Valley of Shadows by Arthur Butt

Author:Arthur Butt [Butt, Arthur]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Clean Reads
Published: 2015-06-01T00:00:00+00:00

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The nobles gathered at Maplewoods the next day were happy. The baron's plan involved no fighting. A few protested, but the majority, led by one Baron Ferwick, a short, fat knight, overruled them all. In a few days, we'd gathered a small force and marched toward Lake Rowanna.

"I think the sight and smell of so many burnt bodies persuaded the rest to our idea," Baron Von Braun confided to me, as we rode at the head of our small army. "Most have never encountered so much real killing. They have seen death in the joust, yes—in the melee—but bodies piled upon bodies, with smoke curling up, no."

"It doesn't matter," I replied. "Once we begin Plan B, they'll be too busy to realize what's happening—and when the battle is over—it's over."

In the distance, clumps of trees emerged, and I knew the smudge of green would be forests. One thing confused me.

"Where are all the people?" I asked, scanning in all directions. "We've passed farmhouses, but I haven't seen anyone."

"Gone, all gone. Either fled with their herds, or pressed into service by their lords," the baron said, pained. "The merchants and trades people of the towns are free of impressments, but those who live by the soil are still obliged to serve the nobles in war."

Riders interrupted us. Darel arrived with a patrol, returning from two days of scouting to locate the Northern Army. If the rebels started their advance on the city of Ambos, my plan would fall apart.

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