The former Jiadin sat up late into the night, making plans for their escape in the morning. As the night wore on, the fires slowly dwindled to embers. And then the screams began. The tyriks climbed down off the walls of the valley and converged on the stubborn men. The men found themselves surrounded. Some tried to run to safety while others tried to battle the tyriks with swords. Neither approach worked and by morning all that was left were the bones of the men.
***
The city of Ghala was alive with celebration and the streets were lined with people. Long tables of food were set in the streets around the city center and several talented men were playing musical instruments they had made. It was a festive atmosphere and the ale flowed freely. Several of the men over imbibed, but a mere word from one of the tribal leaders was enough to send the offender home to bed.
Rejji felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to greet the man.
“So you are the Rejji that I chased across the country,” smiled Winus. “I am glad that I never caught you. It is a fine thing you have done for the people of this country.”
“Thank you, General,” greeted Rejji. “I also am glad you never caught me.”
“I have a question about what went on in the Valley of Bones,” continued Winus. “I have asked around and can’t find a single man that was involved in that action. I have heard that close to twenty thousand men surrendered there and walked out of the valley without their horses or weapons. How exactly did you manage that?”
“I suppose they realized the futility of continuing,” grinned Rejji.
“You aren’t going to tell me, are you?” questioned Winus.
“Winus,” smiled Rejji as he put his arm across the general’s shoulders, “sometimes you just have to have faith that things will work out all right. You of all people should know that Kaltara favors me and helps me at times that I need it. What army can stand against that?”
“I don’t know much about this Kaltara,” admitted Winus, “but I aim to learn. Someday I will learn about the Valley of Bones as well. I am sure I will run into some of those men before my days expire.”
“Oh that you will,” grinned Rejji. “In fact, we must start recruiting them soon. There are bigger battles coming and we will need every man we can get. We will be starting patrols all over Fakara, and food distribution too. Your services will be greatly needed. I will warn you though, there is no telling what strange stories you might hear from men who fled because they feared for their lives.”
“Are you saying there is another enemy besides Grulak?” questioned the general.
“The Time of Cleansing is soon upon us, General,” declared Rejji. “Our battles have just begun.”
FB2 document info
Document ID: fbd-df8006-0a8e-a944-18af-6170-17f8-1ea2d3
Document version: 1
Document creation date: 17.12.2011
Created using: calibre 0.8.31, Fiction Book Designer, FictionBook Editor Release 2.6 software
Document authors :
Richard S. Tuttle
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Web of Deceit fl-3 Page 44
