The Bones of the Earth (The Dark Age) by Scott Bury

Author:Scott Bury [Bury, Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: The Written Word Communications Co.
Published: 2011-12-21T23:00:00+00:00

They were ready the next morning. The sun rose, but they couldn’t see it. Heavy dark clouds filled the sky. There was no wind, and the air was heavy.

Javor stood beside a saddled and armoured horse, wondering what to do. At Valgus’ order, he and Photius and 50 cataphracti had gathered, ready to ride at sunrise. The legionnaires were fully armoured and mounted on horses that wore coats of mail themselves. Javor was also wearing armour, the spoils from Ghastog’s cave. He had the sword he had taken from the Avar raiders that had attacked Bilavod, and showing on his other hip, his grandfather’s long dagger. But the amulet he kept out of sight, against his chest.

The legionnaires jumped easily into their mounts. Javor had never ridden on a horse before. Horses were a luxury that the Sklavenic villages seldom had. So Javor stood beside the horse, wondering how he would get up.

Antonio the boxer came up in full armour, with a new red scar across his face to go with his smashed nose. He grinned toothlessly. “Need a hand up?” Javor nodded, embarrassed. Antonio laced his fingers together as a step and hoisted Javor so that he could get his leg over the horse’s back. He clung to its neck, terrified of sliding off.

A horse cantered up beside him, carrying a Photius who looked very much at ease. “Hold on with you knees, lad. Relax and you’ll find yourself much more secure in the saddle.” Javor was very aware of the cataphracti who looked at him with indulgent smiles. Danisa, he thought. I’m coming for you. If you’re still alive.

Javor felt sick when he thought they had waited a full day before going after the dragon and trying to rescue Danisa and Veca, the girl it took. But he had to admit that he hadn’t actually seen the dragon take Danisa away. He hadn’t even realized she was gone until the next morning.

No matter how much he had argued and urged an immediate rescue attempt, Valgus refused to leave until his men were completely ready for war. The fort was filled with sound and action as men repaired armour and weapons, packed food and tended horses. Only after a short night’s sleep did the Legate express his satisfaction that the Legion was ready to face a dragon.

Sitting on the same horse with Zdravko was an old man Javor did not recognize. They both looked miserable. “This man Volos,” said Zdravko. “He is oldest man in our village. He maybe knows way to cave. If it is real. Maybe.” The old man said nothing, just sat trembling on the horse.

Valgus was still on the ground, talking to a rider who didn’t seem as heavily armoured as the rest. The man nodded, saluted, and then the horse sprang forward and galloped at full speed out of the gates and down the road, heading south.

A squire brought a beautiful white horse, covered in silver plate on its head and a mail blanket. Valgus sprang into the saddle with seemingly no effort at all.

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