Heloise , his face illuminate with fury . “ Idiot little girl ! What in the Emperor ’s name were you cogitate ? ”
Heloise had opine she could n’t be more frightened , but her don ’s hot anger was somehow bad than the Sojourner ’s cool threats . “ I ’m sorry , Papa ! ” She keep out the satchel , bear witness the dry tabloid safe inside . “ I saved some . . . ”
Samson ’s eyes riffle from her to the satchel and back again . He take a long , throb breath and the anger in his eyes fell as he breathe out . “ So you did , little girl . So you did . ”
He looked at her face and sighed , put his hands on her shoulders . “ Heloise , I know you were prove to help , but that was very , very foolish . That could have turned out bad for both of us . ”
“ I ’m no-account , Papa , ” she said again , “ I do n’t know why I did it , I just . . . but newspaper publisher is so costly and I imagine that . . . he was finished with it . . . ” The fear and the humiliation whirl in her mind and her gut , so intense that she almost missed a third , stronger emotion , boil beneath it all .
Rage . Fury at the Order for making her father grovel while they demolish the tools of his trade .
“ No buts , ” he cut her off . “ That was rash . When a killer dump your kit in the mud , you smile sweetly and tell him he ’s done the right way . ”
The anger would n’t let her . “ But he has n’t done right , Papa . And the Writ says — ”
“ That a word of the true is more pleasing to the Emperor than poetry , yes . I know the Writ as well as you . But it does n’t change that however pleasing it may be to the Emperor ’s ears , it is n’t to the Sojourner ’s , and he ’s the one with the flail . ”
Heloise ’s tum roil . She had consider drained animals before , and been graveside for funerals more than once . But the image of the dead adult female ’s aspect still flow in her mind . Her father was correct , she had put him in risk . “ I ’m deplorable , Papa . ”
Samson embraced her . “ From now on , when the Order ’s about , you ’re a statue , mind me ? Still as a Oliver Stone . Answer their questions and that ’s all . Now , help me clean up this tidy sum . ”
They houseclean the mud off the pens as well they could . The inkpot was whole , if a bit unclean . The theme was so exhaustively soaked that it was hard to distinguish from the clay , and they entrust it where it lie , walking on in silence .
Her father was right . She had risked both of their lives . As Heloise debate it , the wrath become from the social club to herself .
Samson count at her , smile grimly . “ What ’s done is done , Heloise . Do n’t push yourself sore about it . ”
“ Yes , Papa , ” Heloise said , but she could hear the shame in her voice .
Samson put a patrician hand on her shoulder . “ What does the Writ tell us about the visible light of the consecrated toilet ? ”
“ That we bask in its radiance always , ” Heloise answer from memory , “ that the Emperor ’s clear warms and subterfuge in adequate measure . ”
“ That ’s so , ” Samson nodded . He jerked his thumb up at the sunshine . “ And there it is , beam over us all . No matter what happened , try and take joy in the mean solar day , girl . We have valued few of them . ”
Heloise did her good , essay to experience the heat of the sun on her face the rest of the way to Hammersdown , but the saturnine tone appease in her venter , and her father ’s kindness made her feel even bad . She almost wished he ’d shout at her , assure her she was a sap who could have gotten them both pop .
She opened her mouth to apologize again when she heard yell . develop louder .
“ It sounds like Churic , ” Heloise said .
Her father nodded . “ Something ’s got him stirred . ”
Churic ’s voice grow louder as they walked past Hammersdown ’s sentry pillar . Heloise heard other voices now , Jaran Trapper , and Bertal Fletcher , too .
Alna Shepherd stood at the common ’s far end . His frankfurter , Callie , had flesh out the sheep into a tight circle . She stand in front of them , a gloomy growl in her throat , until Alna ’s daughter Austre patted the dog into silence .
Jaran stood beside Bertal . The two were near identical , describe confront nearly hidden behind duncical gray beards . Jaran was distinguished only by his atomic number 79 Ernst Boris Chain of office , tag him as Maior . Both men were bent over Churic , red - faced and shouting .
Churic was unproblematic , dressed in rag week . He ’d inhabit on Hammersdown ’s Polymonium caeruleum van-bruntiae his total life , sway back and forth on the village green . Heloise ’s mother said that Churic ’s mother had prurient thoughts so the Emperor had take Churic ’s mind when he was still in the womb . As long as Heloise had known Churic , he ’d been as gentle as the sheep Callie protected , but now his cheek was purple , his words unravel together until they formed a single long shout , “ Nuhnuhnuhnuhnuhnuh . ”
“ Shut your damned hole ! ” Jaran shouted back . “ Sacred Throne , what ’s gravel into you ? ”
Bertal looked up , saw Samson , and merchandise a long look with Jaran before putting on a forced smile . “ Samson Factor ! As I hold out and catch one’s breath . effective to see you ! ”
Samson let go of Heloise ’s hand . She fight the itch to reach for his again .
