The Banished Lands- The Complete Series by Benjamin Mester

Author:Benjamin Mester [Mester, Benjamin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-13T04:00:00+00:00

Ogrindal

Ariadra and the caravan bound for Ogrindal arrived at the edge of Thay Iphilus Forest. A large pathway of uprooted trees blown down by Malfur during the recent battle stood like a scar on the forest before them, a beacon for anyone who passed by, heralding to the world that something lay hidden at the end of the road. But the barbarian kingdom, Ogrindal's nearest neighbor, had suffered heavy losses and wouldn't be quick to invade a second time – at least not for awhile.

A squadron of soldiers on horseback from the alliance city had accompanied them thus far but were beginning to disband and depart. Ariadra felt a sudden fear at their leaving, which was unexpected, for she was surrounded still by her own people, who headed off into the forest. Ariadra alone lingered, watching until a plume of dust hid the shrinking soldiers bound for the city where Baron awaited her return.

Then she hurried to join the others, walking the pathway until sunset fell overhead. The sounds of night crept into the shadows of the trees, though evening was still a long way off. The creatures of the night always awoke early in the deep forest and it was such a strange sensation to feel the light of day on one's skin yet be surrounded by the sounds of night. It was Ariadra's favorite time of day. It always made her feel like she had entered some mysterious realm, where nothing was as it seemed.

The caravan broke to make camp, erecting their tents before the light faded completely. A fire was started and the group began the evening meal. Ariadra stared into the slowly growing fire, her mind lost in thought.

“I don't know what kind of welcome you're hoping to receive,” Dhelgar said, now standing over her. “But know that I'll be making a full report to Whinden on our dealings with the outsiders and their city.”

“A full report to the council, you mean.”

Dhelgar sneered. Though Whinden was the head of the council, Ariadra's father, Tohrnan, was also a member, a fact Baron had exploited to challenge Dhelgar's right to lead. She expected some kind of repercussions for her actions, but she and the others had done what was right. Whatever the consequences, she would accept them gladly. Dhelgar stormed off and Ariadra took a deep breath, banishing her anger that Dhelgar and self-important people like him still couldn't see the light.

Now that she was so close to home, an intense longing to see her family filled her. Nothing Dhelgar could say would diminish her joy at coming home. But a creeping anxiety lurked in the dark places of her mind. Now on her own, she felt strangely exposed and vulnerable, though she never had before. It struck her that she felt safer in the alliance city, with Corcoran's forces on the prowl, than she did among her own people. But Ogrindal was changing. She'd felt it before she'd left. A division had grown and she felt more like one of the outsiders Dhelgar talked about than a native of the city.

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