Savage Crowns by Matt Wallace

Author:Matt Wallace
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gallery / Saga Press
Published: 2023-06-13T00:00:00+00:00

SPILL YOUR GUTS

“YOU NEVER TRULY SAW BATTLE as a Savage Legionnaire, did you?” Brio asks Taru as he watches them secure the pieces of their leather armor to their body.

He rests his chin atop the shoulder notch of his crutch, seated on a tree stump inside the modest tent they share in the combined base camp of the rebellion and the Rok Islanders. It is where Brio will remain as the rest of them take the field against the Savages and the Skrain in just a few hours.

“No,” Taru admits. “The only action I saw was when I snapped our wrangler over my knee before I escaped their sinking galleon. That was quite enough for my liking.”

Brio breaks out in a wry grin.

“So then,” he says cheekily, “that means I actually have more battle experience than you?”

Taru stops in the middle of strapping a shoulder pauldron to their breastplate, contemplating Brio’s words.

“If you consider falling off a ladder during a failed siege and nearly being trampled to death ‘experience,’ I suppose.”

Brio laughs. “One war story is more than enough for me. And you can’t say I don’t have the superior conversation piece.”

He leans back slightly and raises the stump of his right leg.

Taru frowns sourly, looking from the appendage to his face, the disapproval clear in the retainer’s eyes.

“Not quite ready to joke about that,” Brio says softly. “I understand.”

Taru finishes putting on their armor. The last act of personal preparation they perform is to examine the blades of their short sword and hook-end, an expertly forged version of the makeshift weapon common in the Bottoms, usually fashioned from the hooks used to secure unfinished ship hulls. The retainer inspects each inch of steel for any chips or cracks that might compromise the blade in the midst of the battle.

Satisfied, Taru sheathes their weapons, one at each hip.

“If our army falls today,” they tell Brio, “scouts will ride back here to bring word as soon as possible.”

“I know.”

“If that happens,” the retainer continues as if they did not hear him speak, “fall back immediately to the Tenth City.”

“Taru,” he repeats, “I know.”

“You can make a final stand there if necessary, but hopefully you will be able to negotiate some peaceful surrender with them.”

“I doubt they’ll surrender to us,” he muses.

“Brio!”

“Taru,” he says, more sternly this time, “I know all of this. You can’t worry about me now. Just go defeat them. That’s all. Defeat them and let us negotiate their surrender.”

Taru draws in a deep breath and nods.

“Whatever happens,” Brio says, far more gently, “I am happy we got to see each other again. What you did to find me, and for the rebellion, is beyond any gratitude we can offer you. You are the finest warrior, the finest person I have ever known.”

Taru swallows hard, not wanting emotion to overtake them in that moment.

Brio’s words, however, mean more to them than any victory on a battlefield ever could.

He smiles softly on them. “I will see you after this thing is done, all right? We need not say goodbye or share an embrace, because we are not parting.

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