“I’m not a mercenary anymore,” said Cassus.
Melchizan shrugged and backed away. “No. Apparently you work for free now.” He looked at the dead figures on the ground. A grin crawled across his face. “Well, at least not for money.”
* * *
After binding Cassus in rope, the guards prodded him back through the jungle toward the Byzernian village. Though most of his attention focused on keeping his feet, a knot of dread formed in his stomach when he thought of the horrors that awaited him at the settlement.
Months before, Cassus heard that Melchizan had taken a remote tract of land on Mytarcis and set up a village to act as a Byzernian breeding ground. In time, the slave trader expected to dominate the markets with his improved specimens. Once Cassus had received word of Melchizan’s intentions, he and his crew began planning a raid on the village.
They watched traffic traveling in and out of the settlement, making note of the guards. After making contact with an elder villager eager to see his people freed, Cassus finalized his plans.
But on the day of the raid nothing went as planned. Guards previously unaccounted for came out of nowhere, and though Cassus’ small crew fought hard, they could not overcome the numbers Melchizan had secretly hidden. Only he and Horan escaped the carnage—each had carried a young child from the elder they had contacted. The Byzernian slaves did nothing but watch as Cassus’ men died.
Cassus stepped into a clearing he knew led to the village. He kept his head down as the guards pushed him toward the ramshackle huts. When he looked up, he immediately regretted doing so.
The bodies of his men lay in a pile, stripped naked of their weapons and armor. One of Melchizan’s men held a torch in his hand, and ignited the brush underneath the mound of flesh.
They all tried to do the right thing. I failed them.
More disheartening than his failure was the lone brown-skinned Byzernian atop the bodies—the old man who had trusted Cassus with his grandchildren. A wave of conflicting emotions washed over him. The relief that the old man would not know Cassus had failed him was replaced with a rising anger that had started with Melchizan.
Increasing warmth spread across his body, making his skin itch, as he stared into the sad eyes of the Byzernians watching him trek through their village.
They are just as responsible for the deaths of my crew as Melchizan’s guards. If they had stood up for themselves and fought with us, we would have won. But no, it is against their ways to harm anyone. He spat. Let them have their rickety homes and fearful nights. They deserve slavery. I’ve given up too much for them.
He wanted to shout curses at them for their cowardice, but stopped himself.
I knew their beliefs but still risked my life and the lives of my men anyway. I thought I could change them. I thought that by helping them, they would learn to stand up for themselves. I thought I could make a difference. The deaths today are my fault.
I never should have left the Hell Patrol.
Cassus ignored the remaining stares, and trudged on. They led him toward the coast where a massive ship with triple sails and three decks of oars sat in a small bay. A slew of Byzernians loaded provisions into longboats waiting on shore. Cassus failed to pay attention to his steps as he marveled at the ship’s size, and pitched forward. He slammed face first into the ground.
A Byzernian quickly came to his aid, and put a hand on his face. “Are you alright?”
The man had a much harder look than many of the Byzernians Cassus had seen before. Before Cassus could answer the question, one of Melchizan’s guards knocked the Byzernian against the head with the hilt of a sword. The slave fell backward.
“Get back to your work and remember your place,” the guard snapped.
The guard pulled Cassus to his feet, and shoved him forward. He pointed toward one of the longboats. “Get in.”
Cassus obeyed, but before he sat, he noticed the eyes of the Byzernian who had tried to help him. They held something Cassus had never seen before in their race—defiance.
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Table of Contents
Maps
Prologue
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
Epilogue
About the Author
Excerpt of Walk Through Fire - A Blood and Tears Prequel Novella
Excerpt of Hero of Slaves - A Blood and Tears Novella
Table of Contents
Maps
Prologue
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
Epilogue
About the Author
Excerpt of Walk Through Fire - A Blood and Tears Prequel Novella
Excerpt of Hero of Slaves - A Blood and Tears Novella
Trial And Glory (Book 3) Page 46
