Lord Sha was in a foul mood that day, as they finally made ready their preparations to leave High Raena. From here they would sail for Sheld, then on to Noress-That-Was to report of their success to the Three Matriarchs. Sha—who had grown more bitter and disparaging as their journey into Radregar had progressed—would oft complain of his posting with them and curse his competing spymaster, Erril, who had stolen all the favour of the Matriarchs. Continue reading Farek 95
“How long have you been off Keth?” Lord Dakhu asked.
Therelin was sitting across from the olive-skinned Raderan lord while they ate. Kren was quietly digging in at Therelin’s right, while Dakhu’s servants waited stealthily in the periphery around the table. They had been discussing life in the city, but this turn of the conversation really took Therelin back. So much had transpired since he had left Keth: he had travelled to a handful of new places; he had seemingly made an enemy of Nolicrin; he had learned of the Tether and had sworn by it, too; and he had witnessed a ruthless attack at an otherwise peaceful haven. Continue reading Therelin 37
Only Bellasa still stood. Somehow it had endured the bandits’ wrath for more than a year—but now it stood alone.
It was a chilling thought. Like a proper mercenary, Talina took a slug of her beer—to drown the feelings, as the others had. Here, in a noisy common room in Saanazar, the war felt a thousand miles away. The stories they now heard brought it closer with each word. Continue reading East Storm Company 12
For the fifth time, Aralim wandered the Great Gardens of Keb’kres. This time, he had Miresh along—she had managed to step away from her studies with Master Velad’na. As they wandered through the vine-encrusted steps and looked up at the eclectic collection of trees, Aralim explained his thinking to her thusly: “As you know, I’ve often enjoyed the kapok trees as a metaphor for the Path. They grow so large, absorbing nutrients from the area around them—yet they are so oblivious to the smaller trees that begin to grow out of their very own crevices.” Continue reading Aralim 148
A dozen small towns dotted the fords and lakes along the Raena River. Mostly, they were built as trading posts near various jungle tribes, or as daily rest stops at predictable distances from High Raena or Ith. Because of those two cities, this was one of the most travelled water ways in the known world. The Sea’s Sword—out of her element—was passed frequently by riverboats heading in either direction. Her crew found the streets and inns of the waterfront towns full of travellers and merchants. Continue reading Farek 94
The troop at Velend’s Grove finally began to pack up their supplies. Over the last month, the beleaguered rebels had begun to file back into their occupied town. The most radical were never seen again, but many wounded, starved, or simply defeated townsfolk had lost the spirit to pose as separatists. Continue reading East Storm Company 11
Three more weeks dragged by the researchers in the dusty Noressi Archives. During the second, two different lords had visited to speak with Therelin and Kren. It seemed that Matriarch Valakono had spoken of their labours to at least some of her court, but fortunately even their visitors had not pried or disrupted their time too heavily. During the third week—wondering if they would learn anything more of Tarro here in Noress-That-Was—Therelin began to think about the small fleet they had seen depart during the last Moon. He imagined soldiers fighting and dying as he sat by a lantern reading from a book. Continue reading Therelin 36
Massema paid Arn a few more visits, over the next few weeks, but Arn usually remained where he was and offered her only a few words in her tongue-contorting language. Arn wasn’t even speaking with Gamden these days—Gamden’s foolhardy plan to “make them important” again had only earned Arn greater imprisonment and torture. Continue reading Arn 74
The city of Keb’kres looked not unlike Maykren, though it was not built upon a major river delta. Instead of the buildings dotting islands and then dispersing where water ran, the buildings of Keb’kres made way for groves of trees, small forested hills, and the occasional meandering stream. From the harbour, the city looked more like a collection of villages than a great settlement, but Aralim knew the truth from his time in Numa’nakres—Keb’kres was a major trading port on Trader’s Bay, and among the oldest cities ruled by Tag’na’s Empire. Continue reading Aralim 147
Even Farek’s departure from Ith was delayed. It seemed the world was conspiring to beleaguer the already fatigued group. This time, that conspiracy came in the form of a murder investigation. Someone had been killed in the alley next to Ralin’s Stay, early in the new moon. For three days, the guards of the City Watch held Ayvim and Sheem—two of Farek’s guards—on suspicion of involvement with the act. After all, they had been awake and in the common room at the hour of the crime. Continue reading Farek 93