Read Online Rise of the Serpent (Serpent's War Book 2) by Jason Halstead - Free Book Online Page A

the table before returning his attention to Namitus. “I wanted to hire them, but I didn’t have enough gold. So I joined them. I figured I’d work my way up through their ranks and try to take control. I had time.”
    “That didn’t work either, obviously.”
    He nodded. “Not so well. I lost a bid for power and ended up with no company, no friends, and no chance of revenge.”
    Namitus nodded. “Bad turn of luck.”
    “You’ve no idea.”
    The rogue smiled. “Probably not. I can’t promise you revenge, Gor. I can’t promise anything, but I can tell you that if you’re as genuine as I think you are, I will be your friend.”
    Gor snorted. “Haven’t had much for friends in a long time.”
    Namitus grinned and clapped the big man on the shoulder. “I’ve learned their value over the past few years. People smart enough to know you’re doing something stupid, but tied to you with bonds that make them come along with you regardless.”
    Gor nodded. “Sounds good to me. Helps that I’ve nothing left to fight for.”
    Namitus chuckled and stepped away from the bar. “I’ll take it. Come, let’s have a decent meal before we set off again.”
     
     

Chapter 6
     
    “I’ve had enough of the rain,” Amra said in a muffled voice. Her head was tucked between Namitus’s shoulder blades instead of looking into the forest the road wound through.
    “Only bath we’ve had for near a week now,” Namitus said over his shoulder. “Maybe longer for some of us.”
    A loud slap of flesh against flesh came from behind them. “Damn bugs,” Gor called out. “I thought the rain would drive them to the deep woods?”
    “Couldn’t have planned that better,” Namitus muttered.
    Amra giggled, her head and arms jostling him.
    “Up ahead,” Corian called back to them. Since he’d borrowed the horse that Namitus bought, he’d taken the lead and kept an eye ahead on the road. “I can make out buildings. Is it Easthall, or another village?”
    “I’ve never been this far south,” Namitus admitted. “I’m not sure.”
    “Never been here either,” Gor admitted. “I’ve been to Ironwell, Shadowmarsh, everything south of that, and dozens of villages in between.”
    “You get around,” Jillystria noted.
    Gor straightened in his saddle and blushed. “I suppose I have.”
    “I think this is it,” Corian called back to them. He slowed his horse until they closed the ten paces between them. “A large number of buildings and some wooden towers.”
    “How can you tell?” Allisandra asked. “I can’t see through the rain.”
    “I can,” Corian said.
    Jillystria rose out of her saddle a few inches and sat back down. “He’s right,” she said. “Elves have keen eyes.”
    “I’ll say,” the young woman said and mopped the water off her face with the sleeve of her shirt.
    They rode through the rain without comment until they reached the open gate of the timber walls. Guards huddled inside the gate under the walkway, out of the worst of the rain. They looked up and eyed them as they rode through but didn’t bother stopping or talking to them.
    “Anyone could ride into these cities and cause trouble,” Namitus noted.
    “Why, are you planning your lord’s next conquest?” Corian asked.
    Namitus frowned and ignored the elf. He turned and studied the merchants who were huddling in the rain or under makeshift covers. One of them drew his eye; the merchant had cloaks, robes, tunics, and hats for sale. “A hat!” he mumbled and twitched his reins towards the merchant.
    “Fine day to you!” the merchant called when he caught Namitus’s eye and the rogue didn’t look away.
    Amra lifted her head and peered around his side. “What are you doing?”
    Namitus reached back and patted her knee with his hand. He kept his hand moving and held it out, palm up, to catch the rain. “Not so fine, I think, but perhaps you can fix that?”
    The merchant grinned and glanced at the others in Namitus’s group.