Read Online River of Spears (Kingdom's Forge Book 0) by Kade Derricks - Free Book Online
Authors: Kade Derricks
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around Balerion as the general spoke.
“Make no mistake, our situation is dire. Take control of your men. They’ve had their fun, and it ends now. Gather up the surviving Tyberons and bring them to the center of town. We’ll divide them up and put a few in each building, along with our own men, as hostages. If you follow my orders we still have a chance at getting out of this alive.”
Getting out alive? What had happened? Things had been well in hand last night before he’d passed out; their victory had been complete, total, and final.
Dain shifted in his boots. There could be only one explanation. These mysterious lands had spawned some new evil to challenge them. A new calamity had struck.
He surveyed the faces that surrounded him. Though the sour smell of last night’s rum-soaked revels lingered, all were clear-eyed and alert. Whatever Balerion had said before he’d arrived shocked these men from their hangovers. Shocked or scared them , he corrected himself.
Balerion’s gaze fixed on one cluster of soldiers at his left before he spoke again.
“There will be no more killing, and absolutely no more burning. We cannot afford to lose more supplies.”
The general then turned to face the rest of the group.
“Tomorrow, many of you will be sent into the fields to gather food. Only this won’t be like working your father’s crops. You can expect a few spears tossed you way, but our lives depend on how much you gather and bring back. Have I made myself clear?”
No one spoke. Dain wanted to ask what had happened, but there would be time enough for that later, after the men dispersed.
“Dain,” Balerion said, looking directly at him. “You and your major, wait.” He nodded toward the recently arrived Tindall. “I’ve a task for you and your men. The rest of you are dismissed.”
In groups of twos and threes, the other men left, talking among themselves. The still obviously hungover Tindall leaned against the wall, head down, drawing deep breaths, trying not to vomit.
Dain smiled to himself. On the walk here his mind and body had recovered from the night’s ill-advised indulgence. His training and ability to cleanse poisons allowed him to block most of the effects of a hangover and be clear-headed the next day; something one of the older paladins told him once.
Dain, Tindall, and a group of ranking Esterian observers remained behind. The Esterians’ faces were somber and they didn’t speak.
“How much did you hear?” Balerion.
“We’re in trouble. Something has changed, but I didn’t hear what,” Dain replied.
Balerion sighed and then started in.
“Last night, while most of the camp slept, the enemy snuck in and killed the Pyre Riders’ guards. They slaughtered the Riders and all their mounts. We found them this morning. The savages didn’t take any chances. A half-dozen spears were in each of them.”
The older mercenary paused, letting the information sink in.
Dain’s mind was already jumping ahead. “And our trail back out?” he asked.
“It’s more than just spearmen out there. Their spellcasters, these shamen, are regrowing the grass.” He gestured to the mud on Tindall. “Last night’s rain wasn’t natural. It was their doing. It did something to our trail and there’s grass an inch tall covering it already. Soon we’ll be trapped.”
“What do you need of us, then?”
“Two Riders survived. They just finished seeing to the bodies of the others. I will keep one with me and guard him. You will protect the other.”
“Are we supposed to keep it secret from the others?” Dain asked.
“Not secret…but I don’t want it shouted from the rooftops. I suspect the surviving Tyberons, whom we need as hostages, may have some method of communicating with their warriors.”
“How long until we move, then?” Dain wanted to know what the plan was. Normally, he might not have been able to push the general this far, but if Balerion was trusting him he intended to take full
“Make no mistake, our situation is dire. Take control of your men. They’ve had their fun, and it ends now. Gather up the surviving Tyberons and bring them to the center of town. We’ll divide them up and put a few in each building, along with our own men, as hostages. If you follow my orders we still have a chance at getting out of this alive.”
Getting out alive? What had happened? Things had been well in hand last night before he’d passed out; their victory had been complete, total, and final.
Dain shifted in his boots. There could be only one explanation. These mysterious lands had spawned some new evil to challenge them. A new calamity had struck.
He surveyed the faces that surrounded him. Though the sour smell of last night’s rum-soaked revels lingered, all were clear-eyed and alert. Whatever Balerion had said before he’d arrived shocked these men from their hangovers. Shocked or scared them , he corrected himself.
Balerion’s gaze fixed on one cluster of soldiers at his left before he spoke again.
“There will be no more killing, and absolutely no more burning. We cannot afford to lose more supplies.”
The general then turned to face the rest of the group.
“Tomorrow, many of you will be sent into the fields to gather food. Only this won’t be like working your father’s crops. You can expect a few spears tossed you way, but our lives depend on how much you gather and bring back. Have I made myself clear?”
No one spoke. Dain wanted to ask what had happened, but there would be time enough for that later, after the men dispersed.
“Dain,” Balerion said, looking directly at him. “You and your major, wait.” He nodded toward the recently arrived Tindall. “I’ve a task for you and your men. The rest of you are dismissed.”
In groups of twos and threes, the other men left, talking among themselves. The still obviously hungover Tindall leaned against the wall, head down, drawing deep breaths, trying not to vomit.
Dain smiled to himself. On the walk here his mind and body had recovered from the night’s ill-advised indulgence. His training and ability to cleanse poisons allowed him to block most of the effects of a hangover and be clear-headed the next day; something one of the older paladins told him once.
Dain, Tindall, and a group of ranking Esterian observers remained behind. The Esterians’ faces were somber and they didn’t speak.
“How much did you hear?” Balerion.
“We’re in trouble. Something has changed, but I didn’t hear what,” Dain replied.
Balerion sighed and then started in.
“Last night, while most of the camp slept, the enemy snuck in and killed the Pyre Riders’ guards. They slaughtered the Riders and all their mounts. We found them this morning. The savages didn’t take any chances. A half-dozen spears were in each of them.”
The older mercenary paused, letting the information sink in.
Dain’s mind was already jumping ahead. “And our trail back out?” he asked.
“It’s more than just spearmen out there. Their spellcasters, these shamen, are regrowing the grass.” He gestured to the mud on Tindall. “Last night’s rain wasn’t natural. It was their doing. It did something to our trail and there’s grass an inch tall covering it already. Soon we’ll be trapped.”
“What do you need of us, then?”
“Two Riders survived. They just finished seeing to the bodies of the others. I will keep one with me and guard him. You will protect the other.”
“Are we supposed to keep it secret from the others?” Dain asked.
“Not secret…but I don’t want it shouted from the rooftops. I suspect the surviving Tyberons, whom we need as hostages, may have some method of communicating with their warriors.”
“How long until we move, then?” Dain wanted to know what the plan was. Normally, he might not have been able to push the general this far, but if Balerion was trusting him he intended to take full
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