by Eric Ugland
“Your grace,” called out Wian above me. “Might I suggest you move.”
I heard the gates opening, and I turned to run back into Coggeshall, but, instead, there was a massive stone ball there. It looked almost too big to even fit through the gate.
A hundred Thingmen shoved, helped by a few of the big draft animals. And that ball moved. I ran as far to the side as I could, feeling the ground rumble as the massive ball rolled by. I couldn’t help but want to get in on it, so as soon as I could, I ran behind the ball and gave the thing a shove.
It slipped into the tunnel, and you could barely hear the screaming over the noise of the ball mowing down the phalanx.
I stood there, my jaw hanging open, looking at smears of blood and broken bodies. It was incredible and horrible at the same time. Also, remarkably effective.
Behind me came another noise: boots.
The Thingmen and the Legion were all armed and armored, and swarming past me, chasing the ball and getting ready to engage the enemy on the other side.
I turned to go, but there was a hand around my elbow.
“Not this one, your grace,” Wian said. “Let your Thingmen handle this battle. Apparently there is a war you have yet to finish.”
I was confused, but also exhausted, so I nodded.
He smiled, and pushed his helm down further on his head.
“For the Empire,” he shouted, “and Duke Coggeshall!”
There were cheers from the soldiers, and it echoed down the tunnel.
I stood there and watched them until they disappeared from view.
“There is much yet to do,” Nikolai said.
I jumped a little, startled at how he’d snuck up on me.
“Yeah, building buildings, making the place safe, I get it,” I said.
He pointed to the rock still tied on my wrist. It was pointing to the northeast, and glowing.
“You have a sacred quest, my lord,” he said. “I wish it were as simple as you assigning others to take this over, but it is quite clear this, in particular, is a quest you alone must complete. And soon.”
“What else did you learn while I was gone?” I asked.
“There were one hundred and twelve bodies discovered in Coggeshall. Their blood was black. They were in the process of changing. These were the corrupted ones who had managed to remain hidden from us. And had this Master not revealed them to us, we would have most certainly been destroyed from the inside.”
I sighed.
“The corruption is, perhaps,” Nikolai continued, “the most dangerous thing I have yet seen. It is insidious in the manner of its attack, and I fear it may slip out of control. You must complete this quest as quickly as you can.”
“Fuck, dude,” I said. “I was really starting to like staying in one place. I have a bed. I want to sleep in that bed.”
He chuckled.
“You will yet have time to sleep in your bed, Montana. I advise you leave in the morning. It will give me time to put together a party to join you.”
“Wait, I can shower? Sleep? Leave tomorrow?”
“You must get your rest, Montana. At least what little you can. Tomorrow, you go on a bear hunt.”
“Gonna catch a big one?”
“Your grace, you are going to have to catch them all.”
Ready for Book 7?
Me too! Here’s the thing, though. I’m taking a brief hiatus from The Good Guys to write a new series called — wait for it — The Bad Guys. It’s about a thieves’ guild in the capital city of the Empire. Here’s the link to Book 1:
Scamps & Scoundrels
BUT WAIT! Don’t go! Montana’s adventures aren’t over, far from it. Book 7, The Bare Hunt, comes out on December 14, 2019. Want a reminder?
Sign Up Here
We’ll tell you as soon as the preorder is live.
About the Author
Eric Ugland ran away from Seattle to join the circus. And then he came to his senses, and moved to Manhattan. Now he's a novelist in Oregon, trapped by trees and snow and bears. Mostly bears. SO MANY BEARS!
The Good Guys is a continuing LitRPG series I’m writing in the world of iNcarn8. Join my reader group and be the first to know when new books come out.
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Contents
Also by Eric Ugland
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Ready for Book 7?
About the Author
