The Godling Chronicles : The Shadow of Gods (Book Three) by Brian D. Anderson

Author:Brian D. Anderson [Anderson, Brian D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Longfire Press
Published: 2014-05-30T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Frost covered the bleak landscape as Lee and Jacob rose from their tent, shivering and rubbing their arms. The bitter cold of the far north was not something even a Hazrian Lord could ignore. Fires already burned around the camp, and the scent of bacon wafted on the frigid air. Darius was already up: something most uncharacteristic for the fat merchant. He was kneeling down by a fire, cradling a cup of hot coffee in his gloved hands. Lee and Jacob joined him.

“Are you sure about this?” asked Darius. “It seems foolish to me.”

“I'm sure,” Lee replied. He grabbed the tin kettle suspended over the fire and poured himself a cup. “If what I hear is true, we will gain passage north if we join the army. All new recruits are sent to Kratis for training and deployment. And that's where we need to go.”

“I haven't asked you your true business,” said Darius. “And I won't. But you seek the palace of the Reborn King, it would seem. If you do this, you will be caught, and you will die. You don't want to know the stories I've heard about what they do to spies.”

“I can imagine,” Lee said, soberly. The thought of his son suffering torture caused his stomach to knot. “Still, we must try.”

“Well, if I cannot dissuade you,” said Darius, “at least allow me to help you.” He reached into his coat and pulled out a piece of folded parchment. “It's a letter of endorsement stating that you have been in my service for the past five years. I am known in these parts, so it will pass scrutiny.”

Lee took it and smiled gratefully. “Yes. This will certainly help us.”

They ate, and then packed their gear. Fennio and three others were waiting for them by the road. Lee knew that he was taking a risk in traveling with these men. Should his and Jacob’s cover story be questioned, any of them could say that they had only recently joined the caravan. If that happened, the endorsement letter would become a liability instead of a help.

Darius was also at the roadside, holding a number of small purses. “All right, lads,” he said. “Don’t ever say I'm not a fair man.” He handed out the purses to the men. The jingle of coins sounded as they bounced them up and down. “Just don't go counting it yet. You've been paid already, so wait until I'm gone before complaining about how little extra is there.”

“Thank you for all your help,” said Lee. He shook the man’s hand firmly and smiled.

Darius laughed heartily. “And thank you for saving my life.” He waved his hand in a gesture of dismissal. “Now go. I have a business to run, and wine to drink.” He turned away and strode back to his tent.

The recruiting station was three miles away at the Whiterun Pass garrison, just south of the city itself. It took them only an hour to arrive, but the town could be seen from more than a mile away.

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