The Fifth Vertex (The Sigilord Chronicles) by Hoffman Kevin

Author:Hoffman, Kevin [Hoffman, Kevin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-08-02T07:00:00+00:00

18

Urus sat on a bench in the corner of a brightly lit room in a Waldron barracks, leaning against a cold stone wall, staring at nothing in particular. Again his thoughts returned to home—if there even was a home—and his missing uncle.

But how much of a home could it be now, anyway? He'd been branded to be shunned by everyone in Kest, only grudgingly fed and clothed like a prisoner. Despite the crowd of soldiers in the room, his best friend standing nearby, and his newfound companions, he felt truly alone.

Even at his lowest point, standing on the palace rooftop, looking down at the escape death might bring, he'd still had Aegaz and a city he loved, even if that city thought nothing of him in return.

A hand waving in front of his face brought him out of his reflection.

"We need to treat your wounds, sir," said the soldier, still mostly in his nightclothes.

Why would he call me sir? Urus thought.

"I'm fine." Urus dismissed the offer with a wave of his hand.

"The Knight Marshall insists," he replied.

"I said I don't need any help," Urus said, straightening. Sitting up sent pain shooting through his chest, radiating out through his broken ribs.

Nobody needs to see what's under my armor, Urus thought. Nobody here knows that I'm not a real warrior.

"Sir, let me just get your armor off and I can dress the wounds and set your ribs."

"No!" Urus shouted. He tried to stand up to get away, but doubled over in pain. It hadn't been very long since he'd hit those trees, and the pain was getting worse with each minute.

The next face he saw was Goodwyn's, helping him back up onto the bench. "Let him tend to your wounds, you stubborn ass."

Urus lacked the strength to resist any further. He leaned back and looked around the room. Murin stood in a corner, saying nothing but taking everything in. Corliss barked orders at soldiers as soon as they arrived, continuing a half dozen other conversations over a table full of maps as soon as they left.

The barracks door swung inward, admitting a tall, barrel-chested man in plate armor with a sword slung over each hip. Stains and scratches marred nearly every inch of his gear.

Now this is a man who knows how to fight, Urus thought. Though the heavy armor makes him slow and easy to defeat.

"Captain Rhygant. Did you stop at the baker's for a nice sweet roll on your way here?" Corliss snapped, not looking up from the map-covered tabled.

"Sir," the captain said with a bow. "I've been seeing to the defenses. Lieutenant Vidiam has been organizing the men into companies while I have been readying the ballistae."

"And?"

"We're low on stones. We may end up hurling goats and laundry baskets by day's end of the first battle," Rhygant said with a sigh.

"Noted." Corliss pivoted his attention from a map of local geography to a diagram of Waldron's inner structures.

Cailix sat on a bench across the room from Urus, dressed in clean linens, eating an apple while being helped on with a suit of padded leather armor.

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