Oathbreaker by Amy Sumida

announce a huge change.” There were more mutterings but he held up a hand and silenced them. “We all know that taking power from sacrifice is not necessary. We don’t need to feed off humans any longer, we’re powerful enough on our own. We've war-mongered for so long that humanity has become a violent race. I fear for the well being of the planet and the people who have supported us, who have made us what we are. It is with these conclusions that I’ve made the decision to stop stealing their power and join with the Godhunter and my son, Thor.”
    “ Odin this is outrageous!” A burly man with a ZZ Top beard and two long braids in his dark hair, one on each side of his face, stood up. “You can’t switch sides without speaking with us first. This is a decision for all of us to make.”
    “ No, it’s not,” Odin squared his shoulders. “I haven’t decided for all of you. I’ve decided only for myself. You can stand beside me or you can leave now. There is your decision.”
    Utter silence greeted Odin’s ultimatum, even I felt the breath catch in my throat. It wasn't the way I’d expected him to break it to them. I guess when you’ve ruled for so long, and over gods no less, you tend to get a little arrogant.
    “We’ve stood beside you for centuries,” Mr. ZZ Top continued. “Now you’re going to cast us aside for a whore?”
    “ Hey,” I frowned but before I could say anymore, Odin grabbed a spear off the wall behind him and chucked it across the room, straight into the protestor. “Holy shit!” I screamed and jumped to my feet, “Nice throw.”
    The man was sprawled on the stone floor, with the spear sticking straight up out of his shoulder. Not a mortal blow for a god, nothing short of decapitation was fatal for them, but it still must’ve stung a bit. The man groaned and started to reach for the spear but Odin was there first. He grabbed the butt of the weapon and pressed the man back down with it.
    Other gods were starting to stand and I mentally shook myself. I needed to use the opportunity to study their reactions... or look for an escape route. So I tried to stay calm and look around at all of them. Mostly there was shock but a few of them looked angry; ferociously, and potentially traitorously, angry. I tried to memorize their faces.
    “ You’ll not speak ill of her, Bragi,” Odin waited for the man to nod vigorously before pulling out the spear. “She’s more honorable than most of you are and I won’t permit her to be slandered, especially since she's here as my guest. I’ve made my decision and I’ve given my reasons. Now you must each decide for yourselves which path to take.” He looked around the room. “I’m your leader but I’m giving you a choice out of friendship. That’s all I owe you… a choice. You have until tomorrow night to make it.”
    He turned and strode back up to the table, replacing the spear on the wall before resuming his seat. He motioned to one of the dead warriors that served him, and dinner was placed before everyone. I stared at the thick slice of prime rib, blood seeping out of it portentously, before looking over at Odin.
    “That went well,” I lifted my wine in salute.
    “ Did you notice anything?”
    “ You mean besides you spearing a man in defense of my honor?” I smiled at him and I couldn’t keep the warmth from filling my eyes. What can I say? It was romantic in a barbaric madman sort of way.
    “ Yes, besides that,” Odin’s lips twitched but he eyed me with a matching heat, well maybe his heat was a tad warmer.
    “ There were a few faces that appeared to be very disgruntled but I’ll have to do some more research before I’m sure.” I looked away from his piercing gaze. “We’ll see who leaves tomorrow, that'll at least help narrow it down. You’re lucky we didn’t start a riot. Maybe my presence here wasn’t such a good idea.”
    “ It’s your presence that’s going to make my enemies nervous enough to mess up,”