The Last Ritual by Dragos Gaszpar

Author:Dragos Gaszpar
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter IX

Camp

It took longer to reach Skar’s camp than Melaan had thought. The hills that separated the Leath plains from the Desolate Wastes were less like hills and more like mountains, only they seemed smaller from afar. But as luck would have it, they needn’t have worried about a long climb in the moonlight. After a short ascent, Skar took them to a narrow gap nestled between two cliffs, where his camp was sprawled in the narrowest part of the chokepoint. It was even surrounded by ditches and a palisade. More than a camp, really, but less than a fort. Strange for Leath. Or maybe it was usual for their larger warbands, but he had never actually seen one up close, seeing as he’d always been on the defensive.

Along with their horses, Skar had finally begun showing signs of wear toward the end. Even he and Silanna had grown tired at this point, riding never having been their strong suit. Well, truth be told, he didn’t really have a strong suit. But Silanna must’ve been drained too, since she hadn’t said much since they had met up with Surak.

"Decent spot to hold," Kroll said, watching the Leath guards slowly come into view. "But I don’t hear any fighting."

"There is no fighting to be heard here," Skar said, breathing heavily but evenly. He pointed a retracted claw into the gap. "That lies past, half a day’s trek. Into the Wastes."

"Your half or our half?" Saasha said from the left.

Skar eyed her. "Assuming you had your horses, half your better, or half our worse."

"What, we’re measuring hoofs, now?" another Saasha asked from the right, startling even Skar. They all jerked their heads to look, only to find Tarra rolling her eyes at them.

Skar gave her a tired but warm smile, which carried on unsettling Melaan. "I like her," Skar said, facing back toward the camp.

"Of course you do!" Tarra said, eyeing Kroll in the half-darkness. "What’s not to like?"

"Well, I don’t anymore," Sidd complained in a disappointed voice. "I thought I had two lovers there for a second!"

Saasha reached out over her mare to try and cuff him, but he ducked his head. "You wish."

Kroll cleared his throat. "Can’t have pushed far, then. Don’t they sneak past?"

"Over these cliffs?" Skar said, shaking his head. "And there was no need to go any further. We are almost at their lair."

Voss turned his stare from the Leath guards to Skar. "And for how long have you been so close?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"For about a week, human. In truth, we have a fortunate, defensible vantage point. But we cannot push any further. They send out regular packs to assault us while continuing to amass inside. They will seek to overrun us once they have gathered a new swarm."

"Which is where we come in," Sidd said. "Go in, scythe them up, and throw a party."

"Settle on an agreement," Tarra added. "End the war."

Skar nodded. "Yes."

"How convenient," Voss sneered.

Kroll inspected the Leath closely. "You’re not holding back on us, are you?"

Sighing, Skar took a minute to answer.

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