My Brother's Keeper (The Veronian Archives Book 2) by Daniel L Welch

Author:Daniel L Welch [Welch, Daniel L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Daniel L Welch
Published: 2017-01-27T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

Leo knelt down over the soot-stained patch of grass that Borin left behind. He ground the ashes in his fist and watched the wind carry them away. Elias had left the same mess as his Prothica companion. Chief Ansuke on the other hand left nothing behind when he was summoned to the stars. At least that's what Kano determined to have happened. Had Leo heard the story and not seen it, he'd never have believed it. Shit like this was supposed to happen in distant lands, long ago. He imagined years from now, no one would believe what happened here in Tamore.

"You should probably say a few words, Leo. The people are restless in wondering what's going to happen next." As close as Juan stood, his voice sounded distant. After the Kiman soldiers and the Tribesmen left, he'd stripped off his armor to field-dress the gouge on the left side of his chest. Juan thumbed an old scar on his forearm. One he'd earned at the Frostbite in what seemed a lifetime ago. Carrying your friends off the battlefield has a way of agitating the past. Old wounds flare up mixing with the new till it hurts all over. Inside and out.

Leo felt numb inside despite the tiny shards of glass still prickling the scars on his back. A constant reminder that the past was real. He liked to imagine it was just the shock of war that left him empty inside. Emotions will only keep you up at night. He'd taken his teeth to his and gnawed at their strings till something broke inside. Then he clawed into the depths of his soul and buried the taxing remains as far down as he could so the wintry world could envelop him no more.

He raked his fingers through the grass to brush the soot off then stood to face Juan. Leo regarded the nicks, cuts, and bruises on his lifelong shoulderman and those emotions he'd buried fought to resurface. Leo remembered telling Juan that he'd be by his side. Should have been there with him and his men to face Borin. Instead he hunted down a crown that didn't and wouldn't ever fit. "I'm...erm." Leo reached into his word bank but they cut his tongue like little daggers.

"Sorry you mean?" Juan crossed his arms and let the awkward silence ensue.

Leo regarded two men holding down a third, while a fourth took the flaming red sword and pressed it over an open wound. A wounded cry shrilled through clenched teeth then stopped suddenly when the Widow Maker passed out. "I don't know what I am anymore. Stab me with all the judgment you like. I can take it. And if that doesn't suit you, take that bastard sword of yours and cut some more. I won't stop you."

For a moment it looked as if Juan was about to go to work. Then he clenched his fists and spat at Leo's feet. "You keep your shield up all the time and one day you'll be left standing alone, Leo.

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