The Weapon Takers Saga Box Set by Jamie Edmundson

Author:Jamie Edmundson [Edmundson, Jamie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rarn Publishing
Published: 2019-10-22T22:00:00+00:00

12

A Blessing

THE KNIGHTS OF KALINTH were on the move.

Belwynn had mixed emotions as the High Tower of the Knights receded into the distance behind them, and then disappeared. But most of all she was glad to be moving on.

The sun was out as the mounted force made a good pace along a narrow but well used road. They had left the seat of the Knights of Kalinth for Heractus, the seat of its kings. The road was mostly mud, and looked like it got wet and boggy in the winter months, but after several weeks of warm weather it had now been baked dry, leaving big cracks on the surface. There was little shade on the route, the landscape dominated by low lying vegetation like heather and gorse, which allowed the scouts to get a good view of the area around them, in all directions. Nesting birds, disturbed by the armed force passing their homes, would fly or run away, causing the few dogs with them to bark, the handlers to curse, and some of the horses to get jittery. But apart from the wildlife, there seemed little else to worry about, and the mood was relaxed.

The momentous events at the High Tower had culminated yesterday in the formal removal of Galenos as Grand Master of the Order, and the adoption of Sebastian as his replacement. It had been a bloodless revolution, and Galenos was now being held in comfortable conditions in a room in the Tower. But Sebastian and his advisers knew that news of their actions would already be spreading across the country to their enemies. They had to move fast and retain the initiative.

Sebastian already had the makings of an army at his disposal. Almost all the Knights had been in attendance at the High Tower, and most of those who supported Sebastian, who were in the clear majority, now joined him in the march south. Remi, Sebastian’s long-time friend, had been left in charge at the Tower, to run things in the new Grand Master’s absence, and to coordinate communications and supplies.

Many of the knights had brought with them a sizeable entourage of squires, men at arms, and other followers. In addition, Sebastian now had charge of the Order’s servants, which included craftsmen whose expertise lay in working with metal, leather, or wood. These groups swelled the force at Sebastian’s disposal to something like three thousand fighters in all. But, as Theron explained to Belwynn as they rode together near the head of the army, many other knights had not brought their soldiers with them. Theron himself only had Evander, his squire.

‘My largest estates, in Erisina, are to the west. I’ve written some letters, and given them to messengers to take to that part of the country. Other messengers are heading to the estates of our supporters all over Kalinth. Enough should get through in time to add to our army by the time we reach Heractus.’

‘How many soldiers might come from your estates?’ asked Belwynn.

Theron thought about it.

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