Shattered Fears by Ulff Lehmann

Author:Ulff Lehmann [Lehmann, Ulff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: epic fantasy, grimdark
Publisher: Crossroad Press
Published: 2019-09-02T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 24

This morning he had worked the bellows with Maire to help prepare the forge for a new day’s work. Now, Jesgar stood in the Baron’s study, waiting. The atmosphere in the Palace had barely changed since the Chanastardhians’ retreat. Some drunks in the Tankard yesterday evening had proclaimed that it was doomed from the beginning. One look at the braggarts had shown these men had never seen combat. He had, and wished he hadn’t.

Baron Duasonh, he could tell by the man’s tone, was also aware of how close things had been. The Baron wore his bandaged arm with pride. Rumor had it an enemy’s spear had pierced his shield. Since none of the defenders had come away unscathed, Jesgar believed the gossip.

Since Ben’s cremation he had stayed with Maire, had been granted a few days leave to help her return operation of the smithy to normal. The house was crowded. Pientic, the wheelwright two houses down the street, had been sheltering some refugees. But enemy stones had destroyed the craftsman’s house, and Maire had offered to take them in with her. Their home wasn’t big enough to house a score of folks, most of the space was dedicated to smithy and storage, and now there were people everywhere. One couldn’t put a foot down without stepping on somebody else’s toes. And on top of all of that, Pientic’s oldest daughter followed him wherever he went. In another lifetime he would have welcomed the attention, the lass was pretty enough, but now, even with his grief gone, chasing skirts felt trivial. The Baron had cancelled his leave, and it felt like a blessing.

Entering the study had ended the joy. Aside from Lord Duasonh, two very familiar faces greeted him with resigned nods. Upholder Coimharrin seemed angry, maybe even a bit disturbed; Librarian Megan scratched her cheek, which, he had come to learn, was a sign of disappointment. For the most part the two priests ignored him, listening to the Baron who was pacing back and forth, despite the obvious discomfort. All Jesgar could do was wait and listen.

“You have until Seed, at the latest. No, actually it’d be better if you got him ready mid-Thaw, this way he’ll be on his way to Herascor by the end of the year.”

“Do you think I have nothing better to do than teach your pet spy?” Coimharrin asked. Gone was the doddering old fool he had met when first introduced to the man. There was steel in the priest’s voice.

Duasonh paused and regarded Coimharrin. “He is not my pet spy, Upholder. And, no, I do not think you have anything better to do, because if we don’t kill this threat at its roots, we will have the Chanastardhians again laying siege to the city once their crops are planted.”

“And what do you want him to do once he’s there? Kill Drammoch and his High Advisor?”

“That’s the general idea,” Duasonh said.

Jesgar swallowed, felt his knees grow weak, but none of them so much as glanced his way.

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