The Mercenary Code (The Shattering of Kingdoms Book 1) by Emmet Moss

Author:Emmet Moss [Moss, Emmet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-05-15T22:00:00+00:00

Four days after their harrowing escape from the slaughter at the Crossroads, Alessan and Corian crossed an old stone bridge and noticed a definite widening of the road. Worn and cracked cobblestones covered the area, and a healthy growth of grass and weeds jutted out from in between a number of the weathered stones. It was obvious that the old road had seen little in the way of traffic for many years.

The two men had survived on good fortune and the ability to uncover edible mushrooms and herbs. With bodies nourished, their pace quickened and their steps were now more confident and purposeful. For the first time since the Crossroads, they spoke of things other than that sad event. Corian happily regaled Alessan with whimsical stories of his youth in the mountainous countryside of Innes Vale.

With slight trepidation, the two men pushed onward and as they topped a small rise they looked down on a wonderfully startling discovery - the ruins of what appeared to be an ancient city. Partially crumbling structures with rooftops that had succumbed to the elements, teetered precariously throughout the scene below. In what was once the city center sat the remnants of a large keep, its walls still solid and strong. Hundreds of trees grew in the middle of open plazas, their branches penetrating inside the buildings standing in their path. Many of the large fountains were empty of water and were instead overgrown with flowers and plants. Roads, houses, and walls sprawled over an immense area, the size of which astounded Alessan. To see so many buildings hidden within the depths of the Aeldenwood was incredible. From their vantage point on the hill, the ruins appeared to be deserted.

As they approached the gate, both men strained their eyes in the hopes of detecting any danger before it landed upon them. Alessan noticed that the walls and buildings showed no signs of damage other than the wear of time. Fire had not forced the people of the ruined city to flee, nor did any evidence point towards an invading army. The walls were cracked at their foundations by the growth of a number of huge trees, but were still in surprisingly good repair. As they carefully picked their way forward, Alessan could see some of the leafy boughs of the Aeldenwood growing directly through the rooftops of many buildings, most notably through the top of a tall tower. Fascinated, Corian and Alessan arrived at the bottom of the small rise with mouths agape.

At first, the unnatural stillness of the place was almost unbearable. The oppressive silence, so rare for a place that had once housed thousands of people, was distressing. As the travelers walked slowly up the widening path and under the cracked stone archway into the city, an intense feeling of loneliness filled their hearts.

Alessan craned his neck and stared upward as they passed under the wall, his eyes registering every detail. Large tarnished hinges, remnants of rotten timber that formed a decaying gate

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