Read Online Victory and Defeat: Book Five of the Restoration Series by Christopher Williams - Free Book Online
Authors: Christopher Williams
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to do one of those few things that Enton knows how to do well.”
They started traveling about an hour later. It was promising to be another hot day, but that was the least of their worries; the road was overflowing with travelers. Wagon after wagon was headed to the northeast, most likely bound for Telur.
The wagons were moving slowly over the road, but they were still kicking up an enormous amount of dust. The vast wagon train seemed to have taken over the road, but on either side, along the edge of the road, travelers worked their way to the southwest and Elem.
Flare sighed, looking out over the road. “Hold a moment,” he called, stopping Heather from leading them out into the throng. She looked back expectantly.
Flare kneeled down, opened his pack, and removed an old shirt. He tore the shirt into long strips, which he handed to the others. They didn’t need to be told what to do with the pieces of cloth, but began tying them around their faces. They all knew it was going to be a long and dusty day.
They made poor time that day and Flare became a bit worried about their schedule. He had planned not to rush them and get there in six or seven days, hopefully not too worn out. However, walking on the rough and uneven side of the road was exhausting, and they had traveled a shorter distance than he had expected. He was beginning to suspect that they would arrive later than he had planned and still be exhausted when they got there.
He called a halt early in the afternoon , and they pulled back into the cover of the trees. The heat of the day was nearly unbearable, and they were all covered in sweat.
“Why are there so many wagons on the road?” Mikela asked, looking around. She had flopped down on a bed of pine straw and looked like she wanted to stay there a while.
“My first thought was food,” Heather answered, “but now I’m not so sure.”
Telur should have been the last kingdom to have to buy food. The plains of Telur were fertile , and the farmers put the ground to good use. In fact, Telur was always one of the leading exporters of food and was truly the breadbasket of the known world.
“It’s not food,” Flare replied . “The wagons are really loaded down. Whatever they’re carrying is extremely heavy.”
“It’s weapons,” Belgil growled. He didn’t move, but his eyes flicked up at the others.
“How do you know?” Heather asked.
“I saw one of the wagons with the covering loose. I could see the swords piled high within.”
“Weapons?” Flare repeated, confused. “Doesn’t make any sense. Why would Telur be importing weapons?” Telur was one of the most heavily armed kingdoms. The blacksmiths of the kingdom would not be happy to learn that the army had purchased so many weapons from foreign kingdoms.
“Unless Darion is reading the signs,” Mikela said thoughtfully. “Maybe he knows a war is coming.”
“I hope it’s Darion and not one of his dukes,” Heather said after a moment.
They lapsed into a silence, consumed in their own thoughts. Finally, Enton spoke up. “We made better time last night in the dark.”
Flare sighed and looked at the congested road through the trees. “I’ve never seen the like before.”
“Why don’t we wait until tonight to continue?” Enton asked.
Flare had considered that very idea himself, but was reluctant. The merchants and caravans had seemed suspicious that first night when they had traveled the road after sundown. After a moment, he nodded. “Fine, but try and get some sleep. If the road is clear tonight, I’ll want to walk until morning.”
Later that afternoon, Flare lay in the shade. He wasn’t really asleep; it was more like a fitful dozing. It had been another hot day and the heat made it difficult to sleep. Flare probably had it better than most, as his armor kept him cool, but he still struggled to get any real rest.
He was in the middle of a dream – actually, it was more like a nightmare - about being
They started traveling about an hour later. It was promising to be another hot day, but that was the least of their worries; the road was overflowing with travelers. Wagon after wagon was headed to the northeast, most likely bound for Telur.
The wagons were moving slowly over the road, but they were still kicking up an enormous amount of dust. The vast wagon train seemed to have taken over the road, but on either side, along the edge of the road, travelers worked their way to the southwest and Elem.
Flare sighed, looking out over the road. “Hold a moment,” he called, stopping Heather from leading them out into the throng. She looked back expectantly.
Flare kneeled down, opened his pack, and removed an old shirt. He tore the shirt into long strips, which he handed to the others. They didn’t need to be told what to do with the pieces of cloth, but began tying them around their faces. They all knew it was going to be a long and dusty day.
They made poor time that day and Flare became a bit worried about their schedule. He had planned not to rush them and get there in six or seven days, hopefully not too worn out. However, walking on the rough and uneven side of the road was exhausting, and they had traveled a shorter distance than he had expected. He was beginning to suspect that they would arrive later than he had planned and still be exhausted when they got there.
He called a halt early in the afternoon , and they pulled back into the cover of the trees. The heat of the day was nearly unbearable, and they were all covered in sweat.
“Why are there so many wagons on the road?” Mikela asked, looking around. She had flopped down on a bed of pine straw and looked like she wanted to stay there a while.
“My first thought was food,” Heather answered, “but now I’m not so sure.”
Telur should have been the last kingdom to have to buy food. The plains of Telur were fertile , and the farmers put the ground to good use. In fact, Telur was always one of the leading exporters of food and was truly the breadbasket of the known world.
“It’s not food,” Flare replied . “The wagons are really loaded down. Whatever they’re carrying is extremely heavy.”
“It’s weapons,” Belgil growled. He didn’t move, but his eyes flicked up at the others.
“How do you know?” Heather asked.
“I saw one of the wagons with the covering loose. I could see the swords piled high within.”
“Weapons?” Flare repeated, confused. “Doesn’t make any sense. Why would Telur be importing weapons?” Telur was one of the most heavily armed kingdoms. The blacksmiths of the kingdom would not be happy to learn that the army had purchased so many weapons from foreign kingdoms.
“Unless Darion is reading the signs,” Mikela said thoughtfully. “Maybe he knows a war is coming.”
“I hope it’s Darion and not one of his dukes,” Heather said after a moment.
They lapsed into a silence, consumed in their own thoughts. Finally, Enton spoke up. “We made better time last night in the dark.”
Flare sighed and looked at the congested road through the trees. “I’ve never seen the like before.”
“Why don’t we wait until tonight to continue?” Enton asked.
Flare had considered that very idea himself, but was reluctant. The merchants and caravans had seemed suspicious that first night when they had traveled the road after sundown. After a moment, he nodded. “Fine, but try and get some sleep. If the road is clear tonight, I’ll want to walk until morning.”
Later that afternoon, Flare lay in the shade. He wasn’t really asleep; it was more like a fitful dozing. It had been another hot day and the heat made it difficult to sleep. Flare probably had it better than most, as his armor kept him cool, but he still struggled to get any real rest.
He was in the middle of a dream – actually, it was more like a nightmare - about being
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