Oath of Swords  Oath of Swords is a fantasy novel by American author David Weber, the first in the "War God". It follows the adventures of Bahzell Bahnakson and his friend Brandark; the format is a swords-and-sorcery land with dwarves, elves, humans, and hradani—the Four Races. There is a pantheon of gods, some good—the Gods of Light—and some vile—the Dark Gods. Bahzell Bahnakson is an exchange hostage in Navahk. While taking the back way out of the palace to meet his friend Brandark, he hears screaming. When he investigates he finds a hradani woman named Farmah being raped and brutally beaten by the crown prince Harnak. He attacks Harnak and frees Farmah, smuggling her out of the city with the help of another servant woman, Tala. He sends the women towards Hurgrum, then strikes off in another direction, hoping to draw pursuit away from them. Brandark joins him, and together they set off east to try to find work. Unfortunately hradani are not popular in other lands, and they are unwelcome in most places they go. The wealthy dwarven merchant Kilthandaknarthas hires them as caravan guards and they travel with him for some time, beating off several attacks by a group of assassins called the Dog Brothers, who are connected to Sharna's church. Harnak, who has been secretly worshiping Sharna, is the one who arranged for the Dog Brothers to be sent after Bahzell, because as long as Bahzell is alive he is a threat to Harnak's position. Bahzell and Brandark do not yet realize this. Eventually Bahzell and Brandark leave Kilthan in a city called Riverside. Bahzell finds a job as a bar bouncer but is fired after another assassination attempt fails. While walking to the inn where he and Brandark are staying, he again hears screaming and follows it into an alley where he rescues a noblewoman named Zarantha from the Empire of the Spear. She tells the city guard that she is his employer, saving him from jail. Brandark, with Zarantha's help, begins writing a song in honor of Bahzell. As they travel there are more attacks by the Dog Brothers. They also encounter more divine intervention in their trip, which Bahzell resents, culminating in a personal appearance by Chesmirsa, the Singer of Light, in an effort to recruit Bahzell for her brother Tomanāk.