title: Risking the Rune Sword
author: J. Andrew Killian
description: J. Andrew Killian is a full-time attorney in Fort Collins, Colorado. He practices criminal defense law. In the past, he has been a Deputy District Attorney, a semi-pro football player, a Guardian Ad Litem, and a Green Beret. He is married and has four children, two dogs and far too many cats. This is his first published novel.
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  Into the Breech
  
  
  Forcing her head up, Beth saw a ray of golden light shining down from the
  heavens onto Startüm as he screamed out his prayer to Ukko. The devil’s
  challenging roar suddenly turned into a bellow of anger as the creature
  momentarily backed away from the golden glow.
  
  
  When the light died away, the creature immediately lunged at Startüm in a
  lightning fast attack, swinging its battleaxe in a whistling arc. As if in
  slow motion, Beth saw the creature’s rippling muscles as it struck before she
  could cry out a warning. Instead of running away or dodging, she watched
  Startüm raise both glowing Katanas before him. Flexing his arms, Startüm
  caught the edge of the weapon low on his blades as his voice rang out.
  
  
  “Kanskje!”
  
  
  Unbelievably, Beth watched as Startüm stopped the massive battleaxe in mid
  swing! Red glowing runes met blue in a blinding explosion as the weapons
  sparked like a blown transformer where they touched. The corded muscles in the
  demon’s a