A Winter's Mercy by Phil Williams

Author:Phil Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: military fantasy, grimdark fantasy, feminist epic fantasy, female protagonist epic dark fantasy, dark action fantasy war
Publisher: Rumian Publishing
Published: 2025-10-28T00:00:00+00:00

15

Is it strange, and wrong, Betan, that I merely want to make art now. I imagine myself painting, or making music, or writing. In idle hours here, I have penned poems and drawn sketches. I know not their quality, but feel inspired to escape all this, any way I can. Anything that might create rather than destroy. That, I fear, is where glory lies, not in the culling of our fellow man.

Extract from the Letters of Corporal T. Sander, Balnia, 719

On his return trip to Haven, Pitt was greeted with the same deferential salutes and politeness from the guards, but with heightened nerves, Sergeant Kether clearly feared he would bring more unpleasant orders. He told them not to worry, they were just here for a walk this time, enjoying the fresh air, and the man slumped with relief.

Chiara had already continued towards the clock tower, and he tried not to watch. He’d wondered the whole way here if he’d see a shift in her again, and tried to make his peace with it. Let her go, see what happens. To Kether, he asked, “Was it bad? Meeting with the Stranded?”

“Ha!” Kether responded brightly. “I expect it would be. We didn’t meet them directly – I left orders on the mile-marker back at the main road. I haven’t heard them come this way since, so it may be they’ve not even seen it yet, or maybe it’s duly noted. I had an earful from Captain Brender though, sir – apparently some confusion in the orders.”

“Ah. Yes, things are so busy in town not everything is being clearly communicated. He, uh, didn’t rescind the orders?”

Kether gave him a lingering look, surely aware by now Pitt had acted on his own (or rather Chiara’s) initiative. He let the pretence lie there between them, though, and said, “No, sir. I expect he appreciated the confusion of the situation himself.”

And if the captain was anything like these men stationed here, he would be secretly happy the Stranded were pushed away, whatever he had to say to maintain an appearance of command.

“Okay. Well, that should be the last of it.”

The soldier nodded hopefully. It would be the last orders they got from him, anyway, after Terrifold’s scolding, even if this had worked out. No, he was just here to enjoy the break, as instructed. But he saw Chiara hadn’t gone into the tower alone as before, and was waiting by the door, expectantly. He gave her an uncertain look and she beckoned with a hand.

“Are you coming or not?”

With a farewell to Kethers, Pitt rushed around the barricades to join her, inwardly cursing himself for so quickly jumping at her command but with a little thrill that this wouldn’t be like last time.

She opened the door and led him into a cluttered office space, and on to a set of steep stairs. As they climbed she said, “He’s a little particular, our Erol, but I think you’ll like him.”

“I’m sure I will,” Pitt said.

He shouldn’t be

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.