Duke of Minds (Master of Monsters Book 4) by Stephen L. Hadley

Author:Stephen L. Hadley [Hadley, Stephen L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-15T22:00:00+00:00

***

Leo hadn’t planned on accompanying Iresh, but the Gwydon insisted it was necessary. And so, since he could think of neither a reason nor a polite means to refuse, Leo found himself dressed, crowned, and paraded past the mustering ranks mere minutes after the sun began creeping above the horizon.

“Arise, O sleepers!” Iresh called in a loud, clear voice. “Shake off the night and hear the words of Sha’rath! We must be swift as rivers and fleeting as the dew! Do not scorn the burdens laid upon you. Carry them gladly in the knowledge that their modest yoke will shatter all others!”

Leo glanced surreptitiously from face to face, hunting for any signs of protest or exasperation. To his ears, Iresh’s words rang hollow. But evidently, the conscripted elves did not share his concerns. Most wore looks of cool determination. And although some rolled their eyes at the Gwydon’s urgent sermon, the responses were followed by more wry grins than scowls.

The trow were an entirely different matter but, once again, Leo was surprised by the tenor of their responses. Iresh trailed off as they reached the trow section of camp, no doubt aware that his words would do more harm than good among those gathered. But the gray-skinned soldiers did not even glance his way. They weren’t looking at Leo, either. Instead, the majority of the hundreds were watching Sophe.

The trow primarch said nothing. In fact, he hardly seemed aware of the stares at all. He dressed in silence, tightening the straps of his breastplate before giving a satisfied nod. Then, taking the sackcloth pouch of nails that represented his share of the wagon’s load, he looped it around the shoulder of his armor and deftly knotted it until it resembled an unwieldy pauldron.

Wordlessly, all around them, hundreds of trow followed his example.

“Fascinating,” Iresh murmured, so softly that Leo barely caught the word.

“How so?” Leo asked, turning to meet the elf’s eye. From the look he found there, Iresh had plainly not intended to elaborate. He cleared his throat and waited until Leo led them away from the trow before responding.

“I didn’t expect the trow primarch to command so much respect,” Iresh said.

“You respect Buchold.”

“Of course we do. But my people are accustomed to primarchs and the honor they are due. Trow are different. They tend to… chafe at authority.”

“And your people do not?” Leo asked. It was a gentle challenge, and he was relieved when Iresh treated it as such. The Gwydon’s expression grew somber for a moment then quickly returned to its usual, whimsical state.

“It depends on the authority,” he said, bowing. The elf did not ask Leo’s leave but simply wandered away in the direction of Buchold and the other officers they’d passed.

Leo watched him go.

The plan worked better than he could have ever hoped. There was some modest grumbling, of course, mostly from those who’d received less forgettable burdens than a sack of grain. But, generally speaking, the elves accepted both the goods and their Gwydon’s words without complaint.

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