From this time forward dear readers, we have caught up to what I have written in the Avarice saga. However, I have I think 4 more chapters to go in Secret Unquiet which I am currently finalizing. I have begun on the new fourth book Unfortunate Sons as well. So I may not be able to release on a weekly cadence as I have done in the past, for that I apologise. Summer for me has been very busy with the creation of and soon to be open my own restaurant. So yes my time to write is a little limited, but do not fear Avarice will be competed. I envision about 5 books in this series. Thank you all for supporting my work.
Jormugar's Mistake
Jormugar had ridden hard the past two nights to the location where he knew the river snaked through the fertile farmland. His unnamed grullo gelding though a small horse was as always surefooted and eager covering the distance in good time. It was almost breaking dawn as he reached the valley that sloped down into the settlement below. The tattooed tracker was rather taken by surprise as the last time he had passed by this location there had been no defensive wall surrounding the small hamlet. It was then even in the half-dark of approaching dawn he caught sight of the enemy army camped on the opposing bank of the river, no more than an indistinct dark smudge on the wide red sand.
He halted his mount and assessed the scene for long moments, the pleasant light breeze blowing his chocolate curls over his face and into his impressively unusual hazel eyes.
Threats made people suspicious, and they often behaved irrationally. Perhaps he should abort his mission. But he had been here before, and he had been treated cordially.
The wild man sat mulling over these thoughts for long moments, and then he did something he never usually did, he let his heart rule over his wild animal caution. Though he was by habit a loner, he could not bear to go north alone. This would be his last stop if he were to seek a suitable canine companion.
He put his heels to his gelding's trembling flanks and urged him down the scree-covered slope toward the gate and the watchtowers lined with attentive archers. He knew they had already registered his approach. He was but a lone rider, they had little to fear. As he rode never taking his sharp eyes off the men who lined the upper walls and had their jagged-tipped arrows trained on him. Four more men emerged from the gate bearing swords. They surrounded his tired horse and held its reigns firm. For a moment Jormugar feared he would be turned away.
Jormugar explained the essence of his business with the terse leader of the men. The old gray-haired soldier seemed suspiciously unbelieving of the young man's rather simplistic motive. Jormugar wondered then if he should just ride away, the people here were not nearly as welcoming to him as they had been the last time he visited. However, by this point, he was concerned that if he did, the archers would loose their projectiles. So he let himself be passively escorted into the township.
He was ordered to dismount and his horse was led away. He was summarily searched and divested of his weapons. The bounty hunter didn't like how events were unfolding, but he was left with little choice as he was then escorted to a large home that was set deep within the settlement overlooking the fertile river valley. He was met there by a tall young man who seemed busy and distracted. He could see that the village was well prepared for war. The entirety of this large home's lower floor had been converted into a field hospital.
The tall young man looked Jormugar over with inquisitive brown eyes, his face twisted with consternation and his hand on his bearded chin in thought. It was finally decided that Jormugar would be allowed to fulfill his request, but only if he was accompanied by an escort. It was plain that they did not trust him and thought he had been sent by the war party that sat on the opposite bank to cause some kind of havoc, or perhaps glean some kind of valuable intelligence.
Jormugar's mission was not in vain though. Apparently, there had been a litter of pups recently whelped. They belonged to one of the stable hands and he had been currently seeking homes for them. They were big dogs and Jormugar's spirit brightened.
*****
Sven sat watching his son fade as the shadows began to be cast in the room as the sun rose. This was every parent's nightmare. He found he could not bring himself to leave his child's bedside for any reason. He did not sleep or eat. His soul was torn in ways he could never have imagined. In all his long wanderings, struggles, and suffering nothing had prepared him for this terrible moment. His beautiful boy lay dying. The doctors had already admitted that they had nothing further left to try.
