(eng) Jon Kiln by Veiled Dagger 05- Assassin's Edge

Author:Veiled Dagger 05- Assassin's Edge [Edge, Veiled Dagger 05- Assassin's]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Rothar and Cassius had spent the rest of the night riding as hard as they dared. Through moonlit valleys and over shadowy passes, they pushed the horses to their limits. Fleck led the way, the nimble little horse picking out a smart path over loose stone, and Stormbringer powered along behind her, keeping the pace regardless of the terrain.

There had been no signs of pursuit, but nevertheless, slowing was not an option. At some point, the Southlanders were bound to make a discovery, perhaps it would be the dead man in the thicket, or the sentries slaughtered on the pass, or even the stolen scroll. Whatever it was that the devils discovered first, it was going to unleash a manhunt. Once the new chief learned that the enemy had been in their midst, the entirety of his fury would be personified by the Southlander army, and when that happened, Rothar wanted to be nowhere near that mountain.

Clearly, the troops had expected him to come at some point. The scout in the valley had said as much. “They said you would come,” he had sneered. It seemed likely that once the bodies or the theft were discovered, his name would be on the tongue of every fiend in the Southland camp.

As day began to break, the two riders could make out the faint line of the city’s southern wall ahead and below. They had ridden in silence ever since they had first saddled the horses, in part by necessity and in part because Rothar preferred not to speak when he did not feel in control of his anger. Now, as he and Cassius began the descent down the pass towards the wall, he broke the silence.

“I am going to request that King Heldar remove you from my employ,” he said. “You are no longer needed on this mission.”

Cassius pulled up his horse abruptly. The animal stopped so quickly that Stormbringer nearly bumped into her from behind, but instead stepped around and proceeded to pass her on the narrow trail.

“With all due respect, sir, I must say that I do not understand,” Cassius said.

As Rothar and Stormbringer passed, he read surprise and indignation on Cassius’ face, but he rode on and spoke over his shoulder.

“That is exactly the problem, Cassius, you do not understand,” Rothar said. “You do not understand what it means to follow an order. You do not understand the chain of command. And you do not understand the enemy we face.”

As Stormbringer continued down the pass, Rothar heard Cassius spur his horse to keep up.

“Is this about when I left you sleeping?” he asked. “Because there is no shame in being weary, Rothar. I will not tell a soul anyhow.”

Rothar gave Stormbringer’s reins a short tug and the horse wheeled around half a turn to face directly back at Cassius and Fleck. The little horse stopped short again and Cassius slid forward in the saddle.

“If you think this is about my pride, then you are even dimmer than I had guessed,” Rothar said.

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