A Whisper After Midnight by Christian Warren Freed

Author:Christian Warren Freed [Freed, Christian Warren]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Epic, Sword & Sorcery, Teen & Young Adult
Amazon: B00JFLU08C
Goodreads: 24925685
Publisher: Smashwords Edition
Published: 2014-03-31T23:00:00+00:00

*****

Jarrik tipped his head back, enjoying the warmth of the flames on his face. The satisfaction of knowing his foes were trapped and being burned to death filled him with energy. He and the others had been forced to sit idle as Harnin dithered over his next move. Weeks of inactivity while the rebellion grew and organized. Weeks where men he knew and once trusted defected to their cause. Weeks of missing the opportunity to wipe out the rebellion while it was still pathetic, weak.

It was only through Jarrik’s own subversion that they managed to get a spy inside the rebel council. He smirked at how easy it was to turn one of their own. And all it took was the promise of a longer life and a small pile of riches. Jarrik wanted to spit. Peasants were always so concerned with money they lost sight of the bigger picture. Their spy wouldn’t live long enough to collect his rewards. All rebel leaders were going to be captured and executed publicly in the grand finale of the war. No one would dare rise against the throne again.

Harnin, no doubt, would be incensed when he learned of Jarrik’s disobedience, but that didn’t matter. He was doing what was best for Delranan, not himself. The rebellion had gone on for far too long already. Combined with the lack of information from the real war in Rogscroft, Jarrik was left with an uncomfortable feeling. Nothing made sense of late. Harnin’s actions were becoming increasingly erratic. His designs for the future of the kingdom echoed madness.

Jarrik watched the flames and suddenly found doubt. All of this merely weakens our kingdom. Will we be able to repel the Wolfsreik when they return home? He was certain something dark and cruel inhabited Harnin’s mind, whispering to him when no one was looking. Insanity was the only logical reason for his recent decisions. Delranan was once the pride of the northern kingdoms. Now it wallowed in an unnecessary military state. The population was subjected to fear for no reason.

Delranan needed a king again, not a tyrant. Jarrik, regretting his decision to support Harnin’s coup, frowned as thoughts of betrayal formed. He wasn’t sure if the time was right to abandon the One Eye and go back to Badron, but the thought grew with every passing moment.

“My lord, there is no way of knowing if the rebels are inside or not.”

Of course not you fool. “Secure the perimeter and keep guards posted. We won’t be able to search the ruins until this fire dies out. Commander Flynn, I am riding back to the Keep. Find me, no one else, when you are ready to begin searching for bodies.”

Flynn saluted. “Yes, my lord. What should we do with these prisoners?”

Jarrik didn’t spare a glance at the six men kneeling with their hands behind their heads. “Execute them and post the bodies for the people to see. They are traitors to the kingdom.”

That should keep Harnin’s anger in check though I wonder who the real traitors here are.

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