Farmers & Mercenaries by Maxwell Alexander Drake

Author:Maxwell Alexander Drake [Drake, Maxwell Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy
ISBN: 9780981954875
Publisher: Imagined Interprises, Inc.
Published: 2013-11-19T05:00:00+00:00

Master Gartin trotted up. “That is the last of them, sir.” Breathing hard, the weapon’s master hitched his sword belt. “Not sure, though I think it was a small scouting party, no more than a dozen, I should say.” They both looked around at the ruined camp. Clytus Rillion knew his weapon’s master was thinking the same as he. Still, the old man voiced it first. “What was the butcher’s bill?”

“Only two dead so far, both from Ras’ crew.” Clytus ran his hand through his sandy-brown hair in disgust. “I should have been more prepared. I just did not think the O’Arkin would hit us so fast. We are not even in the Nektine yet!”

“Tracks indicate they just wandered onto us, sir. I do not think they knew we were here until they saw our fires. Beside, it is not like they will be telling anyone about us.” Gartin poked Clytus in the shoulder and pointed to the fire that Trilim had set up again. “Who is the boy?”

Clytus looked over at the young farmer huddled next to the flames.

Like a wet puppy far from home.

“That is a good question. One I mean to have an answer to.” He dismissed Gartin with a nod and headed for the fire.

The boy raised his head at the sound of his footsteps with a look of fear in his eyes that Clytus knew stemmed from their shared Melding.

Yet, how did a boy with the power of Sujen end up here? As if my life is not complicated enough, I have to deal with this as well!

He stood over the terrified kid in silence, mulling over the implications of the event. “What is your name, lad?”

The boy flinched as if Clytus had struck him.

“What… what are you?”

Casting a quick look around to insure their privacy, Clytus crouched next to him. “I will explain everything to you in time, lad.” He attempted to keep his voice low and calm. “I know what you saw earlier left you a little shaken. Still, I need some answers from you before we may continue. As of now, you are safe. Do you understand?”

The boy sat, eyeing him. Then, as if reluctant to move, he nodded his head.

“Good. Now, unless you wish for me to continue to call you lad, you should tell me your name.”

“Arderi, sir. Arderi Cor.”

Clytus gave what he hoped was a fatherly smile. “A good start. I am Clytus Rillion, Commander of this mercenary troop.” He reached out and fingered a bloody rip in the boy’s shirt. “Are you injured?”

Looking down, the boy shook his head. “Not bad. One of the beasts stepped on me during the fight is all. It is not deep.” Turning his head, Arderi looked over the fire to Alimia, who lay wrapped in a blanket. The Shaper, Jintrill, knelt by her side and stared at her with the unseeing eyes of one embracing the Sight of the Essence. “How is the woman?”

“Alimia? She will be fine. Tough as worn leather, that one.

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