Thornbane the Free (Thornbane Trilogy Hexed Heroes Saga Book 3) by Paul Sating

Author:Paul Sating [Sating, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Army Of Immortals Publishing, LLC
Published: 2024-06-18T00:00:00+00:00

22

A MEETING IN BLOOD

"This might turn out to be quite the advantageous turn of events," Stearc said.

They rode east, past the town of Sagetine. Another marker for the Sisters of Ash. Unlike Verdiagia, the town showed a plenitude of scars beyond the piles of rubble. Unlike Daly Mires, the place hadn't been completely scorched.

The mood in the convoy of armed fighters darkened when they inspected the town. They'd found survivors, but those who stayed behind struggled without shelter. Thornbane called them to make camp in the town. Plenty of the homes still standing provided safe shelter. So many in the city had either fallen to the Sisters of Ash or had fled at the prospect of a return, leaving their homes abandoned. The soldiers were housed under roofs for the first time since they left Emeralis. The accommodations and the need to gather information on the enemy's whereabouts led Thornbane to call to stay in Sagetine for a second night. The army needed their strength. Another day under roofs went a long way in providing that. The grateful people of the town offered to cook for them. A few nights of simple meals were better than hardy road food. The spirit of the Sons of Verdiagia and soldiers of Emeralis lifted. But when word came of a sighting of a witch army on the move, no one wasted time packing out and setting off to march south.

The weather cooperated. The ground was firm. The rains of the late winter and spring had fed the soil, but the prolonged stay of the twin suns every day since hardened the earth, supporting the soldiers's boots and wagons' wheels. They put twenty-five miles on their feet that first day. A fantastic accomplishment, especially considering that another fifty people had joined their ranks. Sagetine, small in numbers but large in spirit, was ready to end the witches' tyranny.

The travel was far more beneficial than any of them could have hoped for. Lyra had spent enough time with the Sisters of Ash to learn much about their culture. The girl had been smart enough, even though traumatized by her abduction, to note the number of witches in The Ashes. She tracked them out of boredom. A great boon. Though discouraging to learn that there were over sixty Sisters of Ash, at least they knew what they were working against. Lyra felt bad that she couldn't count the bog trolls. She said there were too many. They always moved in groups. Hundreds more appeared every few days. No one held it against her. She'd armed them with their first true insight into the coven's strength.

Thornbane was encouraged to learn that the witches also had a command structure. Apparently, they were led by a council of five witches. The Hag, the Shrew, the Vixen, the Fury, and the Shadow. The five spirits supposedly imbued the select women with their knowledge. The apparent gift granted them the right to lead others. Though they apparently were equal in name, that wasn't true in practice, according to Lyra.

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