The Temple of Heart and Bone by Evren S.K

Author:Evren, S.K. [Evren, S.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-01-09T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19 – The Path East

Troseth thought back over his past as he watched the undead marching east. He, too, had marched east after his betrayal. He had left his life behind, carrying only his armor, Ythel’s dagger, and his pain into the lands of the enemy.

He fought alcohol poisoning for days before his body flushed the toxins from his system. He waylaid a messenger traveling to Æostemark, robbing him of purse, weapons and horse. The ease with which he’d struck the man down surprised him. He considered, briefly, a life of banditry on the highway, but the thought soon lost its appeal. As a bandit, he’d be able to make a living, probably a good one, but he’d never have the opportunity to chastise his betrayers, not on the scale that he desired.

His life had been a simple matter of service and reward. He had given his instructors, and his Duke, exemplary service, and he was accustomed to being well rewarded. Eventually, he thought, his service had outstripped their rewards. When Ythel knew he could no longer repay such service, he had simply pushed Troseth out of sight. On the eastern frontier, Troseth would be the Crown’s problem; perhaps he might even be killed. What a fool he’d been, to believe that his transfer had been some sort of reward.

He had been transferred to remove an inconvenience, an obstacle. The Duke had probably been offered some familial alliance in exchange for the hand—and virtue—of his daughter. The damned old man had sold his daughter as if she were a common whore! Troseth, instead of being loyal to his true love, had been bought off himself! But Ythel had deceived him. Troseth had believed he was being moved to a needed command, a place to find social elevation and glory. He had believed the old man was preparing him for the exalted position of son-in-law. What a fool he had truly been.

This could not stand, he had decided. Dying by his own hand in a ditch would simply cement the plans the old Duke had made. Troseth would never give Ythel the satisfaction. Banditry might hurt the family’s finances, but the old man would never dare to set his foot on the road without a massive escort. He had no idea where his love had been taken, so there would be no way to rescue her on his own. He needed power—power and opportunity.

He had fought the armies of Sel Avrand, and he knew that they were a formidable force. If he could manage to enlist himself in their service, it was just possible that he might find all that he sought. He could rise through their ranks as he had in the Kingdom of Marynd. He could build a force, loyal to himself, and work to repay the kindness of his former men and master. It would be difficult, he knew. More than simple terrain to cross, there were years of animosity to overcome.

Sel Avrand and Marynd had been separate for centuries.

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