Even Gods Must Fall - Christian Warren Freed Page 0,21
have been like if he’d been born anything but Gaimosian. The image never materialized. He was a warrior, nothing more. His own demons struggled for dominance in the recesses of his mind. Idle thoughts of retiring to a quiet village to enjoy his final years were overpowered by the growing sense of foreboding that he was going to die soon. He shrugged his personal concern off. Death would happen in its own good time. All he needed to do was ensure Bahr and the others were given every opportunity to accomplish their tasks.
“What are we going to do about Skaning? We can’t keep trying to dodge him and expect to reach the ruins in time,” Boen asked. He idly poked a large stick into the fire. White-hot coals collapsed in the center of the flames.
Bahr continued to stare into the dancing flames. The over complications that were developing added unnecessary stress to an already stressful situation. As much as he wanted to stand and fight, to force Skaning into a final confrontation, he knew he couldn’t afford the delay. Time had grown perilously short without them noticing. His back was against the rocks.
“What can we do?” he said. “I’m sure he’s already sent riders ahead to coordinate a blocking force, cutting us off from our destination.”
“How would he know where we’re going?” Boen asked. “Skaning seems like a minor player in all of this. It’s that bastard One Eye I’m concerned with. What I would give to plunge my sword down his gullet.”
“Hopefully the need doesn’t arise. We can’t risk getting stopped by Harnin or Skaning.” Bahr frowned. His options continued to restrict.
Boen offered, “I could go out into the village. See who’s sympathetic to the rebellion and stir up enough trouble to swamp Skaning’s soldiers here long enough for us to get a day’s ride on them. I’m sure the people would be more than willing to exercise their anger after the long winter.”
“I don’t want any unnecessary deaths heaped upon our cause, Boen,” Bahr said, rejecting the idea.
“What cause? The way I see it I’m only here to watch your back. You and the others while you destroy this gateway between worlds. This isn’t my crusade, Bahr, and I damned sure don’t have a problem with a little spilled blood.”
Bahr felt deflated. None of his ideas offered a sliver of hope and he was steadily sinking down into feelings of emptiness. “What do you propose, Boen? We incite a riot and let those mercenaries slaughter the countryside?”
The malevolent gleam in Boen’s eyes lasted a brief second too long. “No, but it’s past time for a blooding. Let me stay behind. I’ll lead them off our trail and double back to you before you reach Arlevon Gale. I might be fortunate to take out enough of them to make this Skaning change his mind on pursuing us. Let him go back to Ingrid and fight it out.”
The idea wasn’t without merit. Boen could single-handedly wipe out most if not all of the pack of mercenaries hounding them. All he needed was the proper vehicle to administer Gaimosian justice. Tempting as it sounded, Bahr couldn’t afford for his greatest, strongest asset to disappear.
“Anienam and Artiss Gran both said we are all needed at the end,” he countered. “We need you here, with us.”
Boen waved off his concern with mild disgust. “Bah! I’m tired of these mystics and self-proclaimed wizards trying to dictate our lives. Are we not free men? How much longer are we expected to languish under the control of beings lacking the concepts of free will?”
“I’m not arguing that, Boen, but we’ve been shown what’s to come. I need you by my side, if for nothing else but the strength you possess. The others are capable in their own fields, but you, you are the truest version of a warrior we have. I figure there are less than two hundred on our trail. Who knows how many await ahead?”
“Ahead or behind makes no difference. We’ve got to confront the nearest threat and neutralize it before it can be allowed to grow. Bahr, you know I’m right. Let me deal with these mercenaries my way.”
Bahr hung his head in defeat. His latent fear of losing the Gaimosian was preventing him from making the logical decision. They’d been hounded since leaving Ingrid and the rebellion, causing exhaustion in a matter of days. Boen’s unexpected assault would give them time to recover and properly prepare for the coming battle. Still, Anienam’s