Soulstone by Jake Allen Coleman

Author:Jake Allen Coleman [Coleman, Jake Allen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jake Allen Coleman
Published: 2018-01-17T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

Even with Gabirel’s military discipline it took most of the next day to prepare the army to move. The king’s herald departed with the sun, along with a missive to the King that Gabirel would attend him at Cinaeth on the appointed day. He could not miss the preparations going on around him and would no doubt have his own report to King Ercanbald detailing Gabirel’s preparations. Close on his heals came the scouting parties ranging ahead of the main force to guard against ambush.

Halfway to noon the First Calvary rode out, leading the order of march, with squads of spearmen and archers close on their heels. Next came the High Council and the cadre of wizards, with the Swordsmen as escort and an additional squadron of spearmen close on their heels, followed by the supply train. Just behind that, Sebastian rode along with his squad and the other squires. They operated as a reserve force and to help protect the supplies during the march. This would be their trial by fire. At the end of the caravan, the Second Cavalry operated as a rear-guard.

In order of march, strict discipline was not expected, and the recruits were free to ride as they would. Martino and Sebastian rode along at a ground eating pace, discussing the events of the past two days. “I’d not thought when I joined Gabirel we’d be riding to war so soon. What do you think Sebastian?”

Distracted, Sebastian had not been listening to his friend, “What do I think of what?”

Martino leaned over to punch him on the shoulder, “Riding to war! The grand adventure. Isn’t this why we joined Gabirel?”

Sebastian looked at his friend, “The grand adventure hasn’t ever turned out how I thought.”

“Oh, come now. You can’t tell me you’re not excited to be out of the Dazhberg and riding out to battle! I would have thought you at least would be ready to defeat Sterling Lex once and for all.”

“What makes you so sure we’re going to win?”

Martino laughed at him, “You are a foul mood today, aren’t you?”

Before Sebastian could respond Loanan choose that moment to ride past, head wrapped in a bandage. Bumping his horse into Sebastian, he sneered at the boy to his two companions. “Look at this one, a lump of hay in his saddle. I’ve not forgotten what you did yesterday and whatever Jarmo Dale decides, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Sebastian gripped his reigns tight, struggling to contain his sudden anger. The horse frisked beneath him, picking up on his mood. Martino came to his rescue, positioning himself between Loanan and his friend. “I’d be more worried about myself, were I you Loanan. I hear they will use your little bout yesterday as a case study. You’ll get to give lectures every year on how you got pummeled by a farmer in your first Challenge. Imagine what your dear father will say.”

Loanan’s face flushed beet red at Martino’s jab and he laid a hand on his sword. For a moment, Sebastian wondered if he would call Martino out.

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