The Broken Pyromancer by Oskar Soderberg

Author:Oskar Soderberg
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789198826128
Publisher: Oskar Soderberg

TWENTY-THREE

GOSLIN

Emeryn and Tvalfager buried the bodies before they left the clearing. They were exhausted by the end, but each of the trickster beast’s victims ended up cremated or buried in the ground.

The return to the village was a solemn affair. Tomford’s and Sarien’s disappearance weighed heavily on Goslin’s shoulders. He told himself and the others the two would find their way back, but he couldn’t shake the gnawing doubt in the dark corners of his own mind. Sarien’s power could close the openings, and he’d sent the luison away, but he’d never created an opening on his own as far as Goslin knew. They couldn’t wait any longer in the clearing. Their quest was still unfinished and there was no telling if their lost friends would appear in the same spot or not. Sarien and Tomford knew that the group was heading to Tyralien and Goslin hoped that the two men would meet them there.

With everyone’s injuries, the return trip back to the village was slow. Goslin counted themselves lucky that none of them were injured grievously now that they had lost the only two healers in their party. Goslin wasn’t even out of Eldsprak yet, and he’d already lost so many.

He let out a sigh. What a failure of a leader he had turned out to be.

Kax poked his shoulder. “Cheer up, Goslin. We’ve saved the villagers!”

Goslin glanced back over his shoulder. Kax’s dirt-splattered face suddenly made Goslin all too aware of how much he needed a bath. The rotten stench from the beast’s ichor permeated in his clothes and it took every effort for Goslin not to undress right then and there to burn it all.

“We’ve saved them. But we lost Tomford and Sarien in the process.”

“They’ll be fine. You said so yourself. Tomford will keep Sarien safe.”

“You’re right, of course. They’ll be fine.” He reminded himself that the others needed him to be in control. If he wavered, then they may all fall into despair and grief for their lost friends. He could not be the weak link in the chain.

“Shouldn’t the animals be back by now?” Lana asked.

“What do you mean?” Heylien asked. He was restringing his bow as they walked.

“If that monster scared them off, shouldn’t they have returned by now?”

Heylien shrugged. “Who knows how far they ran. Could be days before they dare return.”

“Right,” Lana said, though she did not look convinced.

“We’ll rest for a day in the village before continuing on,” Goslin said as they neared the edge of the forest.

“I’m not staying here a moment longer than I have to,” Tvalfager said. “The tower needs my report.”

“Aw, you’re not coming with us?” Kax asked.

Tvalfager didn’t pick up on the sarcasm. He drew himself up tall. “Afraid not, my short companion. As a firemagi, duty is everything to me.”

Kax rolled his eyes and continued in silence, too tired to mock the young pyromancer any further.

When they finally exited the forest, Goslin could barely stay standing and it appeared he wasn’t the only one. Emeryn’s face was still pale.

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