Even Gods Must Fall - Christian Warren Freed Page 0,4
at the mouth to get his claws on the king’s brother. Orlek’s only issue was the rebellion lacked up-to-date intelligence on what was happening in the east.
Speculation of Badron’s return continued to circle the campfires nightly but without confirmation Ingrid couldn’t react accordingly. Orlek knew the rebellion teetered on a constant edge. All it would take to push it too far beyond the recoverable line was one fell move. They needed to get back in the fight before idle minds bled them all dry. Reluctantly he began to follow Ingrid’s thinking.
“If we can do this, if, we could bring the war to an end before summer,” Orlek spoke slowly.
“We can,” she affirmed.
He forced a grin. “If, we’re going to have to push scouts forward immediately. We can’t march on Chadra without knowing what we’re getting into.”
She resisted the urge to rush forward and hug him. Her personal feelings continued to strengthen towards the normally stoic warrior. Love was forming, but she couldn’t allow any more than a passing thought until the rebellion reached its destined conclusion. She’d already lost one husband, the pain of going through it all over again frightened her more than any other aspect of this war.
“Summon Harlan. We need to begin drawing up plans. Our forces need to find a convergence point a day’s walk from the city,” she ordered.
Orlek agreed. “I’ll push out scouts in the morning. Moving against Harnin blindly turns my stomach.”
* * * * *
Lord Skaning peered intently through his spy glass. He closed it just as fast, disgust twisting his features. What he had in enthusiasm failed to translate into results. The decision to abandon his persecution of the rebellion hadn’t reached Chadra yet. Otherwise Harnin One Eye would have already sent assassin squads. He didn’t relish the thought of undergoing the same ordeal his fellow lord, Jarrik, did. Of course Jarrik committed suicide during the rebel attack on the western fort a week ago.
The younger lord maintained reservations towards hunting down one of his friends. Skaning wanted power, making it easy to cast aside bonds of fellowship and follow orders. Harnin was adamant about Jarrik’s removal. Not only did Skaning fail to execute his former friend, he had lost the ex-rebellion leader, Inaella. Her continued existence was proving to be a bane to Harnin’s rule despite abandoning the rebellion in favor of the crown. Skaning had never placed trust in the pock-marked woman.
She should have died a dozen times over. The plague ravaged her body while the betrayal of lower-ranked rebels twisted her mind. Inaella was a broken woman. Her worth to Harnin’s efforts diminished daily despite delusions of self importance. Skaning saw through her. The woman was trouble. More than she was worth. Harnin’s alliance with her would hurt the crown.
Thoughts wandering down paths he didn’t care about, Skaning refocused his attentions on the barren fields of snow stretching lazily out before him. Seven hundred soldiers waited impatiently behind him. The hunt was more intensive than anticipated. Thoughts of desertion spread. Being reservists, none of the soldiers wanted to be away from home longer than necessary. Skaning was leading them on a fruitless chase as far as they were concerned.
“Explain to me how a group that large can simply disappear in the middle of all this openness?” he asked sharply. “No tracks. Not even a pile of horse dung. I’m losing faith in your abilities.”
“My lord, we’ve found nothing,” the scout said and shifted nervously, fully expecting the executioner’s blade against his neck.
Skaning snarled. “Double your efforts. A group that large can’t just disappear. I don’t care if we are in the middle of the wilderness. Bahr must be found and destroyed before he reaches his goal in the east.”
“We’ve got more than a hundred soldiers scouring the countryside, my lord. Bahr may be cunning but there is a lot of land to cover.”
Skaning swung to the mercenary captain. “Perhaps I no longer need your services, captain?”
The veteran shrugged nonchalantly. “Doesn’t matter to me. Give us our back pay and we’ll be off to warmer climes.”
“Careful, mercenary. I still have enough soldiers to handle your company,” Skaning threatened.
The captain stiffened. “Can you afford to lose them? I don’t need you, Skaning. You need us. We’re the best fighting element you have, and you know it. Like I said. Makes no difference if you keep us or cut us loose. It comes with the job.”
Trapped by his own anger, Skaning had no option but to swallow his pride and push