a Shadow Warrior a hundred paces away. We’ve all gotten pretty good at it, but not from that distance and not with his consistency. He’s saved our necks many times by putting his own life on the line. He’s a great man, and you’re fortunate to be serving under him.”
Quinlan swallowed his last bite, glad the darkness hid the twitching muscle in his face. “I don’t want to disappoint him … or the others. I just don’t know if I’ve got what it takes.”
Kessler smiled and put a hand on Quinlan’s shoulder. “You wouldn’t be here if the commander didn’t think you have what it takes. I think you need to start trusting him too.”
Quinlan shot Kessler a weak grin. “Thanks.”
Kessler nodded, then went to his bedroll. Quinlan soon found his own and settled in for a night’s sleep. He drifted into slumber, both dreading and anticipating what awaited them in Arimil.
WORTHINGTON
Two more days of travel brought Baylor and his men to the outskirts of Arimil, on Arrethtrae’s western shore. It was beautiful, lush country, and the salty smell of the sea was a new sensation for Quinlan. Baylor led them to a hill overlooking the eastern road that entered the city. Careful to stay out of sight, they watched the road until a small detachment of five knights appeared, traveling from the east.
“There’s our man, gentlemen.” Baylor pointed toward the front of the detachment. “The one in blue.”
Quinlan had assumed this noble-looking knight was the leader, but the one riding next to him also caught his eye. She rode her steed with confidence, and even from this distance, he could tell she was a very attractive young woman.
The other knights, though, seemed focused only on the man Baylor had pointed out. “Who is he, sir?” Drake asked.
“That’s Sir Worthington of Thecia, the one we’ve come to protect,” Baylor said. “Taras tells me he’s a prime target for Lucius, and it’s our job to make sure he stays alive.”
“Why is he a target?” Purcell asked.
“Evidently he has great potential to bring many to the Prince,” Baylor said. “Both the Silent Warriors and the Shadow Warriors have become quite adept at discerning who is going to significantly affect thekingdom, often even before the person himself knows it. Such is the case with Worthington.”
Quinlan was still adjusting to this new world of warfare. “Do you think he knows?”
Baylor looked at him as if he were waiting for the rest of the question.
“About the war, I mean—and that he’s a part of it?”
Baylor looked back at Worthington. “A man like that knows. He just doesn’t realize how close he is to it—not yet, anyway. Knights of the Prince don’t usually know what’s happening until they are under full attack. By then it’s a retreat-and-defend scenario. We’re going to do our best to keep that from happening here.”
By now the detachment had passed on and entered the city. Baylor turned and addressed his knights.
“The information I have predicts an attack on Worthington here in Arimil. Whether it is simply a disruptive attack to nullify his work in the city or an all-out assassination attempt is unknown. We must be prepared for anything.”
Quinlan watched the other knights as Baylor briefed them. They wore the faces of men called to battle, and he admired their sense of commitment and duty.
“Worthington and his men will be conducting recruitment meetings and specialized training in the haven for the next two days,” Baylor told them. “We have until sundown to learn all we can about this haven, the city, the surrounding area, and Worthington and his knights. We’ll be doing three-stage protection. Drake, you and I will cover outer perimeter and entry routes to the city. Kessler, you have central perimeter, and Purcell, you’ll be on the inside. I need you as close to Worthington as possible. You know what to do.”
“Yes, Commander,” Purcell said with a wink and a grin.
“Quinlan,
Quinlan swallowed his last bite, glad the darkness hid the twitching muscle in his face. “I don’t want to disappoint him … or the others. I just don’t know if I’ve got what it takes.”
Kessler smiled and put a hand on Quinlan’s shoulder. “You wouldn’t be here if the commander didn’t think you have what it takes. I think you need to start trusting him too.”
Quinlan shot Kessler a weak grin. “Thanks.”
Kessler nodded, then went to his bedroll. Quinlan soon found his own and settled in for a night’s sleep. He drifted into slumber, both dreading and anticipating what awaited them in Arimil.
WORTHINGTON
Two more days of travel brought Baylor and his men to the outskirts of Arimil, on Arrethtrae’s western shore. It was beautiful, lush country, and the salty smell of the sea was a new sensation for Quinlan. Baylor led them to a hill overlooking the eastern road that entered the city. Careful to stay out of sight, they watched the road until a small detachment of five knights appeared, traveling from the east.
“There’s our man, gentlemen.” Baylor pointed toward the front of the detachment. “The one in blue.”
Quinlan had assumed this noble-looking knight was the leader, but the one riding next to him also caught his eye. She rode her steed with confidence, and even from this distance, he could tell she was a very attractive young woman.
The other knights, though, seemed focused only on the man Baylor had pointed out. “Who is he, sir?” Drake asked.
“That’s Sir Worthington of Thecia, the one we’ve come to protect,” Baylor said. “Taras tells me he’s a prime target for Lucius, and it’s our job to make sure he stays alive.”
“Why is he a target?” Purcell asked.
“Evidently he has great potential to bring many to the Prince,” Baylor said. “Both the Silent Warriors and the Shadow Warriors have become quite adept at discerning who is going to significantly affect thekingdom, often even before the person himself knows it. Such is the case with Worthington.”
Quinlan was still adjusting to this new world of warfare. “Do you think he knows?”
Baylor looked at him as if he were waiting for the rest of the question.
“About the war, I mean—and that he’s a part of it?”
Baylor looked back at Worthington. “A man like that knows. He just doesn’t realize how close he is to it—not yet, anyway. Knights of the Prince don’t usually know what’s happening until they are under full attack. By then it’s a retreat-and-defend scenario. We’re going to do our best to keep that from happening here.”
By now the detachment had passed on and entered the city. Baylor turned and addressed his knights.
“The information I have predicts an attack on Worthington here in Arimil. Whether it is simply a disruptive attack to nullify his work in the city or an all-out assassination attempt is unknown. We must be prepared for anything.”
Quinlan watched the other knights as Baylor briefed them. They wore the faces of men called to battle, and he admired their sense of commitment and duty.
“Worthington and his men will be conducting recruitment meetings and specialized training in the haven for the next two days,” Baylor told them. “We have until sundown to learn all we can about this haven, the city, the surrounding area, and Worthington and his knights. We’ll be doing three-stage protection. Drake, you and I will cover outer perimeter and entry routes to the city. Kessler, you have central perimeter, and Purcell, you’ll be on the inside. I need you as close to Worthington as possible. You know what to do.”
“Yes, Commander,” Purcell said with a wink and a grin.
“Quinlan,
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