Tarn faced them, holding a sword that wasn’t his. The embossed Azure sigil shone on the pommel. Blood dripped from the blade, beading on the grass by his boots. Scattered behind him laid lifeless Rangers and Guards. This had been the real intention. A second ambush on their target while the rest of the camp was engaged.
The colonel looked at the bodies of his dead men, a shadow of anger and remorse crossing his face. There had been too many for any normal man to kill alone, but Tarn was not a normal man.
He passed Von the sword and crouched down, fixing his cool eyes on the colonel. “What is your name?”
The man raised his chin and rumbled, “I am Colonel Jasiah Moreland of the Azure Guard.”
“How did you find me?”
“The King knows you’re here, Tarn Morken. All of Azure’s finest are scouring the land for you. You may have defeated us here, but no matter where you run or whichever hole you crawl into, this will finish with you hanging by the end of a rope.”
Tarn lifted his gaze to the smoke-smothered sky. The gleam of the fire highlighted the sharp edges of his face in red, the rest draped in black. “There is only one place where this will end. After years of searching, I am at last one step closer to finding it. I’ve long decided that the rivers will flow red and the world will burn at my feet before I allow anyone to impede me.”
In a move so quick, Von nearly missed it, Tarn lashed out at the colonel’s throat. The man flopped on the ground, gurgling and clawing at his neck where his windpipe was crushed. His face shifted from red to purple, vessels bursting in his eyes bulging with terror. He wheezed desperately for air, legs thrashing.
Von looked away, but he couldn’t ignore the sounds. Torturous seconds stretched into minutes. The frantic spasms weakened, then with one last painful gurgle, all went quiet. The colonel laid face down in the grass, mouth stretched open, fingers curled.
Another body added to the masses. And a glaring reminder of his master’s capabilities.
Tarn tucked his hands in his coat and strode away for his tent. “Bring me the Maiden. Kill the wolf. Bleed the other dry.”
Von closed his eyes and bowed. “Yes, Master.”
* * *
Von’s gray horse nickered uneasily, hooves pawing at the ground.
“Easy, Coal,” Von murmured as he strapped the saddle in place.
He fit the bridle and tossed the reins around the saddle’s pommel. Coal was an easy, obedient horse. One who had learned to pick up on moods and mirrored them. Von was rarely ever nervous, but unease settled over him since Tarn gave the order to go after Dyna. He shook it off. This task will be no different than the many others.
The Raiders had packed up camp and were nearly ready to move out. The dead were left where they had fallen. It was wrong, but there was no time to bury them. The fire would only draw more attention.
Abenon’s voice echoed in another field opposite of where the skirmish took place. He swore and barked orders at the twenty Raiders chosen for the capture of the Maiden, relaying all the information gathered by the spies.
“After this next mission we will reach Mount Ida,” Abenon said, trotting his horse back and forth. “All that stands in our way is a dog and a fowl. Any of you bullocks botch this, I’ll leave your corpses to the crows. Capture the Maiden and you’ll be shitting gold for the rest of your lives!”
The Raiders cheered at that. Bloodlust shone on their crimson smeared faces. Their victory against the Azure Guard had intoxicated them with confidence. They were ready for another fight.
“He has a penchant for flair,” Elon said. Von nearly flinched at his sudden appearance. It was unnerving how soundless the elf moved as if he traveled through shadow. “Are you certain you do not wish for me to accompany you, Commander?”
“I need you here,” Von said. “You are in command while I’m gone. Make your way east and camp by the Kazer Bluffs. They open to an inlet out of Loch Loden. I will take that course once I have the Maiden. Meet me there at midday the day after tomorrow.” He paused then added, “Take Len with you.”
It was best to be prepared, and she was their best with a bow.
“Did you find Benton?”
The elf’s expression didn’t change save for a slight tightening of his jaw. “The mages were in their tent. Sleeping.”
Not for one moment did Von believe Benton had slept through the fight. This had to have been another attempt to free himself. “Keep him confined. I know he led the Azure Guard to us. No word of this until it’s been confirmed.”
Elon nodded and vanished into the night as quickly as he appeared.
Von kept Benton’s betrayal from Tarn for Dalton and Clayton’s sake. They didn’t deserve to be strung up because of their father. When he returned, he planned to have aconversationwith that old bastard.
“Commander,” Geon called. He trotted over on a brown mare. “May I join the unit?”
Von mounted his horse. “Stay here.”
