Soldier Sons: The Ghost of Red Fields: Book 1 by Stemler Samantha

Author:Stemler, Samantha [Stemler, Samantha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Creative Content & Copy
Published: 2015-10-15T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9: Formal Challenge

“Our first target lies just outside the city of Cebilson. It has blocked a critical trading road. The City Guards have told the townsfolk and tradesmen not to pass.”

Zensor made the announcement as the Raiders mounted their horses at first light. They were the only words that had passed since they woke to find Zensor still holding watch. Salia felt Kavock silently seething with every hard glare he fixed on the former General.

Salia found herself more confused than angry—did the man never sleep? Or had he fallen asleep during his watch and never woken them? Though impossible, it seemed somehow more likely that he didn’t sleep. At any rate, he seemed determined to turn them into dead weight on their mission.

Though Kavock spread his discontent through a series of dark glares, Lenst’s position obligated him to ask the General more about their mission.

“Do your reports indicate the, uh, creature’s fighting patterns?” He spoke as if he wasn’t sure if it was a creature, if it fought or even if there were reports.

“No one has yet engaged the creature and returned, or so I have been told. The report is conjecture at best.” Zensor stalked down the path beside Lenst, still walking instead of riding.

Salia glanced at Kavock, just in time to see his eyes roll back. His fingers flexed in agitation, as if lusting for the General’s neck. There were few things the Enforcer hated more than being useless.

“How are we to—” Lenst cut off and started again, this time imitating their commander’s confident tone. A good effort, but he fell short. “What are your thoughts on engaging the Soldier Sons?”

Zensor walked in silence for a stretch. His quick, determined march made an uneven cadence against their horse’s hooves. “I will enter the battlefield and wait for the Soldier Son to find me.”

Lenst glanced nervously back at Salia. She opened her mouth to speak, surely the same time Kavock did, but Lenst raised a pacifying hand. “General, I have some experience in planning strategic hunts. If we scout the area we may find the creature’s—”

“You will not be accompanying me into the field.”

The words hit them like a slap. In the stab of silence that followed, the Raiders exchanged shock, outrage and indignant defiance. Surely he did not mean. . .

“You mean to go in alone?” Salia echoed.

He glanced back; a single dagger glimmer. “I will go in alone.”

“What?” The word burst from Kavock’s throat like he choked on it. “That’s ridiculous! Emissary, I—”

“Be silent. I am your commander. You will follow my orders or I will relieve you of your position.”

Salia wanted to tell Kavock to stop, but he’d already swung down from his horse. He landed heavily in the dirt and threw his reins aside. “General! Emissary!”

Zensor stopped and turned.

“You have effectively relieved us of our position already if you continue to make us useless! I have never been dead weight on a mission before, and I will not start now. I was assigned to

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