Read Online The Beast of Maug Maurai, Part One: The Culling by Roberto Calas - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Roberto Calas
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sallet!”
Maribrae sighed. She embraced him
from behind, breathing in the scents of oil and steel. Jastyn’s scents. He
turned and kissed her briefly, and she could feel the excitement through his
lips.
“This is going to be a terrific
adventure,” he said. “You’re going to have quite a story to tell. I know it!”
The four of them left Daun
Sanctra without fanfare. Jastyn, astride a monstrous destrier, had finally
settled on his gear. He wore an engraved breastplate over a chainmail
haubergeon and white bracers and greaves etched with the Whitewind Boar. An
engraved nasal helm hung at his horse’s side, the aventail scrishing against the helm as he rode. He had left his lances behind knowing that he
would have to dismount onc in the forest, but he brought two broad-headed
spears and a decorated arming sword. His shield, hanging on his back, was a
brilliant white, painted with the arms of the Whitewind family.
Maribrae had thrown an orange cloak
over the lively skirts and bodice she had worn earlier. She also bore a
woolen-broadcloth pack that she slung across her shoulder and a small
eight-string fiolys that she placed into a velvet coverlet that hung from the
saddle, beside her pack.
The four travelers left Daun Sanctra
and traveled south to gather the first of the Standards for their squad.
Chapter 12
Leadership demands vision and blindness.
-- From “The Arms,” Book II
of Lojenwyne’s Words
Murrogar stripped off his crimson
tunic and let it fall to the ground. The old manae’s blood was on it. He
considered shedding his hauberk too. The river ran deep and fast in stretches
west of the Maurian Road. It could suck down the thirty pounds of chainmail and
leave Murrogar at the bottom. But he left the armor on. If he was to die, he
would die a Standard. He caught sight of Sir Wyann and Sir Bederant ahead,
still carrying the dying Eridian. He wondered how the knights would react to
their part in the plan.
Somewhere behind them the Beast
howled. It was different this time. There was something mocking in it. The
travelers were too weary to even cringe. They had walked for hours through the
tangled mess of the forest. Their garb, once regal, was in tatters. One woman,
the Duchess’ retainer, walked with a hand across her chest, holding together a
dress that had no longer had straps. Another woman was in little more than a
chemise, her dress shredded into strips by brambles.
Murrogar walked fifty yards behind
the crowd, staying out of sight until he was certain the river was close, then
he strode forward into their midst. “Zoop zoop! Start shedding anything not
needed. Pouches. Extra weapons. Loose clothing that’ll tangle in water.
Everything. We’re going in the river, so prepare yourselves.”
The nobles turned to him with blank
expressions.
“Murrogar, where’s the manae?” The
Duke stumbled toward the old soldier, looked past him. “Where’s Ulrean’s manae?
You said you would help her.”
“I did help her.” He pointed to the
Duke’s long traveling cloak. “You’ll wanna take that off. It’ll try to take you
down in the water.”
“Where is she?”
“Ulrean, can you swim?” called
Murrogar.
The Duke shoved the soldier.
“Murrogar, I asked you a question!”
Murrogar shoved the Duke backward,
hard. The man fell to the ground, his mouth open. Sir Wyann and Sir Bederant
set the Eridian down and drew their swords. Thantos and Hul drew their swords
as well and took position on either side of their master. The five warriors
stared at each other for a long moment, then Sir Bederant sheathed his sword.
Sir Wyann hesitated then did the same and both knights ran to the Duke.
Murrogar let his gaze sweep over the
travelers, then bellowed at them. “You think we’re on promenade? You think we’re
taking in the sights? We will die out here! Every one of us! Get used to the
idea!” He glared at them. “If there’s a way I can save even one of you, I’ll
Maribrae sighed. She embraced him
from behind, breathing in the scents of oil and steel. Jastyn’s scents. He
turned and kissed her briefly, and she could feel the excitement through his
lips.
“This is going to be a terrific
adventure,” he said. “You’re going to have quite a story to tell. I know it!”
The four of them left Daun
Sanctra without fanfare. Jastyn, astride a monstrous destrier, had finally
settled on his gear. He wore an engraved breastplate over a chainmail
haubergeon and white bracers and greaves etched with the Whitewind Boar. An
engraved nasal helm hung at his horse’s side, the aventail scrishing against the helm as he rode. He had left his lances behind knowing that he
would have to dismount onc in the forest, but he brought two broad-headed
spears and a decorated arming sword. His shield, hanging on his back, was a
brilliant white, painted with the arms of the Whitewind family.
Maribrae had thrown an orange cloak
over the lively skirts and bodice she had worn earlier. She also bore a
woolen-broadcloth pack that she slung across her shoulder and a small
eight-string fiolys that she placed into a velvet coverlet that hung from the
saddle, beside her pack.
The four travelers left Daun Sanctra
and traveled south to gather the first of the Standards for their squad.
Chapter 12
Leadership demands vision and blindness.
-- From “The Arms,” Book II
of Lojenwyne’s Words
Murrogar stripped off his crimson
tunic and let it fall to the ground. The old manae’s blood was on it. He
considered shedding his hauberk too. The river ran deep and fast in stretches
west of the Maurian Road. It could suck down the thirty pounds of chainmail and
leave Murrogar at the bottom. But he left the armor on. If he was to die, he
would die a Standard. He caught sight of Sir Wyann and Sir Bederant ahead,
still carrying the dying Eridian. He wondered how the knights would react to
their part in the plan.
Somewhere behind them the Beast
howled. It was different this time. There was something mocking in it. The
travelers were too weary to even cringe. They had walked for hours through the
tangled mess of the forest. Their garb, once regal, was in tatters. One woman,
the Duchess’ retainer, walked with a hand across her chest, holding together a
dress that had no longer had straps. Another woman was in little more than a
chemise, her dress shredded into strips by brambles.
Murrogar walked fifty yards behind
the crowd, staying out of sight until he was certain the river was close, then
he strode forward into their midst. “Zoop zoop! Start shedding anything not
needed. Pouches. Extra weapons. Loose clothing that’ll tangle in water.
Everything. We’re going in the river, so prepare yourselves.”
The nobles turned to him with blank
expressions.
“Murrogar, where’s the manae?” The
Duke stumbled toward the old soldier, looked past him. “Where’s Ulrean’s manae?
You said you would help her.”
“I did help her.” He pointed to the
Duke’s long traveling cloak. “You’ll wanna take that off. It’ll try to take you
down in the water.”
“Where is she?”
“Ulrean, can you swim?” called
Murrogar.
The Duke shoved the soldier.
“Murrogar, I asked you a question!”
Murrogar shoved the Duke backward,
hard. The man fell to the ground, his mouth open. Sir Wyann and Sir Bederant
set the Eridian down and drew their swords. Thantos and Hul drew their swords
as well and took position on either side of their master. The five warriors
stared at each other for a long moment, then Sir Bederant sheathed his sword.
Sir Wyann hesitated then did the same and both knights ran to the Duke.
Murrogar let his gaze sweep over the
travelers, then bellowed at them. “You think we’re on promenade? You think we’re
taking in the sights? We will die out here! Every one of us! Get used to the
idea!” He glared at them. “If there’s a way I can save even one of you, I’ll
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