Kingfall (The Kingfall Histories Book 1) by David Estes

Author:David Estes [Estes, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-07-16T14:00:00+00:00

From that point on, Sampson felt a change in the attitude of the Grizari toward him. Though many continued to take an extra step to the side when they passed by him, they didn’t mutter what he assumed were Grizari curses. Some even thumped their fists when they saw him, a gesture he always returned.

He toiled beside them during the day, riding Hmm and learning their ways: how to recover cattle who strayed from the herd; filling wooden barrels with water from a nearby stream and loading them onto wagons to be dragged back to camp by the grux; building fires using stones and sticks and what scrub bushes could be scavenged from the stark terrain; moving on every two to three days to find more fertile lands for the cattle to graze.

After only a few days sweating alongside the Griz, a respect had built inside him for their way of life. Despite the hardships of their nomadic lifestyle, they seemed…happy.

BECAUSE THEY ARE CHILDREN, his blade reminded him whenever his thoughts strayed in this direction. BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOOD FOR THEM.

Now he sat in his tent with Roman after a hard day’s work. Since they had parted ways after Sampson had held his blade to Roman’s throat, they hadn’t discussed anything serious. It was like they both needed a break from all of that, cleansing their minds through sweat and work. But now, Sampson knew it was time.

“I cannot rid myself of this blade,” Sampson said.

“I never asked you to.”

Sampson searched his memory. Was that true? Yes. Though Roman had made comments about the blade, he’d never once insisted that Sampson discard it. He’d only ever given him counsel. If anything, it was Sampson who’d sought to break his connection to the blade, like when he threw himself from the precipice of Beggar’s Canyon. “So you think I should keep it?”

“I didn’t say that either.”

“Then which is it? Or are you saying you’re indifferent on the matter?”

“I’m saying this is your choice and your choice alone.”

Sampson blew out a frustrated breath. His whole life he’d sought independence, the ability to be the architect of his own future, but now that he was in a position to do just that, he wanted Roman to give him the right answer.

“Can I ask you a question?” Roman asked.

“Of course.”

“What do you want?”

For a moment, the question stumped him. “I…I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do.”

“So you’re a mind reader now?”

“No, but I know you. I know you as well as I know myself.”

And Sampson knew Roman. He knew the man had only ever wanted good for him, happiness. He considered the question. “I want…I want everything.”

“Can you be more specific?”

“I want my eyesight and I want to be with Amari and Jarrod, and I want to do something that matters and I want to stop the flow of demons from the Rift that I widened, and I want to defeat Glynn Kerr and help the Grizari get their lands back. I want it all.

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