A Rage in the Heavens (The Paladin Trilogy Book 1) by James A. Hillebrecht

Author:James A. Hillebrecht
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Story Merchant Books
Published: 2012-07-11T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

Alston’s Fey

The sprawling town of Alston’s Fey was spread around (and over) the juncture of the Ice Flow and Cascade Rivers as they gave birth to the mighty Delmar which then flowed majestically down to Azare and the Southern Ocean. The town extended in all directions, having no set boundaries or fixed walls, but the core of the Fey was situated on one large and two small islands, closely grouped down the middle of the Cascade and the Delmar. Technically, the town lay within the boundaries of Maganhall and did pay a small yearly tribute to Duke’s Hall, but it had received its own charter centuries before and was known as a free town, owing allegiance only to itself and the vast trade which flowed up and down the Delmar.

The various bridges tying the central island to the mainlands were the Fey’s only military defenses, but they had proven more than adequate. Palmany, Maganhall, Corland, and Norealm all watched each other like dogs over a fresh bone, the other three ready to rip at the first to lunge for it, and the town had prospered at the focus of this balance of power. Thus, with others looking to its defense, the town had developed an open code for citizens and travelers alike that was summarized in the old adage “choose your fight carefully, for it may be your last.”

“Alston’s Fey,” said Darius to himself as Andros passed the first few outlying buildings. His woodsman’s nose could already smell the complicated blend of the rivers, the woodsmoke, and the stench from thousands of closely packed humans and animals. “It hasn’t changed much even over all these years.”

Still a haven of thieves, rogues, and river pirates, said Sarinian. Would that the rivers rose and washed all this scum down to the sea.

“They hire wizards each spring to control the floods,” Darius answered with a smile. “So waste your wishes on something else.”

“What say you?” asked Joshua.

“Nothing. Just thinking out loud.” He glanced over his shoulder at the boy. “I was starting to think you’d fallen asleep, Lad. I hadn’t had a question or a lecture from you in the last three leagues.”

“I was thinking,” he replied a little defensively.

“Something we all should do more. But our journey’s nearly over. There are the spires of the Cathedral.”

“Yes,” the youth said distractedly.

Darius’ ears perked slightly at the change in tone. The boy had agreed only with the greatest reluctance to continue traveling with Darius, and he had been confrontational and hostile for nearly all of the twenty leagues which they had covered since he discovered his benefactor was a heretical paladin. Now, with the abrupt appearance of Alston’s Fey, he seemed to be reconsidering all that had passed between them.

Understandable, thought Darius. The few words they had exchanged at the campfire were more than enough for Joshua to denounce him as a heretic, and the boy must be debating where his duty lay. The boy is troubled, I’m in danger, and my whole mission is at risk because of one casual conversation.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.