by Damien Lake
Celerity left him no time to be smart with her. Perhaps because she had come to know how stubborn he could be after their brief encounters last summer, or from whatever gripes Tollaf had vented against her regarding his misfortune in having the ungrateful whelp as an unwanted apprentice.
“It’s as well you arrived after the council adjourned. For many reasons it would be best to make as little noise as possible for the moment.”
Marik frowned. “Noise? Listen, if you try to handle these monsters the invaders brought with them quietly, then you’ll never be able to drive them back. It doesn’t matter who knows about them! All that matters is assembling enough strength to smash them!”
Her arms folded in imitation of the knight-marshal. “So we are doing. But we can’t ignore Nolier continuing to violate our border to the east. Their army is still suffering from their heavy losses in the last war, as is our own. The Nolier king does not seem to care much about that. His greed has gotten the best of him.”
The tone beneath her words firmed further, coming out as when she had spoken to Sloan and Kineta, speaking at the time with her full authority and rank. “The majority of the army will be needed to make it clear Nolier may not set foot on our soil without reaping the consequences of their actions. As for the Tullainian border, we intend to question the prisoners you brought to Thoenar and learn what we can, but in the meantime we must marshal the forces available and plug the gap in our western defenses. With the invaders’ strike force defeated and their command in apparent disarray, they will not be able to organize quickly. During that time we will prepare.”
His father’s voice abruptly spoke within the recesses of his mind, clearer than it had been in a very long time. Be careful what you ask for boy, because the gods love nothing better than to give you exactly that.
The churning in his stomach intensified.
Marik’s teeth refused to unclench while he demanded, “What…does that have to do with me? I came here…to tell you everything I can about these beasts that nearly destroyed us.”
“Your knowledge of them will be invaluable, it is true. Especially since,” she said flatly, her lips pursing, “you will be responsible for the campaign to defend the western border.”
Table of Contents
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 01
Chapter 02
Chapter 03
Chapter 04
Chapter 05
Chapter 06
Chapter 07
Chapter 08
Chapter 09
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
Interlude
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
Epilogue
Excerpts from “Forest for the Trees”
Kingdom of Galemar
Central Galemar
Town of Kingshome
Southwest Galemar
