The Last Garrison by Matthew Beard

Author:Matthew Beard [Beard, Matthew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-7869-5942-6
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2011-12-05T16:00:00+00:00

After Sten and Spundwand returned to the street, the elf and half-elf clasped hands with the warlord and the dwarf, exchanging pleasantries until it was obvious to Nergei that all four were acquainted, if not friends. Still, he waited until he and the others were motioned forward before approaching, and only then after Kohel, Padlur, and Luzhon had all introduced themselves did he offer his own name.

“And I am Mikal, Magla’s brother,” replied the half-elf.

“But you are only—” Nergei stopped, stammered, apologized. “I apologize. It is not my place to say anything.”

“No,” said Mikal, still smiling. “You are wondering, and you have expressed your wonder. Nothing wrong with that, especially in one like yourself. Yes, I am her brother. Born after, but surely first to die. That is the curse of the half-born. My elven longevity is a mere sliver of hers. This is why we travel together. We are the last family either has, and have vowed to stay at each other’s side for what short years we have between us. For in thirty or forty years I will be dead, and none of my years will show in her face. Perhaps then she will return to her people, and seek what inheritance might still await her among her father’s kin. But not now, and not yet. For now, she lives with me in what part of the world we share, and that is enough.”

“You said ‘one like me.’ What am I like?”

“You are an apprentice arcanist yourself, are you not? A student of the arts? In touch with the wild magic, perhaps?”

Nergei stammered again, suddenly afraid; his master would talk to the wizard, and the wizard would tell his master what he had done, what he had been forbidden to do. “No, wizard, I am none of those things. Merely my master’s boy.”

Mikal looked closer, stroked the trim triangle of his goatee. “Perhaps you are right. In any case, now we have both made some mistake about the other, and so we are even, and still well-met. And just in case I am wrong, perhaps there is a thing or two I can show you upon our journey.”

Magla waved them all over, so that once again Sten could explain to the two warriors what he had already explained to Imony, that together they would go to Haven, where they would protect those who could not protect themselves. There would be nothing in return. Not money, for the people of Haven had none. Not glory, for the people of Haven sung no songs that were heard outside their walls. Not the love of the gods, for what gods there were loved none on Haven’s peak save to bless them with the occasional bounty of a good harvest, but rather had already abandoned them to what dark fate awaited.

There would be death or there would not be death, and nothing else would Sten promise those who might choose to follow him up the mountain and into the small, thankless village

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.