Read Online The Black Sword Trilogy: The Poacher by Jeffery VanMeter - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jeffery VanMeter
Ads: Link
eventually asked.
“Wolfen!” Terri answered.
Kenner felt surprised.
“I thought Wolfen were just stories parents told children to get them to eat their vegetables!”
“I thought the same thing until a few weeks ago!” Terri replied.
After the sun set behind the forest in the distance, it became dark quickly. Kenner took advantage of the sun no longer being in his eyes to shoot at more targets. But then as it was almost too dark to see, Kenner was horrified to see all of the Wolfen stand at once and gather in one large formation.
“My Lady, they’re going to attack!” He called out.
“Keep your undies on!” Terri replied.
The Wolfen formed into nearly perfect squares, stood perfectly erect and then began to howl all at once. It was a deafening roar that filled the air, making everything around Kenner and the fort seem to shake and rumble. It seemed more than just a sound, Kenner thought. It had a physical quality that seemed to wrap around and hold everything in a tight grip. Along with the howling, Kenner began to hear a continuous tone and his ears began to hurt as if some object were being pushed into them. Then just as suddenly as the creatures had begun howling, they stopped, leaving the ringing in Kenner’s ears. He looked out of through his opening in the wall and was surprised to see that the Wolfen did not appear to be attacking. Instead they seemed to be pulling back to positions just out of arrow range and settling into defensive positions.
“Do they do that every night?” Kenner asked in shock.
“Yup! Every evening at pretty much the same time.” Terri told him.
“What does it mean?”
Kenner then felt Terri’s hand pat him on the shoulder.
“It means we’re done for the day. It’s the night shift’s turn now.”
Kenner slowly and carefully stood up. But when he saw that none of the creatures seemed to be even looking in the direction of the fort; much less shooting, he left his position and followed Terri.
“What now?” He asked Terri.
“Dinner.” He brightly replied.
Chapter Ten
Even in the quickly waning light, Captain Krall could still see the distant city from the window of his quarters. From this vantage point, it looked like a tiny collection of shapes behind the river; which looked not unlike the line on the map that represented it.
“Can I, at least assume you evacuated the city?” He asked.
“I’m afraid not, sir.” Sergeant Holly answered.
Captain Krall turned and glared at Holly angrily.
“And why not?” He asked, barely containing his voice below a scream.
“Our last Captain didn’t think it necessary and the last two attempts I’ve made have met with no success at all.”
“What seems to be the problem?”
“The Mayor has stated that he will not be ordered about by, what he refers to as ‘jumped up toy soldiers,’ sir.”
“Oh has he?” Captain Krall stated. “I want four of your cavalry ready to leave in ten minutes.”
“But sir, it’s starting to get dark.”
“Then get some blasted torches!”
As the last light of day began to fade, the soldiers got a fire going in the center of the courtyard. As several of the new soldiers began seating themselves around it, Rosta, the cook started kicking at them.
“No congregating around the fire! You’ll just make yourselves targets.”
“Why not?” One soldier asked.
“Because he said no!” said Sergeant Holly coming out of the Captain’s Quarters. He then pointed at two soldiers and ordered them to saddle five horses. Next he turned to Terri, who was standing near Kenner.
“What was your count today?” He asked.
“I lost count after ‘Hill Boy’ came up.”
“Hill boy,” Kenner responded. “That’s original.”
“As far as I’m concerned, Terri can call you any name in any
“Wolfen!” Terri answered.
Kenner felt surprised.
“I thought Wolfen were just stories parents told children to get them to eat their vegetables!”
“I thought the same thing until a few weeks ago!” Terri replied.
After the sun set behind the forest in the distance, it became dark quickly. Kenner took advantage of the sun no longer being in his eyes to shoot at more targets. But then as it was almost too dark to see, Kenner was horrified to see all of the Wolfen stand at once and gather in one large formation.
“My Lady, they’re going to attack!” He called out.
“Keep your undies on!” Terri replied.
The Wolfen formed into nearly perfect squares, stood perfectly erect and then began to howl all at once. It was a deafening roar that filled the air, making everything around Kenner and the fort seem to shake and rumble. It seemed more than just a sound, Kenner thought. It had a physical quality that seemed to wrap around and hold everything in a tight grip. Along with the howling, Kenner began to hear a continuous tone and his ears began to hurt as if some object were being pushed into them. Then just as suddenly as the creatures had begun howling, they stopped, leaving the ringing in Kenner’s ears. He looked out of through his opening in the wall and was surprised to see that the Wolfen did not appear to be attacking. Instead they seemed to be pulling back to positions just out of arrow range and settling into defensive positions.
“Do they do that every night?” Kenner asked in shock.
“Yup! Every evening at pretty much the same time.” Terri told him.
“What does it mean?”
Kenner then felt Terri’s hand pat him on the shoulder.
“It means we’re done for the day. It’s the night shift’s turn now.”
Kenner slowly and carefully stood up. But when he saw that none of the creatures seemed to be even looking in the direction of the fort; much less shooting, he left his position and followed Terri.
“What now?” He asked Terri.
“Dinner.” He brightly replied.
Chapter Ten
Even in the quickly waning light, Captain Krall could still see the distant city from the window of his quarters. From this vantage point, it looked like a tiny collection of shapes behind the river; which looked not unlike the line on the map that represented it.
“Can I, at least assume you evacuated the city?” He asked.
“I’m afraid not, sir.” Sergeant Holly answered.
Captain Krall turned and glared at Holly angrily.
“And why not?” He asked, barely containing his voice below a scream.
“Our last Captain didn’t think it necessary and the last two attempts I’ve made have met with no success at all.”
“What seems to be the problem?”
“The Mayor has stated that he will not be ordered about by, what he refers to as ‘jumped up toy soldiers,’ sir.”
“Oh has he?” Captain Krall stated. “I want four of your cavalry ready to leave in ten minutes.”
“But sir, it’s starting to get dark.”
“Then get some blasted torches!”
As the last light of day began to fade, the soldiers got a fire going in the center of the courtyard. As several of the new soldiers began seating themselves around it, Rosta, the cook started kicking at them.
“No congregating around the fire! You’ll just make yourselves targets.”
“Why not?” One soldier asked.
“Because he said no!” said Sergeant Holly coming out of the Captain’s Quarters. He then pointed at two soldiers and ordered them to saddle five horses. Next he turned to Terri, who was standing near Kenner.
“What was your count today?” He asked.
“I lost count after ‘Hill Boy’ came up.”
“Hill boy,” Kenner responded. “That’s original.”
“As far as I’m concerned, Terri can call you any name in any
Similar Books
