Of Wind and Lightning: An Epic Fantasy Adventure by Ella Walker Henderson

Author:Ella Walker Henderson [Henderson, Ella Walker]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ella Walker Henderson
Published: 2022-06-02T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Nine

William and the company traveled towards a hill all the next morning. Burned farmhouses marred the land. The Mirandans had come this far. Once the Eleven crested the hill, the tension in William’s chest eased. Inhabitants were still scarce, but the houses appeared more whole in the distance.

They passed a solitary farmer on the road, half-hidden at the edge of the trees as if he barely trusted the Eleven were truly Alethians, though their gray clothing should have given them away.

William hailed the man. “A word, good man?”

The man stepped closer to the Eleven at the sound of William’s Alethian voice. “Aye, sirs.”

“Tell us your news. Do you come from south of here?”

The man was younger than William had first believed with the dirt and grime that covered his face and clothes. His beard was a scraggly, scarce growth. “Yes, sir. My farm was outside of Rinar. Those who had time to flee the town before the raiders came told me what was to come. I left and traveled to a farm below the hill, on the Rinar side. I was wrong to think we went far enough for safety. They came there, too. The farmer knew of a cave nearby. We hid there until dawn as the house burned. All the livestock was taken.”

At least the people had survived. “We saw a band of Mirandans in Rinar. We cut down half their number, but not all. We’ve seen the burnt houses but very few bodies.”

“Aye, sir. We’ve worked to bury them for days. I’ve helped along the road.”

There had been more carnage then. “Have you seen any of the Alethian border patrols?”

“Aye, on their way north, before the raiders came.”

William’s father must have truly pulled them all to the capital to engage the main Mirandan force. Guilt pressed at William like a stone on his back. He had to leave these people defenseless. A delay could cost him. Even more, it would cost his king. William reached into the purse at his belt and withdrew a few gold coins. “For your service to the dead.”

He tossed them to the man, who caught them and nodded his thanks, shaggy hair tossing forward with the movement. William nodded a farewell in return. “We’ll send back a border patrol as soon as we’re able.”

William pressed Namoth into a trot. Empty promises were all he could offer these people.

The Eleven and Selah progressed down the hill that afternoon. The light faded in the sky as they reached the stream. The terrain grew more like the home William had always known. The desert was alluring in its way with its never-ending sun and cool nights, but he craved the cool, light rain on his face. The moisture in the air bespoke its soon arrival, if not that night then tomorrow. Rain, yes, he wanted rain, even atop a horse.

In the meantime, the stream would do nicely. It rippled among rocks beside the grassy bank. Namoth stepped in and drank deeply as soon as William had dismounted.

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