Death's Paladin by Christopher Donahue

Author:Christopher Donahue [Donahue, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-01-28T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

From astride Vision, Karro looked back at the blazing inn. The thick smoke followed them up the hillside, its bitter odor overwhelming the damp forest scents.

Beyond the inn, a horse-drawn carts carried the innkeeper and other survivors of the battle toward the Macmar town of Wasp Hill.

Lady Kestran sat easily on her lastman’s war-trained horse. “Will they be safe all the way back to that town?”

“Safer than staying at the inn” Karro said. “The innkeeper identified several bandits among the Macmar undead. Voskov or his necromancer are doing a service by sweeping up criminals as well as all the farmers and trappers in the area.” He chuckled a little, recalling the innkeeper’s practical approach. “With all of his customers now in Voskov’s army, our host had no choice but to move to livelier trade.”

Two recovering warriors rode with the survivors. with them and Kestran’s lastman as protection, the group would reach Wasp Hill within the week, even at the slow pace forced by their injuries.

“My lady, I wish you would change your mind and go with them. You have a good eye with that pistol.”

Her lips narrowed. She stared ahead for a moment before answering. “You said yourself that they will be safe. If Voskov and those … things are heading west toward Raven’s Crag, a whole town is in danger. If you are stopped, I may be able to get through with a warning. The greater responsibility lies there.”

She threw back one side of her blue riding cape and held out her pistol. Beneath the cape, she wore the fine mail that had belonged to the smaller of the two Macmar nobles. “Perhaps Auros will keep my aim true.” She looked down at the pistol and said softly, “Please, I must do something.”

It struck Karro again how much Lady Kestran reminded him of Ystret. Recalling Ystret’s laughter as they rode together across sunny fields, the chill and flurries faded away. Ystret was happy and full of life. His only care was mustering her bride-price. Her death and his entry into Auros’s service were so near and completely unimagined.

A gust of cold air blurred his vision briefly. He drew a deep breath and looked over at Kestran. She was physically different from Ystret’s tanned litheness, but the spark was there. I can’t send her back.

He took a final look at the burning inn that served as a pyre for Balanar, Talodan and the others. At this point, it would not die out and leave enough of the bodies to tempt the necromancers.

Talodan, I’m sorry I doubted you even for a moment. Be with Borla again and know I will avenge you.

He turned Vision onto the trail up to Raven’s Crag and glanced at the gray sky. Snow fell steadily but thinly. “We should get moving. We have a lot of ground to cover before the heavy snow comes.” The mixture of relief and gratitude on Kestran’s face cut deeply into him.

As much as he wanted other for her, he would feel the same way.

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