The Emperor's Shadow War (Tales of Alus Book 2) by Wigboldy Donald

Author:Wigboldy, Donald [Wigboldy, Donald]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2011-05-22T16:00:00+00:00

Voices speaking in a droning hum buzzed from all around him. It took time for Dante to realize that their presence even existed as his tired body allowed itself to be fooled by his mind's need for rest while incorporating the sounds into a confused dream. Exhaustion induced images slowly fell back and the man finally opened his eyes to look at the soldiers moving nearby him.

Hesia, one of Valenia's women, noticed his awakening as he began to sit up. "Sir, don't!" she began.

"Don't what?" Dante grumbled and pushed away her hands as he stood up. His stomach was very hungry now and he remembered that the healing needed the energy of food to do its work best. Dante found a partial loaf of bread and some dried meat sitting on a plate beside his blanket. The sandwich wasn't overly appetizing, but it still helped fulfill his body's need.

Hesia continued to fuss over him.

"Enough, corporal, enough. I'll be fine soon enough. Where is Valenia?" Looking around a moment, he asked, "Where are Sergeants Lane and Calla as well?"

"The captain and Calla led Nya, Artai, and Volin to the far mountain to check on the dark rider. Sergeant Lane is inside with Drakus."

"How is the dragon anyway?"

"Singed and ornery at our concern, but he's healthy enough."

"Any losses on our side?"

The woman had tears glistening on the lashes of her eyes that she blinked away with the question. "Three dead, sir. Most of us have gashes though few are that severe. Riad has a broken hand. Tria can't stand on her ankle, though we haven't determined if it is broken or sprained. Iyenne has a small concussion... "

"Enough, Hesia. I'll look in on the rest later. You've already answered my question of our battle readiness. If you'll excuse me, I think that I need to go see Lane and Drakus." He started to step away and stopped dead in his tracks long enough to ask, "How is Gannon?"

"He's with Drakus as well," she nodded towards the tunnel before him. "He managed to stay safe enough apparently," with her final words sounding somewhat bitter at the man's good fortune.

Dante left the woman to care for the others. This time the walk seemed much longer to the exhausted lieutenant. He could tell that he would still need more rest to fully recover his strength. With a torch in hand, Dante moved deeper into the cavern. As he went deeper into the tunnel, the man found traces of blood in small splashes on the stone floor. Drakus had not left the battlefield unscathed despite Hesia's words.

Voices came from ahead of him carried in echoes along the stone of the passage walls. Eventually, he found the owners of those voices standing near the head of the reclining Drakus. The dragon lifted his head at Dante's entrance alerting the other two men.

"Lieutenant!" Lane greeted, "Should you be up so soon?"

"I'm well enough, but a little tired and hungry. So, yes, I think that I can be up, Sergeant," Dante reprimanded from his tone if not exactly in words.

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