The Battle for Hjalgar: The 13th Paladin (Volume VI) by Weitze Torsten

Author:Weitze, Torsten
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-04-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

‘You are not coming with us!’ roared Falk, incensed. ‘I simply cannot risk it.’

They had been travelling at an alarmingly slow pace for two days now, for only a fraction of the baggage train was using horses. Ahren’s impatience had been growing since it had become clear to him that it would take them weeks to reach Three Rivers at this rate – even though he understood that they would still be in good time for the beginning of the actual military campaign.

He had just turned his head to observe the loud quarrel that had erupted between Falk and Onja in the middle of the encampment that they had set up on a meadow for the oncoming night. The sun had already sunk over the horizon, and the surrounding cornfields promised a rich harvest in the near future. Clearly, the weather had been better further inland than on King’s Island. This was of some comfort to the impatient young Forest Guardian, for it suggested that the fleeing Hjalgarians had not been subjected to too many autumn storms.

‘But I want to stay beside you!’ exclaimed Onja. Her face was wild and belligerent.

Ahren could sense Selsena’s amusement, which Falk had to be picking up on too and which was adding more fuel to the fire. A vein was bulging on the old man’s forehead. ‘You cannot ride into battle with us,’ said Falk in a voice that brooked no opposition. ‘You are unable to fight, and I will be worried to death for having allowed you to put yourself in danger.’

‘But…’ began Onja, only to be interrupted angrily by Falk.

‘Please let me bring you to Castle Falkenstein,’ he pleaded. ‘You will be safe there. You can wait for my return and at the same time find out if…life in the barony is to your taste.’

Ahren could hear the uncertainty, confusion, and grief in Falk’s voice. The young man had no idea how much Onja knew about Falk’s past, nor the degree to which the pair had admitted their feelings towards each other, but he felt great compassion for his erstwhile master, realising the maelstrom of emotions that had to be raging within the old man.

‘He is right,’ said Ahren in a firm voice, approaching the pair unasked. ‘You would certainly be a distraction and in the worst-case scenario a danger to Falk’s life, for he would be constantly worrying about your safety. Don’t be selfish. Many Jorathinians would be only to delighted to have the security and peace of mind of living in a castle until these dreadful times have come to an end.’

Onja staggered as though Ahren had hit her and stepped back from the campfire. ‘If it’s like that,’ she said weakly, ‘of course I shall wait in Castle Falkenstein. And now, if you would kindly excuse me, good sir.’ At that, she turned and hurried into her tent, from where the sound of uncontrollable sobbing could be heard.

The young Forest Guardian half expected a punch in the face,

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