The War God's Own

The War God's Own (published 1999, ISBN 0-671-87873-5) is the second novel in the fantasy War God series by David Weber. It follows the adventures of Bahzell Bahnakson and his friend Brandark. The format is a swords-and-sorcery land with dwarves, elves, humans, hradani, and halflings—the Five Races of Man. There is a pantheon of Gods, some good and some vile.

Other books in the series are:

• Oath of Swords (February 1995) ISBN 0-671-87642-2
• Wind Rider's Oath (May 2004) ISBN 0-7434-8821-0
• Sword Brother, a novella published together with a January 2007 edition of Oath of Swords, ISBN 1-4165-2086-4
• War Maid's Choice (May 2012) ISBN 978-1-4516-3901-8

Plot

Bahzell and Brandark come to Belhadan, a major port city, where they are met by Sir Vaijon, a knight-probationer of the Order of Tomanak. Vaijon, as many members of the local chapter of Tomanak's order, is very offended by the notion of a hradani champion, as the hradani are generally viewed as barbarians, and more likely to serve the dark gods than not. The general discomfort finally comes to a head, in a duel between Bazhell and Vaijon after Vaijon accuses Bazhell of serving the dark gods, which Bazhell handily wins. A personal appearance from Tomanak dispels most further prejudice against him. Shortly thereafter they set off for Hurgrum, as Sharna, one of the dark gods, has been interfering in hradani politics. Along the way they meet up again with Wencit of Rum, the last white wizard, and another champion of Tomanak, a human woman named Kaeritha.

On arriving in Hurgrum, Bazhell tells his father about Sharna's meddling and his involvement with the heir of one of Bahnak's enemies. He then swears in an entire hradani chapter of the Order of Tomanak, and they launch an attack on Sharna's underground church. However, the time required to get to the center of the church allows Sharna's high priest to summon a demon, which Bahzell, Vaijon and Kaeritha have to fight. Vaijon stabs it, but loses his sword in the process. When they return to Hurgrum, Tomanak returns it to him, and at the same time claims sword-oath from him as a champion.

Having rooted out Sharna's church, one final crisis awaits. Bahzell, and the Order of Tomanak, must repel an invasion by a force of Sothoii warriors, acting under the orders of Matthian, Warder of Glanharrow, who is acting without permission out of his deep hatred for the hradani. Fortunately, his superiors arrive in time, and the entire force surrenders to the Order. Bahzell leaves for the Sothoii lands with Kaeritha, leaving Vaijon to organize the hradani Order of Tomanak.

Characters

• Bazhell Bahnakson of the Horse Stealer hradani. The son of Bahnak, the prince of Hurgrum, the first hradani champion of Tomanak in more than 1,200 years.
• Brandark Brandarkson of the Bloody Sword hradani.
• Sir Vaijon of Almerhas, a knight-probationer, and later champion, of the Order of Tomanak.
• Kaeritha, a champion of Tomanak who joins Bazhell in his effort to defeat Sharna.
• Wencit of Rum, an ancient white wild wizard.
• Tomanak Orfro, God of War and Justice.

External links

• The complete text of The War God's Own is available for download or reading online at the Baen Free Library here. It can also be found here.