Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 187
their life for their child, and it doesn't bother them. With men
it's different, but we... trade our allegiance in the same way. At
some point, if you've grown up at all, you have to decide that
something outside yourself is more important than you are.
Otherwise you'll be a miserable bastard, and you'll die
screaming." He closed one eye and peered at Jordan. "That
make sense?"
"I don’t know," Jordan said uncomfortably.
"You get perspective. You can stand outside your own
death, a little. Not while you're dying, though." He frowned.
"Shit, I was scared. Scared..." He closed his eyes.
"You should sleep more," Jordan prompted.
"No. I like being awake. Alive, you know?" His face
wrinkled; for a moment he looked as though he would cry.
Jordan sat back on the wooden floor, blinking in surprise.
August swore. "Stupid, stupid, stupid! Things are
coming to a head between my master and Sheia. He needs me
right now, and I've let him down."
"Yuri decided in favor of your master," said Jordan.
"Yeah, but we know Sheia won't stand for it. He's going
to lose everything, because his queen is going to lose her war.
His only hope was to shelter under the Boros title. Now he
can't do that. We don't know what he's going to do, but he's
going to have to do it soon. Yuri’s living in his garden if he
thinks Sheia will just accept his decision."
Jordan shook his head, puzzled. "But what can Sheia do
about it?"
"Don't know." August scowled. "He's devilishly clever,
the bastard. He's probably celebrating my death right now; one
less man to defend Linden."
"Linden should leave."
"And leave Sheia alone with Yuri’s family? No. We