Tahr (The Days of Ash and Fury Book 1) by Hinn Sean

Author:Hinn, Sean [Hinn, Sean]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Bobdog Books
Published: 2016-07-25T04:00:00+00:00

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On a westward trail somewhat parallel to the one Shyla walked, a small company of dwarves rode south and west down the foothills of the Maw, led by J’arn Silverstone. Riding their sturdy yet diminutive horses, bred through generations to suit the dwarven people, the eight representatives of Belgorne made their way to the Morline, where they would secure (or design) passage to Highmorland, and then complete their march on foot to the Grove, where they would seek the knowledge and assistance of the elves. Some debate had ensued as they departed Belgorne, the forgemaster Garlan and the engineer Kelgarr coming to blows over whether they should ride straight for Thornwood, or take to the Morline, where they would abandon their mounts and settle for making contact with the elves in the Grove. J’arn had already decided their path, but allowed the dwarves to fight it out, knowing that if they did not settle their differences before their journey began, the road would be a long one indeed.

The strategy proved vain, however, for had J’arn not separated the two, the fistfight would have become an axefight, and there would be one less dwarf travelling with the company. J’arn had no illusions which of the two would have survived; Boot was a formidable fighter, with or without weapons.

The feud had begun nearly a decade ago, when Boot claimed he had warned the forgemaster that he was running the forges too hot, and would soon weaken the stone and steel struts supporting it. One support did weaken, and the forge shifted dangerously, killing two smiths, injuring several others, and shutting down the forge for several cycles while the damage was repaired. Garlan maintained that Boot gave no such warning, and implied that it was his incompetence in failing to see the danger that caused the calamity.

No one in Belgorne had personally witnessed any conversation between the two, and the leadership of the kingdom, therefore, did not take a position publicly on the matter. Privately, Prince J’arn trusted Boot, and knew Garlan would rarely admit his own faults, even when the evidence was clear. In the absence of evidence, he would go to his grave before confessing an error. It was a frustrating trait of the dwarf, but his gruff, unyielding, unapologetic nature made him an excellent forgemaster, if a somewhat infuriating peer.

Boot pulled his horse up alongside J’arn and remained silent. The two had not spoken in the two days since J’arn had broken up the fight, J’arn knowing better than to fuel the fire, and Boot still steaming. Since they had broken camp that morning, however, the engineer’s mood had seemed to improve.

“Smoke up ahead, J’arn,” Boot stated, the air thickening with the scent of burnt wood and foliage. It was not the first evidence they had seen in the past two days of smoldering Tahr, and they knew it would not be the last.

“Seen it Boot. We’ll be needing to find another trail, I’m thinkin’.”

“Aye. If I remember, there’s a junction not far ahead can take us due south.

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