Cold Hearted Son of a Witch (Dragoneers Saga) by M. R. Mathias Page B
Authors: M. R. Mathias
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couldn’t tell much because he was at an altitude that allowed him to see the rangers, too.
When Lemmy and the ogres evacuated Kingsmen’s Keep, several dozen men, including Lemmy, were forced to stay behind. The ship could only hold so many. Seeing what had become of those left behind was of paramount importance to the new commander. Jenka liked him; he was a sturdy man, and easy to get along with, in the sense that he said what he intended to say and went about his business. He practically charged the group north to the stronghold, keeping well east of Jenka’s childhood home. This was all right, because Jenka’s mother had died in the keep. If she was buried, it would be near there, not in Crag. Still, his heart ached to look down and see the only place he’d ever known as home in shambled piles of char.
The air coming off of the mountains was freezing and reminded Jenka that autumn was upon them. He would get a cloak from the keep before he took Lemmy north. He wasn’t sure Jade could carry him and Lemmy at the same time. Jade was still immature and sometimes had trouble keeping himself in the sky. But they would try it. Jenka wasn’t even sure he would be able to find Lemmy. He remembered then that Lemmy could speak in the ethereal even though he was a physical mute.
Lemmy! Jenka called out with his mind. Lemmy, can you hear me?
I can, a somewhat cheery voice responded with surprise. There are rangers at the keep that need aid. I’m looking for gaxil leaf for Mother Camille’s poultice. Are you alone? Besides Jade, I mean?
No, I’m escorting the new commander and twelve rangers to the keep. There are more down at Swineherd’s. Jenka felt a strange sense of normalcy talking to someone he had never really had a conversation with before. He and Lemmy had roamed the foothill forests with Rikky, Grondy, and Solomon for most of the last ten years, but Lemmy couldn’t speak, so they’d never gotten to know each other.
The area is safe enough, Lemmy said. The ogres cleared away what trolls you didn’t kill that night. Only a few strays have ventured near the keep since. The men that are wounded holed in a nasty orc a few days ago. We still need to clear it out of the cave it’s taken over. Maybe you and Jade can help, or the rangers? There are needed stores hidden there. How is Zahrellion? Is she well?
She and Rikky are on a quest to a distant island. Rikky lost a leg to trolls, but he bonded with a silver wyrm, and wears a peg-leg. Jenka swallowed hard. The small talk was done, but the lump in his throat was the size of an apple. What about my mother? Is she... Is she buried proper?
She is. Lemmy’s tone showed that the deed had been taken seriously. I’ll take you there in the morning. I’ll find you at the keep. We have to go on foot, so be rested.
Linux asked me to take you to the Temple of Dou, Jenka told him. There is a missive explaining what he’s after. Can we make the journey in a day?
We cannot. Even on Jade’s back it will take us two days at best. Is that what you wish to do?
It is, but only after the new commander says he is done with me.
Get the rangers to the keep tonight and I will see you on the morrow, said Lemmy. Mother Camille will want you to tell her all about Rikky.
I will, Jenka replied, as he urged Jade to bank around into a position directly over the rangers so that he could tell them the rest of the way was clear.
Chapter 9
Kingsmen’s Keep looked much as it always had; thick block and mortar walls built into the side of a great forested hill, with heavy timbered tables and doors, and thick dusty tapestries hanging along the walls. There were a handful of elderly folk roaming around the cleared grounds outside. They were the villagers that had been in no condition to flee through the night from Gravelbone’s raiding trolls. A pair of uniformed foresters were sparring with dulled swords amid a small crowd of noisy onlookers. Even in the late
When Lemmy and the ogres evacuated Kingsmen’s Keep, several dozen men, including Lemmy, were forced to stay behind. The ship could only hold so many. Seeing what had become of those left behind was of paramount importance to the new commander. Jenka liked him; he was a sturdy man, and easy to get along with, in the sense that he said what he intended to say and went about his business. He practically charged the group north to the stronghold, keeping well east of Jenka’s childhood home. This was all right, because Jenka’s mother had died in the keep. If she was buried, it would be near there, not in Crag. Still, his heart ached to look down and see the only place he’d ever known as home in shambled piles of char.
The air coming off of the mountains was freezing and reminded Jenka that autumn was upon them. He would get a cloak from the keep before he took Lemmy north. He wasn’t sure Jade could carry him and Lemmy at the same time. Jade was still immature and sometimes had trouble keeping himself in the sky. But they would try it. Jenka wasn’t even sure he would be able to find Lemmy. He remembered then that Lemmy could speak in the ethereal even though he was a physical mute.
Lemmy! Jenka called out with his mind. Lemmy, can you hear me?
I can, a somewhat cheery voice responded with surprise. There are rangers at the keep that need aid. I’m looking for gaxil leaf for Mother Camille’s poultice. Are you alone? Besides Jade, I mean?
No, I’m escorting the new commander and twelve rangers to the keep. There are more down at Swineherd’s. Jenka felt a strange sense of normalcy talking to someone he had never really had a conversation with before. He and Lemmy had roamed the foothill forests with Rikky, Grondy, and Solomon for most of the last ten years, but Lemmy couldn’t speak, so they’d never gotten to know each other.
The area is safe enough, Lemmy said. The ogres cleared away what trolls you didn’t kill that night. Only a few strays have ventured near the keep since. The men that are wounded holed in a nasty orc a few days ago. We still need to clear it out of the cave it’s taken over. Maybe you and Jade can help, or the rangers? There are needed stores hidden there. How is Zahrellion? Is she well?
She and Rikky are on a quest to a distant island. Rikky lost a leg to trolls, but he bonded with a silver wyrm, and wears a peg-leg. Jenka swallowed hard. The small talk was done, but the lump in his throat was the size of an apple. What about my mother? Is she... Is she buried proper?
She is. Lemmy’s tone showed that the deed had been taken seriously. I’ll take you there in the morning. I’ll find you at the keep. We have to go on foot, so be rested.
Linux asked me to take you to the Temple of Dou, Jenka told him. There is a missive explaining what he’s after. Can we make the journey in a day?
We cannot. Even on Jade’s back it will take us two days at best. Is that what you wish to do?
It is, but only after the new commander says he is done with me.
Get the rangers to the keep tonight and I will see you on the morrow, said Lemmy. Mother Camille will want you to tell her all about Rikky.
I will, Jenka replied, as he urged Jade to bank around into a position directly over the rangers so that he could tell them the rest of the way was clear.
Chapter 9
Kingsmen’s Keep looked much as it always had; thick block and mortar walls built into the side of a great forested hill, with heavy timbered tables and doors, and thick dusty tapestries hanging along the walls. There were a handful of elderly folk roaming around the cleared grounds outside. They were the villagers that had been in no condition to flee through the night from Gravelbone’s raiding trolls. A pair of uniformed foresters were sparring with dulled swords amid a small crowd of noisy onlookers. Even in the late
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