Fire and Ice

The Furian and Frial have maintained peace for millennia, though they are opposites. The Furian worship Magmon, god of fire and passion. Their lands stretch from the southern volcanic ring to the temperate north. They are ruled by a royal family. The Frial worship the goddess Frilan, a goddess of ice. Predictably, their lands stretch from the polar north to the temperate zone. They are ruled by a god vessel called the Ician. They are as different as can be. Once every cen-centenial, the alliance is renegotiated and a celebration ensues. There’s just one little thing that has to happen first. The Ician is reborn for her people every generation. The He-Atal, Magmon’s god vessel, only appears for the cen-centenial. He is conceived at Magmon’s celebration, born in the Dragon God’s fire, consumed by His hunger, taken into the temple to be trained to survive the burn… And finally, he is presented to the Ician with one job and one job only: seduce a frigid woman. Before Karliss Furia, Magmon’s Vessel, was presented to his Ician, he had to be trained to seduce a skittish virgin. Rostana Renald was gods-crafted for such pursuits. Rostana came to the temple in Magmalen, hoping to be trained by the priests in lovemaking, but when Zaden is less than pleased about her pursuits, she finds herself in the arms of Zaden’s father, Councilor Gabel Tiben. He’s a man nearly three times her age, but he’s fire between the sheets. While Rostana is sure society will prevent such a match, Gabel will not be denied. After knowing the touch of a god, Rostana responds to him. What more proof does anyone need that she is destined for him?