Swordmaster: Greymantle Chronicles: Book Three by J David Baxter

Author:J David Baxter [Baxter, J David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781953708168
Publisher: Silver Paw Publishing
Published: 2022-06-25T04:00:00+00:00

It was four more days before they came to a village, but the caravan chose not to stop when they did. There were no Bane in sight, but the humans were agitated. It seemed a young mother was being yelled at by both women and men of the village. When the woman saw the caravan, she broke away and ran towards them, her baby cradled in her arms. The elven guards stepped forward and prevented her from reaching the wagons but also protected her from the villagers chasing her.

Nate stepped forward to see what was going on, Aelynthé and the brothers beside him.

"Please, you've got to help me; they want to kill my baby!"

Nate couldn't help but feel for her. She looked ragged, beyond just what was typical for the human slaves. She seemed exhausted and at the very end of her rope.

Beside him, Aelynthé whispered, "She has just given birth. The child is only an hour out of the womb."

He was ready to pull his sword and go to her defense, but the villagers had calmed down significantly upon seeing the elves. They looked hesitant and were keeping their distance. Humans must have a lot of fear of the Bane that even the sight of elves quelled them to the point they were almost cowering before the caravan members.

Aelynthé stepped forward and asked, "What is the meaning of this?"

The young mother clutched the child defensively and said, "They want to kill him. He's just a newborn and hasn't harmed anyone."

An old woman stepped forward. At least Nate thought she was old at first but then realized she must only be in her fifties, but that was old by village standards. She spoke accusingly, "The child is a halfling. The Bane will kill it if they find it here and punish us all!"

Nate was confused and looked at his companions for explanation.

Elaethan explained, "The father is a Bane. The child is half Bane and half human, probably fathered by a guardsman or the village overseer. Some Bane do such things, but a child is rarely produced and always tragic." The usually happy elf looked grim.

The woman was in tears as she sobbed out, "Would you please take him and keep him safe? He is innocent, just a baby." It was clear the girl was willing to lose her child if it meant that he would live.

Aelynthé waved a hand in negation. "No, we cannot take the babe nor interfere." She spoke gently and with sorrow, but she was resolute. Raising her voice to address the crowd, she continued. "You must do as you see fit. Raise it in secret, or kill it. If you choose to raise it in secret, cut his ears so that he can pass as one of you. If the Bane discovers him, his fate will be worse than a mercifully quick death now. We were here to trade, but we cannot be associated with this incident. We will continue on."

Before turning away to the wagons, she added in a darker voice, one thick with menace.

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