Magefall by Stephen Aryan

Author:Stephen Aryan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2018-09-03T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 25

Taking a deep breath, Wren embraced the Source, feeling power flood her body until every part of her skin was tingling with unspent energy. On her left Danoph didn’t react, but on the other side she heard the others shifting uncomfortably. They could sense it coursing through her and thought it meant that conflict was imminent. Wren was nervous, but as their leader she was trying her best not to show it. With a small amount of effort her eyesight sharpened until the blurry landscape ahead came into focus.

Gillen’s Jaw lay before her in the valley below. It was a quiet fishing village located beside a lake that had once been a popular place for anglers seeking a challenge. On the outskirts were a few large houses, the largest of which belonged to the previous Queen of Shael. Since her only surviving daughter, Olivia, had taken the throne the summer home and those surrounding it had mostly gone to ruin. Queen Olivia didn’t have money to waste on such frivolities. So the buildings sat idle and became a once-glorious reminder of a better time for the country and the village.

“Why here?” asked Kimme, scratching at her armpits. Wren tried very hard not to wrinkle her nose at the girl. She didn’t have fleas, just poor personal hygiene, and would only wash when others insisted the smell kept them awake at night.

“It might not be here,” said Wren, which was why she’d sent four groups of students, each under the guidance of a teacher, to watch for trouble at other villages. She didn’t have enough people to cover every community, but then again neither did Boros, which was what she was counting on. One raider on a horse demanding a tithe would be chased away from a village, no matter who’d sent him. Boros would have to choose his next target wisely.

“So, can I go to sleep?” asked Kimme.

“Only if you don’t snore again,” said Wren.

Kimme grunted and turned away. She’d been elbowed awake at various points during the last three days for dozing off. This was the fourth day in a row Wren had been waiting for Boros to strike. She knew it was tedious and required a great deal of patience, which was why she’d rotated those who visited a different village each day. Everyone needed to know what they were fighting for, but it was difficult to remain focused all day with nothing to do.

The first few hours were always tense, with those beside her expecting raiders to come pouring out of the surrounding hills to attack the village. When that didn’t happen, the adrenaline began to fade, tiredness crept in and muscle cramps and boredom took its place.

Danoph always came with her. He remained a steady presence that helped her maintain the appearance of being calm. She also insisted on regularly bringing Kimme, despite her pungent aroma, as she was one of the strongest students to arrive. As a farmer’s daughter she’d regularly lifted cows and

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