Fierian by Ronie Kendig

Author:Ronie Kendig
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gilead Publishing
Published: 2017-06-22T04:00:00+00:00

24

Flames grant him mercy, he would die in this Abiassa-forsaken land before he completed his task. And with Haegan returned and determined to make for Ironhall, not Vid, Tili was not sure what task remained for him, except the protection of the thinblood.

“Your thoughts are weighted,” came the voice of Colonel Grinda as they led the column around an abandoned village.

Some structures stood defiant in the wake of Poired’s attack, but most—like the people of the Nine—had crumbled. Lay broken, changed, if not shattered.

“There is much weighting them,” Tili replied, his gaze on the horses lumbering through the hot, dry terrain.

“Have you seen him?”

Tili frowned. “Who?”

“The prince—Haegan.”

“I think we all saw him, Colonel.”

“No, I mean . . .”

Tili shifted his full attention to Grinda now, surprised that he was at a loss for words. Then he followed the colonel’s gaze to a cluster of riders. The Tahscans. They moved through this trial and land as if it hadn’t fazed them.

“I don’t understand.”

“Aye, neither do I.”

“No—” But then it struck Tili. The Tahscans numbered one too many. They were not simply riding in a band, they were following. Trailing one man. He’d missed it because all their heads were shaved. Including that of Haegan, who rode with Vaqar. Head now shaved.

Tili startled at the stark contrast. “Blazes.” How had he missed Haegan shearing off his hair? What was the message in doing so? Among the Southlanders, it was a sign of nobility to wear the hair long. Was he shedding that persona? Rejecting one more piece of his identity?

“Steward,” came a voice from the side—Gwogh, who rode a black horse alongside Kedulcya. “We ride to Vid and will bring the accelerants we have gathered.”

“I am not sure I can afford an escort for ye.”

“We would not ask it,” Gwogh said. “The fewer our number, the less likely we’ll attract attention.”

Tili nodded, his gaze again drifting to Haegan. This was not the boy who’d stolen a kiss from Thiel, thinking none save the stars had been witness that night. Nor the boy who fled the gathering room when his destiny had been revealed.

Nay, this was a man. Not just a man. The Fierian. His back had broadened, shoulders filled out.

“He will need you, Steward,” Gwogh said. “Stay with him, stay true to him.”

The Fierian, the one who had blasted an entire city with a deadly wave of heat, would need Tili? He nearly scoffed out loud. But even he knew—felt—that the aged accelerant spoke true. “Fear not,” he forced himself to say, “I will remain until he is safely upon the throne.”

Grim faced, Gwogh heaved a sigh. “I fear that may not be the goal.”

“’Tis my goal and all I promise.” Tili swung his gaze again to the prince, who had turned to them. Strange, the Hand of Abiassa looked more a man than ever before, and yet . . . there was a glimmer of trepidation radiating through his face that was every bit the petulant twig who’d fled the great library at Nivar.

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.