The Firejack War: Book I by P.L. Smith

Author:P.L. Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-04-07T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER VIII

Dagan shifted uncomfortably on the large rock upon which he sat. His old hips and joints couldn't take sitting on something so hard anymore. The soft grass growing next to the cold mountain lake below would be preferential, but he didn't have much longer; his watch was nearly up.

He had managed to get all of his foresters, the ones left, into the safety of the mountains, following the great peak to the mouth of the Mountainhold Canyon. Towards the end of the canyon, it narrowed and got very steep. It had been difficult climbing for everyone, but Dagan's old bones still ached, and this was the third day since the climb.

They had reached the table on which the lake was carved just before nightfall. It was a good spot, plenty of grass, water, and had an excellent vantage point. From where he sat, he could see the entire forest and the plains beyond.

The smoke had finally gone. Today was the first day that the sky was clear, and his eyes squinted at the brightness of the sun, nearly at its peak.

Dagan heard the loud clopping of horse hoof on rock and turned to see his relief.

"Good morning, Calypso."

"It's nearly midday. Take your leave."

"Thank you." Dagan grunted as he shifted again.

"Have you seen anything?"

"Nothing, no sign of them."

"I meant of Firejacks."

"Oh. No, none of them either."

"You haven't been looking very hard, Old Bull. There's something coming now."

Dagan turned and gazed back down the canyon. It took him a minute, but as soon as he spotted the two figures emerging from the tree-line, he knew it was Lethan.

"Right, that'll be them. I, uh... don't suppose I could ask one of your legion to help retrieve Lethan? You remember how steep it was."

"I'll not order any of my people to carry any other creature, especially a Lycan. But you are free to ask, steward. I doubt any will agree."

"I see."

Dagan moved past Calypso, his split hooves handling the rocky terrain much easier than the flat hooves of the Centaur.

"Dagan. Ask Minar. He'll carry your Lycan."

"Thank you, Calypso. I'll do that."

****

"Oh thank Mo-Na. They're sending horses to get us. That's good, I was near done in," said Tiny.

"That's a Centaur, not a horse," said Lethan.

"Oh. Are they friendly?"

"Not particularly."

The Centaur galloped down the hill and skidded to a stop before them.

"Lycan, I am Minar. I'll carry you to the top."

Lethan slapped Tiny on the back with a grin.

"But then again, I could be wrong! Minar, I would be happy to accept your invitation."

Lethan hobbled over and pushed himself up onto the centaur's back and carefully lifted his leg over.

"Well, Minar I'm ready when you are. Tiny, I'll see you at the top!"

"Yeah if I don't die first!"

But the Centaur had already kicked up a dirt cloud and was lurching up the hill, with Lethan desperately trying to keep his seat.

"All right fat man, one last push up the hill," Tiny told himself.

When he finally reached the top, covered in sweat, he could hear shouting.

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