The Crossroads and the Gate

The Crossroads and the Gate is a story written by Imogen Calhoun and illustrated by W. Stanaforth Donahue. It ran in Issue 46 at http://s2b2.livejournal.com/265795.html, and is mirrored at http://www.shousetsubangbang.com/mirror/the-crossroads-and-the-gate/.

Summary

From the author: "It is a romcom about having your life comprehensively ruined for the second time. Contains: sword and sorcery, lots of implausible injuries, dueling gods, and significant chess."

From fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org: "A soldier saves the life of a godless wizard; as they travel, the mercenary refuses to talk to the wizard, due to fear of religious contamination, but that's okay, the wizard talks enough for both of them."

Author's Notes

• http://nextian.livejournal.com/344108.html

External Reviews

• pinboard.in: "A talkative wizard's life is saved by a mercenary who refuses to speak to him. Although the conversation is one-sided for over half the story, I loved the sense of their relationship slowly growing. The worldbuilding is great - lots of neat details to this world where gods walk the earth."