Even Gods Must Fall - Christian Warren Freed Page 0,77
to kill both Ingrid and Bahr before the rebels managed to gather their wits.
Dressed only in dark colors and without cumbersome armor, they stalked across the snow like arctic predators. Any metal objects were secured to their bodies to prevent excess noise. Their faces and hands were painted with charcoal. Weapons were blackened to prevent moonlight from giving them away. Secrecy was their only advantage. Secrecy and the rebels not suspecting such a bold move this far from their camps.
Skaning ran with them. He had little choice. The mercenaries would have killed him if he tried to back away. Men seldom risked their lives for others without proper cause. Mostly honorless, the mercenaries’ foul-tempered glares were enough to force Skaning’s actions. It had been a long time since he’d raised a sword in battle. What was supposed to be a punitive mission against Jarrik and Inaella left his honor dissatisfied. Jarrik had committed suicide and the pock-faced woman was nowhere to be seen. This raid was his only chance at redemption.
The mercenaries moved with surprising speed. Well fed and hydrated, they practically sprinted across the windswept plains separating them from their prey. Skaning felt exhilarated. The thrill of the hunt caught in his veins and he quickly lost himself to the chase. There was untold promise with each movement. Lord Death followed in his chariot, gleefully riding their trail of disaster to the inevitable conclusion.
They were well beyond the point of turning back. Skaning committed the entirety of his force on one fatal move. More than likely he would only succeed in getting his command killed, but there was always that miniscule chance that they would kill their targets in the process. Ending the rebellion was his only official task but that had devolved into a quest for revenge. Ingrid and Bahr had conspired to murder a fourth of his crack forces, no doubt willing to continue until all were dead. This was more than personal now.
Talking quickly turned to hand signals. Skaning halted as his mercenaries dropped to their knees and drew their weapons. Footsteps and the jangle of armor and wagons could be heard coming down the abandoned lane. Skaning grinned savagely as he spied the first hints of torchlight dancing off of the surrounding trees. They’d done it. They’d gotten ahead of the rebellion and taken them unawares. The lord of Delranan drew his sword and waited.
Cold breath came out in plumes of mist. His chest heaved from exertion. Young and relatively in shape, he hadn’t expected to cover such long distances. The mercenary nearest cast an angered glance back to Skaning at the sound of his breathing, fearing it would give them away. The drawn dagger cupped at his waist told Skaning he was dead if he didn’t get his breathing under control.
A pair of crossbowmen rose up slightly, just enough for Skaning to catch their actions. No doubt others on both sides of the road were doing the same. He gripped his sword tighter. The first rebel scout came into view and was murdered from behind. Throat cut, the rebel died with a muffled cry as his body was dragged into the woods. The whiz of arrows cutting through the night air followed by high-pitched cries suddenly erupted around him. Skaning got caught up in the fervor, adding his roar to the others as he burst from cover and attacked.
* * * * *
Groge yawned, his great mouth a seemingly endless vacuum capable of swallowing the world. Tired, the young Giant was still capable of going several more days before needing to rest. His strength reserves far outlasted the others but he was part of a team and acquiesced to their needs and desires in the name of friendship and camaraderie. He had come to enjoy their banter, though far from professing to understand it. Most of all he appreciated the taciturn Dwarf. They were closest in kin despite their obvious size difference.
Ironfoot marched opposite of the Giant. They had the best night vision of the entire column and Bahr had no qualms about throwing them to the head of the column. The Dwarf relished the chance to show his tactical prowess this deep into what he considered enemy territory. Anienam reassured him the ruins were still too far away to worry about the Goblin army. All they needed to do was keep a clear eye out for roving patrols. No one in the command structure believed they were going to run into anything substantial.