The Blade of Elohim by Heppner Vaughn

Author:Heppner, Vaughn [Heppner, Vaughn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B09CKVHXRK
Goodreads: 58764504
Published: 2021-08-12T07:00:00+00:00

-20-

Brand had hunted in the wilder regions around Armod all his life. His father had been a good hunter and taught him many skills and tricks. He could smell water on the air, knew how to track and how to keep prey from sensing his scent.

He used everything he could during the night, with the stars as guides. The war band had trekked across the grasslands for many days already, and he had picked up quite a few clues as to how things operated out here.

Near dawn, Brand found a muddy pond. He drank his fill, waited and drank more until his stomach felt as if it was bursting. He’d taken a small water-skin from the whip man and now filled it. There was no more he could do than that.

Brand kept walking, pacing himself.

As the sun rose later, he scanned all around him. He did not see any sign of pursuit. The grasslands, he’d noticed, dipped and rose deceptively. Were the zarlarions after him? He did not think so. He suspected that Vaul would be too proud to hunt for an escaped spear slave. Brand was certain whip men, perhaps Cham leading them, would come after him.

How long and how hard would they track him? Because Vaul had spoken to him in front of everyone, Brand was sure the whip men would hound him until he or they died.

As Brand examined his surroundings, he noticed a bleaker area to the west by northwest. Thinking about it, he recalled that someone in camp had spoken about the Monger Depression, that the band should avoid it.

He didn’t have much water, but he did think there would fewer Wagon People or other war bands in this Monger Depression. Thus, that was the place to head, especially as it was in the direction of Theveste and other places like Lake Thugga.

Brand started that way, using a long-legged gait to carry himself across the grassy and sandy terrain.

Time passed and he was getting tired, and as the sun climbed into the sky, he started getting hotter and beginning to wilt. Sometime after noon, he found himself dragging his feet. He needed to sleep just a little. It wouldn’t do him any good if he stumbled drunkenly because of fatigue.

He found some larger rocks and lay behind them in relation to the sun. The shade felt good, and to stop for a time—

Despite his fears, he fell into a fitful slumber, dreaming horrible things. He half-awoke twice, but drifted off again each time.

He woke up later, seeing by the sun that it was late afternoon. He’d slept longer than he’d wanted, but felt just a little bit better. When he stood and looked around—

His heart stopped and something stuck in his throat. He saw shapes in the far distance the way he’d come. That might be three or maybe four men. He did not see a zarlarion, but the men—

“Whip men,” Brand whispered.

He had the distinct impression they saw him. Thus, it would be wasteful of strength and stamina if he threw himself down.

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