Chapter 27.1: The Back Room

  Silence filled the back room.

  Gudea leaned against the cold stone wall, eyes shut, the heavy iron of his spear resting against his shoulder.

  Beyond the door, masonry crashed. Screams tore through the shrine as the floor heaved beneath him. Plaster dust drifted down from the ceiling rafters to coat his beard.

  He remained still.

  *Not yet.*

  Another crash shook the shrine, louder than before. Splinters exploded from the doorframe. Above him, the ceiling groaned and fissures spread across the plaster.

  More screaming.

  *Almost.*

  He opened one eye.

  *The boy is still fighting. Good. Let him struggle a little longer.*

  He closed the eye.

  *Now. The entrance. What do I say?*

  Gudea shifted against the wall, testing the first line aloud.

  "You have fought well, young one. Now step aside."

  A frown crossed his face.

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  *No. Too formal. Sounds like a grandfather at a wedding..*

  He cleared his throat for a second attempt.

  "Finally, a worthy opponent."

  His nose wrinkled.

  *Worthy? That thing out there is a pile of corruption and flowers. Worthy of what?*

  The creature tore through the roof above. Stone and timber rained down, followed by its roar and inhuman shrieks.

  Gudea scratched his beard.

  "I'll handle it from here."

  *Boring.*

  "Stand back, boy."

  *Too short. No weight.*

  "You've done enough."

  *Sounds like I'm firing him from a job.*

  He sighed.

  Outside, the creature slammed into the shrine. The floor shook. Gudea's spear slid an inch across the stone.

  Without glancing, his hand stopped the spear's slide.

  *Maybe no words. Just walk out. Let the presence speak.*

  The idea lingered for a moment.

  *No. The young ones need words. They remember words. A hundred years from now, someone will tell this story.*

  "And then Gudea appeared and said—"

  *Said what?*

  He rubbed his temples.

  *Why is this so difficult? I've killed dragons. I've toppled kingdoms. I've stood before gods and made them flinch.*

  *But one good entrance line? Impossible.*

  The back door rattled. The sounds of battle pressed against the wood.

  *Time's running out.*

  Gudea stood. The movement was a single, clean ripple of practiced muscle. His body remembered every lesson, every fight, even if his mind had started to forget.

  He picked up his spear.

  *Something about trees. He's from the old bloodline. Sapling? Deep roots?*

  The door was three steps away.

  "A sapling of the deep-rooted tree."

  He paused.

  *Not bad. Mysterious. Shows I know something he doesn't.*

  He reached for the door.

  *Wait. What's my face doing? Serious? Calm? Slightly amused?*

  His face settled into calm amusement.

  *Amused. Yes. Like this is all a minor inconvenience.*

  His hand found the door.

  *Posture. Shoulders back. Spine straight. Don't look like you just woke up.*

  Spine straight. Shoulders back.

  *Even though I did just wake up.*

  The creature roared outside. The boy shouted.

  Gudea took a breath.

  *Alright. Sapling line. Amused face. Good posture. Let the spear do the rest.*

  He opened the door.