Read Online Chronicles of Kin Roland 1: Enemy of Man by Scott E Moon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Scott E Moon
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day away from death.”
“ I’m not a monster,” Raien said.
Kin was almost disappointed she didn’t ask why Crater Town was so important, but was relieved she didn’t inquire further. He didn’t want to talk about Clavender or the power she had to tame the spirit of the planet.
“Of course,” Kin said. “There are a few settlements, fuel reserves, and mineral deposits your engineers can easily exploit.”
“Then lead the way,” Raien said. “Perhaps we can offer these poor people some assistance.”
Kin stepped away from her, massaging his neck. He checked his weapons and trotted into the pass. Normally, when he carried his sword, he wore it on his belt, but decided to sling it over his backpack next to his axe to better facilitate running. An hour after he led them into the pass and warned them of several narrow defiles where bandits had tried to ambush him in the past, Raien called a halt.
“Show me your maps,” she said.
He shrugged off his backpack, setting it on the ground to sort through his supplies. Raien laughed when she saw his compass. She probably knew it didn’t work on this planet. He produced two maps and pointed out the probable location of the crash site.
“This her e, is it a village?” she asked.
Kin kept his face impassive.
“Well?”
“Yes.”
“I would think you would have mentioned a place called Gold Village,” she said.
“They pan for gold and make trinkets. The people of that village rarely come to Crater Town because they fish from the river and make their own clothing from animal hides and wool.” His attempt to dampen her enthusiasm failed completely.
“And this?” she pointed at Maiden’s Keep.
“Maiden’s Keep is merely a system of caves where women go to meditate by a waterfall.” Several of Raien’s troopers looked away from their security assignments and toward Kin.
“We shall reconnoiter both locations. Relax, Roland. I control my men. There will be no violating of maidens.” Raien gave orders and the troopers moved out.
Kin followed, fantasizing about fighting troopers in full assault armor, knowing the dream was impossible and hoping Raien would keep her promise. He doubted Gold Village would have much gold left when the day was done and prayed these men would respect the sanctity of Maiden’s Keep. There were women in the Fleet. These soldiers couldn’t be completely sex starved. They weren’t rampaging through an enemy city after the thrill and danger of conquest.
Kin enforced strict discipline when he served the Fleet and led troopers into battle on several planets before the Hellsbreach Campaign. He executed only one of his men for rape in all those years, but the memory remained vivid.
He stayed with the 11th LRC until they came upon Gold Village and witnessed an orderly meeting with the village elders at the footbridge that crossed the river. Raien seemed to have control of her men. They examined the gold railings of the bridge before crossing in small groups, too hea vy to storm across all at once.
Kin left them to their exploration and went in search of the crash site. He climbed to the top of a cliff and looked down on the village. Some men and women complained and argued as gold decorations were torn from doorways, fence posts, and the bridge. Most stood aside and watched wordles sly.
Sarah, a sixteen-year-old girl who reminded him of Becca, looked up. He couldn’t read her expression from so far away. He had visited her many times and walked with her along the river, but never touched her. He cared for her. On occasion he could look at her without mourning his separation from Becca, but that was rare, and even then he made comparisons with his first love. It was the same with Laura. It was the same with every woman he met, no matter how beautiful, no matter how genuine.
CHAPTER SEVEN
KIN moved carefully away from the cliff a nd into the forest. Predators stalked the mountains, eager to attack a lone traveler. Crashdown
“ I’m not a monster,” Raien said.
Kin was almost disappointed she didn’t ask why Crater Town was so important, but was relieved she didn’t inquire further. He didn’t want to talk about Clavender or the power she had to tame the spirit of the planet.
“Of course,” Kin said. “There are a few settlements, fuel reserves, and mineral deposits your engineers can easily exploit.”
“Then lead the way,” Raien said. “Perhaps we can offer these poor people some assistance.”
Kin stepped away from her, massaging his neck. He checked his weapons and trotted into the pass. Normally, when he carried his sword, he wore it on his belt, but decided to sling it over his backpack next to his axe to better facilitate running. An hour after he led them into the pass and warned them of several narrow defiles where bandits had tried to ambush him in the past, Raien called a halt.
“Show me your maps,” she said.
He shrugged off his backpack, setting it on the ground to sort through his supplies. Raien laughed when she saw his compass. She probably knew it didn’t work on this planet. He produced two maps and pointed out the probable location of the crash site.
“This her e, is it a village?” she asked.
Kin kept his face impassive.
“Well?”
“Yes.”
“I would think you would have mentioned a place called Gold Village,” she said.
“They pan for gold and make trinkets. The people of that village rarely come to Crater Town because they fish from the river and make their own clothing from animal hides and wool.” His attempt to dampen her enthusiasm failed completely.
“And this?” she pointed at Maiden’s Keep.
“Maiden’s Keep is merely a system of caves where women go to meditate by a waterfall.” Several of Raien’s troopers looked away from their security assignments and toward Kin.
“We shall reconnoiter both locations. Relax, Roland. I control my men. There will be no violating of maidens.” Raien gave orders and the troopers moved out.
Kin followed, fantasizing about fighting troopers in full assault armor, knowing the dream was impossible and hoping Raien would keep her promise. He doubted Gold Village would have much gold left when the day was done and prayed these men would respect the sanctity of Maiden’s Keep. There were women in the Fleet. These soldiers couldn’t be completely sex starved. They weren’t rampaging through an enemy city after the thrill and danger of conquest.
Kin enforced strict discipline when he served the Fleet and led troopers into battle on several planets before the Hellsbreach Campaign. He executed only one of his men for rape in all those years, but the memory remained vivid.
He stayed with the 11th LRC until they came upon Gold Village and witnessed an orderly meeting with the village elders at the footbridge that crossed the river. Raien seemed to have control of her men. They examined the gold railings of the bridge before crossing in small groups, too hea vy to storm across all at once.
Kin left them to their exploration and went in search of the crash site. He climbed to the top of a cliff and looked down on the village. Some men and women complained and argued as gold decorations were torn from doorways, fence posts, and the bridge. Most stood aside and watched wordles sly.
Sarah, a sixteen-year-old girl who reminded him of Becca, looked up. He couldn’t read her expression from so far away. He had visited her many times and walked with her along the river, but never touched her. He cared for her. On occasion he could look at her without mourning his separation from Becca, but that was rare, and even then he made comparisons with his first love. It was the same with Laura. It was the same with every woman he met, no matter how beautiful, no matter how genuine.
CHAPTER SEVEN
KIN moved carefully away from the cliff a nd into the forest. Predators stalked the mountains, eager to attack a lone traveler. Crashdown
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