Read Online Wayward Soldiers by Joshua P. Simon - Free Book Online

eyes stared back at me. Everyone had a look of disbelief and bewilderment. I probably had the same look as I realized these were the people I was going to have to send against seasoned soldiers.
    Leave it to Jareb to break the tension. “Who in the name of Prax died and made you leader? We still don’t know for sure if you won’t just join in with them when they get here and—”
    Jareb’s head went sideways in an awful way as Ira’s fist connected with the side of his jaw. Jareb struck the ground hard. I didn’t fail to note that no one had made an attempt to catch him.
    Ira’s boot caught Jareb in the side. A few gasps of surprise followed. A grin tugged at my mouth. Good old Ira. He had no qualms about kicking a man when he was down. Certainly not one like Jareb.
    “Was that really necessary?” asked Rezub.
    “I thought so,” said Ira.
    “For once, I agree with him,” said Ava from behind me. “In fact, kick him a few more times.”
    I shook my head at Ira. Most people generally don’t like beating a defenseless man, even if that man was someone like Jareb.
    A few of his men slunk over, picked up their boss and walked him out of town. A part of me wished they’d stay. The extra bodies would be a huge help. But I knew I wouldn’t be able to trust them. It was better to let them go.
    “Before we start the preparations you have in mind,” said Rezub, “I have a question. If there’s a chance that you and your friends might know some of these men, doesn’t it make sense for one of you to go talk some sense into them, tell them to leave us alone?”
    “It’s a good point. But a lot of problems can come from doing that. You see, the people I traveled with were men I would have thought incapable of raiding. So if those men are indeed among the raiders, something’s changed them. That means they might not be as open to hearing me speak. Plus, just because a few decent men might be among them doesn’t mean the man leading them is one. If I go into their camp, they might kill me on the spot. That would leave everyone here worse off. Plus, it would alert them that not only are we nearby, but we’re aware of them, and likely better prepared than their previous targets.”
    “The best thing to do,” I continued, “is to treat them as a hostile enemy. My time would be better spent preparing for the worse rather than traveling over there and hoping for the best.”
    Rezub lowered his head in resignation.
    I spoke to the crowd while pointing at Jareb. “Now, we don’t need people with his attitude if we want this to work. Either you’re in or you’re not. If you aren’t, then leave and get out of the way of the rest of us. Understand?”
    Heads nodded.
    “Good. Let’s get to work.”

CHAPTER 5
    Unfortunately, they didn’t really understand.
    At least not at first.
    People pushed, shoved, moaned, and cursed while providing their input on how best to make our stand. And that was just from those who had decided to join together in defending Denu Creek. Several unfortunately slunk away with Jareb to his property after he came around and promised that they’d be safer there under his protection.
    Those who remained eventually settled down when they realized they needed to listen if they were to have any hope of surviving.
    I spoke only then, barking orders at those I thought might try to argue with what I had to say and talking in calm, stern tones to those on the verge of sobbing from the weight of the situation. One of the things I had learned commanding men was that a leader needed to be whatever the situation called for. In Denu Creek, I needed to be a bit of everything. I handed orders out to a shriveled old woman, a boy younger than Abigail, and everyone in between. If you had at least one working arm, there was plenty to do.
    And we did plenty.
    I made Dekar, Ira, Ava, and Nason squad leaders of sorts, overseeing their own smaller groups of townspeople. I pitched in where necessary while tweaking