The Emerald Queen by J. W. Webb

Author:J. W. Webb [Webb, J. W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-26T22:00:00+00:00

Doyle stared at the fading light outside. Two hours had passed with not a sound bar that of his own worried heart beating. What was going on here? And why was his captain so remote and strange? A man he admired beyond any had become a stranger of late.

The men were talking—especially Pash. Even cheerful Tol was questioning why they were here in this alien city. And for good reason too. Garland needed to tell them what his plans were, if indeed he had any. And that was the problem. Doyle suspected he didn’t but rather was under some spell brought on by his visitation at the Lake of Stones. The captain hadn’t been the same since that encounter.

The fight last week had been good, except for poor Mullen, though he’d gone the way they’d all go eventually, and had had a good run for this money. They all loved Garland, a man whom Doyle had come to respect beyond any other. A good plain honest man. A soldier, uncomplicated and strong. But Garland had changed over the last few weeks. Whatever had happened at that lake had had a profound effect on his captain.

A knock on his door.

The handle turned slowly, and Doyle tensed. “Enter,” he said, and then felt a rush of relief seeing Tol standing there. “What’s up?”

“We need to talk, Doyle.” Tol stood at his window looking out at the gardens below, now shrouded in mist. “I don’t like it here.”

“They seem friendly enough, these Laregozans.” Doyle noted how Tol looked tired. Strained, the familiar smile replaced by constant frowns. “We’re just a long way from home, mate.”

“Aye, that we are, and that’s fine. If we knew why.” Tol turned and stared hard at his lieutenant. “The boys are getting restless, Doyle. They are losing faith in Garland.”

“And you?”

Tol looked uncomfortable and ill at ease. Doyle knew it wasn’t easy for him to speak. “Me too, though I’m sad to say it.”

“Garland said he’d hold a meeting,” Doyle said. “He wants to brief us on what we’re doing next. What he said.”

“So where is he now?”

“I don’t know. Either with Bruhan Dahali or that woman the Rana,” Doyle said. “No doubt trying to discover what he can.”

“I think he’s lost it, Doyle,” Tol said. “Captain’s changed since his encounter with that witch at the lake—or whatever she was. Not the same man.”

“Everyone changes, Tol.” They both looked up as Garland stood in the doorway, his eyes dilated and his features flushed red.

“Are you all right, Captain?” Doyle motioned a chair and Garland nodded, slouching into it and sighing.

“So the men are unhappy?”

“They are, sir,” Tol said, glancing at Doyle who shook his head. “We need to know what’s going on here.”

“We’re going to Rundali, that’s what’s going on,” Garland said, and Tol shrugged, and without asking their leave departed the room. Doyle watched him leave with worried eyes. If Tol was this dejected, the others would be a lot worse.

“Captain, we need a clear plan. You’ve told us nothing save hints and innuendoes.

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