“ We had some trouble on the route , ” Samson said . “ All ’s well here ? ”
Bertal smile so broadly , it looked like his cheeks suffer . He peek nervously at Churic . “ Of of course all ’s well ! Why do n’t we head to my shop and get to business , eh ? Marda ’s made some meat pies . ” Samson ’s eyes stick on Churic . There was spit on the simpleton ’s back talk now , white and foaming .
Austre jogged over to them . She was two wintertime older than Heloise , foresightful black curls framing her face . She had take a woman ’s shape more rapidly than Heloise , grandiloquent and wide . Her eyes were dark and beautiful , but they were too wide , her face pale . “ Hello , Master Factor . Would Heloise wish to come act as with Callie until you ’re done ? Papa ’s about to take the flock in and I ’ve the afternoon to assemble hoxholly . I ’ve contract my betrothal dress too ! ” She said to Heloise , “ Would you like to see it ? ”
Samson glanced distractedly at Austre , “ give thanks you , Austre , but Heloise is here today as my apprentice . She ’s to be work as well . ”
“ Oh , ” Austre said . “ Well , maybe she can come subsequently ? ” Heloise was glad to see her , and felt a stab of disappointment at missing the hazard to run Callie through the tall green goddess on the common , but the pall of fearfulness that hang up over the settlement made it short last .
“ Look ! ” Churic jumped to his understructure , lever his centre wide . “ See the hepatic portal vein ? I ’m a gateway ! hell on earth comes through me ! The devils will shortly be here ! ”
Samson froze . “ What did he say ? ”
“ Churic ! ” Jaran cry , grabbing Churic ’s berm . “ Shut your goddamned yob and close it now ! ”
But Churic would n’t stop . “ Wizard ! reckon ! I ’m a wizard ! I work hell to you all ! ”
“ What in the shadow of the Throne is this ? ” Samson ’s eye go hard .
“ It ’s nothing ! ” Bertal said . “ unbalanced ravings , is all . You cognize old Churic . ” The John Fletcher laughed . Heloise recollect it sounded more like a scream .
“ Hell ! ” Churic chanted . “ Wizard ! Devil ! The portal vein in my heart ! The vena portae in my eye ! ”
“ curse you ! ” Jaran scream , hurling Churic to the ground and kneel on his chest , hand lock around his pharynx . “ You will keep out up or by the Emperor I will strangle you and pull up stakes you for the masher . ”
“ Do n’t offend him ! ” Heloise depart forward , but Samson grab her collar , take out her back .
Churic kick , gurgling .
“ Your girl ’s got a kind heart . Nothing wrong with that ! ” Bertal said . “ Anyway , that ’s all sorted . Let ’s to commercial enterprise . ”
“ I ’ll not do business today , ” Samson grunted .
“ Papa , ” Heloise began , thinking of the paper they ’d drop off to the mud .
“ Samson , ” Jaran called to him , loosening his grasp so Churic could take a whooping breath . “ It ’s nothing . ”
Samson stabbed an angry finger’s breadth in the Maior ’s direction . “ That is not nothing . That is burn talk . I ’ll not have dealings anywhere near it . ”
“ It ’s sorted ! ” Jaran call . “ We both involve the usance . Do n’t leave without trade . ”
“ He said ‘ wizardry , ’ ” Samson say . “ He said he had the portal in his optic . ”
“ He ’s a maniac ! ” Jaran countenance Churic take out another breathing space , tightened his grip again before he could speak .
“ Come on . ” Austre tug on Heloise ’s deal . “ allow ’s provide the men to treat this and . . . ”
“ It was the Order that troubled us on the route ! ” Samson shouted , push Heloise behind him . “ They ’re about , might even be close enough to see ! Ask them if they care for the crazy ! ”
“ You do n’t have to gag him ! ” Heloise said , struggling , her don ’s big hand holding her fast .
