The Ashen Hand of Kessrin by Alex ROBINS
Author:Alex ROBINS [Robins, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bradypus Publishing
Published: 2021-06-15T22:00:00+00:00
Chapter 14
A Familiar Sound
âIt has happened again! The ambush was perfect. I had archers on either side of the gorge and cavalry hidden on the edge of the forest. The greylings were taking the bait. I only needed them to advance twenty more yards, and the trap would be sprung. Then they stopped. Turned tail and retreated into the Pit as if called there. And maybe they were.â
Guanna, Second of the Twelve, 12 AT
*
âI donât know why I have to wear this Pit-spawned thing,â grumbled Vohanen, trying for the third time to attach a thin strip of fabric across his nose and impressive beard.
âJust a precaution,â Reed replied, his voice slightly muffled by his own mask. âThe fumes from the Southern Pit were toxic. Breathe in just a little and you get a cough, breathe in too much and you start to hack up blood. I canât smell any sulphur here so it may be different, but it pays to be careful.â
âWell, we are not going to be down there long enough for that to matter, are we? A couple of hours, thatâs it. Unless you can breathe under water.â
Reed sighed. The Knight of Kriari had slept badly, clearly worried about his son, and had been crotchety since breakfast.
âIt is not too late for you to stay here, Father,â said Avor, strapping his tower shield to his back. âDo a bit of cleaning maybe, saddle the horses, that sort of thing?â
Vohanen glared at him.
âI believe we are ready to proceed?â queried Jeffson. The round-shouldered manservant had found a padded gambeson and was adjusting what looked like spiked bronze knuckle-dusters. He flexed his palms experimentally.
âWhat in the Pit are those?â said Reed.
âWe call them knuckle knives, my Lord,â Jeffson replied with a shrug. âA souvenir of another life. I seem to remember them being quite effective at dissuading unwanted violence.â
âIâm sure they are.â Reed moved closer and spoke in a low voice for Jeffsonâs ears alone. âYou do not have to come with me, you know. I will not think any the less of you.â
âDereliction of duty, my Lord?â the manservant replied with a raised eyebrow. âWhy, perish the thought! I would be shunned! Never employed again! A pariah doomed to wander the nine Baronies, penniless and alone.â
âBy the Twelve, Jeffson, I can never tell when you are serious or not!â
âQuite, my Lord. Youâll survive, Iâm sure. Now, shall we get going? As loath as I am to agree with Sir Vohanen, time is not in our favour.â
âWeâll follow your lead, Merad,â Vohanen growled, scowling. âYou seem to have the most insight into our current location.â
âIâm not sure anyone has ever descended into one of the Pits before, Sir Knight. I think most of us didnât even know it was possible.â
âWell, thereâs a first time for everything, eh, Reed? You just tell us where you want us, and weâll handle the rest.â
They left the warm comfort of the kitchens behind and began the steep climb up the stone steps leading to the ramparts.
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