The Back of the Beyond by James Stoddard

Author:James Stoddard [Stoddard, James]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Ransom Books
Published: 2020-01-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THE GHOST

The morning of their departure, Rick Spence, now assigned to the Ruheen company, was ordered to eat in the dining hall with the other soldiers. He had avoided Ninette, knowing she wouldn’t understand his leaving. It was better that way. He didn’t want her spoiling his plans by making a big scene in front of Treg. The sculptor was too temperamental and might change his mind about letting Spence go.

When he entered the hall, Sergeant Cleaver gave him a wide grin. “I heard the way you beat that mechanical man. You’ll make a fine addition if you can follow orders.”

Spence grinned, elated. “I’m looking forward to serving.” His showing must have impressed Rendan even more than he’d hoped; and the weight of the gold coins in his backpack felt great. It wasn’t as much as he would have liked, but any more would’ve been too hard to conceal. He would need to keep the gold quiet and find someplace to hide it once they reached their destination.

“We’ll give you the Oath and get you a regular uniform and proper helmet once we reach Ironwood,” Cleaver said.

“I protect his head,” Spence’s helmet protested.

Spence tugged it low over his brow with both hands. “I hate to let it go. It’s saved my life a few times.”

“That’s a miracle, then,” Cleaver said. “It’s fine for an overhead stroke, but worthless against cuts from the side.”

“It’s for protection from. . .” He started to say shrapnel, “. . . arrows and stones.”

After breakfast the company marched through Treg Keep’s wide passages until they reached a pair of tall bronze doors, each displaying half of Treg’s etched face. Marble servants spoke to the doors and swung them wide, ushering the soldiers into the morning sunlight. They looked down from a height, and a narrow road ran before them, descending through a ravine toward deep forest. A low mist rose behind mountains to the north. Level ground extended to one side of the doors, occupied by the one-hundred Vigili Treg had manufactured for the duke. Scattered, flat-bottomed clouds gaped in vacuous curiosity at them.

“Where are the horses?” Spence asked the soldier beside him. “I thought we were in a hurry.”

“Duke Nortallion forbids their use in Animonea, since they might be spies.”

They waited several minutes before Ninette appeared, followed by Treg and two clay Vigili hefting a large trunk.

The soldier who had spoken before groaned. “I helped carry that chest to Treg Keep. I thought we were rid of it.”

“What’s in it?” Spence asked.

“Gifts from the duke to the duchess. They said it’s her wardrobe, but it was heavy as armor.”

Captain Rendan left his place beside the company commander and strode to Ninette’s side. “Where is the Duchess Tanabel-Tunia?”

“She’s almost ready,” Ninette said. “She wanted her things placed under the care of your soldiers, rather than in the hands of Treg’s creatures, who she fears might handle them roughly.”

Treg curled his lip in disdain. “My creations are more than capable of conveying a trunk.”

“I’m only repeating what Tana told me.

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