David Farland - Runelords 04 by Farland David

Author:Farland, David
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2004-10-18T15:18:25+00:00

Chapter 20

A Distant Fire

Of all mages, flameweavers are the most ephemeral. For the fire that fuels them also consumes them--

first the heart, and then the mind.

--from Advanced Wizardry, by Hearthmaster Shaw file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/D...lords%204%20-%20The%20Lair%20of%20Bones.htm (181 of 369) [10/18/2004 3:19:19 PM]

Lair of Bones The

High in the Hest Mountains, Raj Ahten led his army beneath skies so clear that he almost felt he could touch the setting sun.

No snow had fallen in these mountains in almost a week. By day the sun crept up and burned away the layer of white. By night the ground grew bitter cold and every pebble on the trail froze into place. The firm footing made for a safe ride. The force horses ran swiftly, for though they had nothing to eat here on the escarpment where grass could not grow, they knew that refreshment lay in the warm valleys below, in Mystarria.

So it was that Raj Ahten rode down into the pines in the late afternoon when he came upon a vast army.

Dirty brown tents squatted haphazardly beneath trees. The horses in camp were starved, with ribs and hips showing beneath dull hides.

As Raj Ahten's army bore down upon the camp, its few guards grew frightened and blew their ram's horns.

"Peace," Raj Ahten said as he topped a rise and stared down the guards. "Your lord has returned."

These were ragged troops, commoners. Here were archers and pikemen, smiths and washwomen, camp followers and harlots. He had sent this army over the mountains nearly a month ago in preparation for his invasion of Mystarria. They had not arrived in time for his first battle at Carris, being bogged down in an early snow.

But they had made good time in the past week, and would be able to accompany him now. The captain in charge of the troops rushed from his tent, carrying a half-eaten bowl of rice.

"It is our lord, the Great Raj Ahten," a guard shouted, warning the captain to look sharp.

"O Light of the World," the captain called as he tossed his dinner to the ground and drew near, trepidation plain on his face. "To what do we owe this honor?" The captain, a grimy man named Moussaif, hailed from a great family. He had won this post by accident of birth rather than from any skill as a leader.

"The time has come," Raj Ahten said, "to claim Mystarria. Roust your men from their dreams. They must reach Carris by tomorrow at dusk."

"But, O Light of Understanding," Moussaif apologized, "my men are faint. We have had little food and no rest for days, and Carris is still thirty miles away. We just set camp an hour ago. The horses are tired."

"Your men can rest at Carris," Raj Ahten said. "They can eat Mystarrian food and drink Mystarrian blood for all I care. Tell every archer to bring a bow, a quiver of arrows, and nothing else. Tell every file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/D...lords%204%20-%20The%20Lair%20of%20Bones.htm (182 of 369) [10/18/2004 3:19:19 PM]

Lair of Bones The

pikeman to bring his pike."

"But, O Fire of Heaven," Moussaif argued, "Carris is well defended.

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