“ Damn you , Samson ! ” the Maior shouted . “ We both know he ’s no whiz ! He ’s mad ! ”
“ And we both know that does n’t weigh , ” Samson answer . “ The Order wo n’t care . They ’ll Knit you . And you ’re not even a day ’s walk from my house and hearth , you bastard . I ’ll not have my family Knit because you ca n’t keep a muzzle on your dog . ”
Jaran ’s look release lily-white , red floater present on his cheek . “ Samson . . . ”
“ No more talk . You ’d best gag him until he stops kicking , ” Heloise ’s father seethed , “ or cut out his tongue and run him out . For our sake if not your own . ”
“ He ’s simple , ” Jaran say . “ He ’ll die out there . ”
“ Then that is as the Emperor wills , ” Samson snarl . “ Better him than mine . ”
Samson turned and dragged Heloise so hard that she had to take great , jump steps to keep up with him . Callie localize to barking , a stiff , accusing current that followed them out to the trail home plate .
Heloise was quiet for a prospicient metre , anger at the unjustness warring with her reverence of the look on her Fatherhood ’s face .
They walked without speaking for as long as Heloise could stand . “ Papa , the Maior said he was n’t a wizard . There was no portal in his eye . The rules of order would have seen that , even if they come . ”
Samson only shook his header , the fury in his eyes wither to sorrow .
The flavour made her bluff . “ That ’s the truth , is n’t it ? Churic is n’t a wizard , he ’s just simple ? ”
“ Yes , ” Samson nodded . “ Jaran spoke truth . ”
“ Then why . . . ” Heloise start .
“ Better to Knit than permit , ” Samson tell from the Writ . “ What happens if Churic really is a sorcerer and the Order lets it pass ? ”
“ The portal in his optic spread out and the demon derive through , ” Heloise recited from memory . “ But he ’s not a wizard . ”
“ Aye , ” her beginner nodded , “ but it does n’t weigh . Churic ’s life sentence , the lives of all of Hammersdown are nothing against what would be lost should a devil amount through the head covering . If there ’s even the little chance that Churic might be telling truth , the Order can not chance it . Remember this . If you ever get a line words of wizardry , loose talk of the veil or what lies beyond , you lean straight to me , you hear ? Better that we handle it in the hamlet than have it eliminate to the purchase order . Remember what you saw on the road today . That is what comes of let affair like this go unattended . ”
She remembered the word of the Writ . This we believe : That the Emperor stick out for all mankind during the great battle for the time to come of the world . That He roam the Satan back into hell . That , gravely bruise , He used the last of His life to draw the humeral veil shut between the world and perdition , sealing the ogre off forever and a day . He died and was reborn as the godlike Imperial Soul , immortal , His unblinking heart ever turned on the guard of His imperium , on keeping the velum shut .
For a thousand years , humanity had known not peace , but life at least , which was more than they could expect should the devils return .
But sometimes , they did come back .
There were men and women who thought themselves above the Imperial Writ , who need the genius that flowed like urine in hell , who were uncoerced to reach beyond the veil to get it . Such people know great ability for a time , but sooner or afterward , the portal in their centre would open , and they would turn from the great unwashed into door , and the Lucifer would come through .
When a wizard was discovered , the parliamentary law come to put the subject correct . They took no chance . Even talk of wizarding meant there was a hazard the veil had been rent .
And what was rent , must be Knit .
“ Will they kill him , Papa ? ” Heloise take . “ Will they cut out his tongue ? ”
Samson looked sad . “ They will if they are wise , but men are soft when it comes to their own . Churic may be simple , but he is someone ’s Logos , and Jaran would not have continue him through so many winters if there was n’t at least one in Hammersdown with fellow feeling for the man . ”
“ Are the ogre so bad ? Have you ever get word one ? ” Heloise asked .
“ No one has , poppet . No one but the Order . ”
“ Then how do we know they ’re real ? ” Heloise call for .
Samson see annoyed . “ Because the Writ tells us , lady friend . Because the Order remind us . The devils are real , and they are horrific , and we must be ever vigilant for their return . ”
That did n’t make sensory faculty , but what Heloise wanted was to feel secure , to palpate like she and her father were on the same side , and so all she said was , “ Yes , Papa . ”
There was a part of Heloise ’s stomach that churned and whirled , a sick ball deep in her middle . That part could not forget the dead womanhood ’s face , her vain knife grey , and crack sass . That part say Heloise that even though her Father-God ’s words made a savage variety of sense , this was n’t the way things were supposed to be .
So … are those hotshot who transform into daimon - summoning portals genuine , or were they invented by a power - delirious ruler to keep everyone in line ? Or is there a third Sojourner Truth to be revealed ? rule out when Myke Cole ’s The Armored Saint is out February 20 .
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