Untolled (The Saga of the Nothing Mage Book 2) by J. P. Valentine

Author:J. P. Valentine
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2020-07-10T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CAMP PLUCTIN WAS both alive and eerily empty. Gone were the neat rows of tents, the soldiers milling about, and the lively campfires spouting laughter and music. Instead, laborers loaded and unloaded carts and cared for horses. Medics and aides gingerly helped the homebound soldiers, feeding, dressing, and cleaning those too disabled to do so themselves.

Declan could only wince as he considered what kind of live these maimed conscripts would have back home. At least they had magic, for whatever good that would do them. An Adept’s level of skill could only do so much to make up for having no arms.

He tried not to think about it.

The cart-ride back to Camp Zaste was a dull affair. Declan spent what time he could on his lute before his fingers, his mind, and his companions’ ears grew tired of it. He passed most of the hours in quiet contemplation, wondering what may await them at the legendary Pinnacle Towers.

How would he—the dreaded nothing mage—fit in? Perhaps more importantly, how would his companions be received among the rich and noble students that populated the institution? Declan was certain their peasant heritage wouldn’t go unnoticed. Maybe their status as veterans would be worth something.

The horses ambled along, pulling the wagon ever so slowly through the mud towards Camp Zaste. They arrived at dusk.

The base camp was in much the same shape as Declan remembered it. The army’s advance was, of course, visible—there were fewer tents, fewer campfires, and fewer soldiers milling about the area. That’s not to say music did not drift through the air accompanied by wild stories and drunken laughter.

Essential as it was as Teralia’s first foothold and source of supplies, Zaste was far from the horrors of war.

“It’s crazy,” Brian said as they navigated the camp, “the difference you see. Like the further we get from the marsh, the more alive they all are.”

Declan had to agree. “Thinking back, I didn’t even notice how quiet everyone got. Like it happened slowly.”

“Looming threat of death will do that,” Freddy said, a solemn grin on his face. “Closer you get to Liara, the more it looms.”

They passed a particularly boisterous gathering of soldiers.

“Divines,” Declan cursed. “Were we ever that loud?”

“You? No,” Freddy smiled. “We certainly were, but you’ve been broody since day one.”

“What? I don’t brood.”

Sarah let out a sharp laugh. “Yeah, you fucking do. Unless someone shoves an ale or a lute into your hand, you hardly even speak.”

“Ha! And then he doesn’t shut up.”

The conversation devolved from there into a fit of good-natured teasing, primarily aimed at Declan. He laughed along with the jibes, even if he did make a note to lighten up a bit when ale and music weren’t involved. As difficult as the past weeks had been, he didn’t want to burden his friends with constant negativity.

They spent that night together, sharing a tent they’d found with six unoccupied bunks. The standard military cot certainly held no candle to the plush officer’s bed he’d enjoyed previously, but it beat the cold ground and the hard bed of the wagon.

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