Dark Fate: The Gathering (The Dark Fate Chronicles Book 1) Read Online Free

the wind as long as those beasts are present.”
    Kinsey looked in the direction Erik had gestured when speaking of the Wildmen camp. He had led the chancellor’s entourage further north in hopes of avoiding such encounters. They were practically in the middle of Pelos, so what in Eos’ name were Wildmen doing this far north of the border? A question Kinsey would definitely bring up once they reached Stone Mountain. Until then, he would have to find a way around this mess. “Can we backtrack, then come around from a different direction?”
    Erik made an equivocating gesture. “Possibly. I found a game trail to the North that cuts above their campsite, but if the wind changes we’ll be discovered. We could loop down further south and avoid the whole area.”
    Kinsey frowned in thought and jabbed his thumb in the direction of the Wildmen camp. “There’s no guarantee we won’t run into another group like this one, not to mention the time delay the southern route would cost. It would easily add an extra couple of days.”
    “It’s a gamble either way,” Erik said with a shrug.
    “The less time we spend in these woods the better. I say we press on,” Kesh said with conviction.
    “Chancellor, I believe you and I are in agreement for the first time during this little journey,” Kinsey replied.
    “Yes, well... don’t get used to it,” said Kesh. There was no mistaking the contempt in his voice.
    Kinsey watched Kesh’s back as the finely dressed nobleman walked down to the line of mules, horses, and men in the ravine below. “I truly hate that man,” he said with a show of teeth.
    “You wouldn’t be the first, but may well be the last,” said Erik. He chuckled as he passed by.
    Kinsey reached out and stopped him. “Thank you... for back there. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
    “Not many do when the chancellor is involved.” Erik smiled and placed a hand on Kinsey’s shoulder. “You’re doing a good job here; these men look up to you. Remember that the next time you feel your anger rise.” He patted Kinsey’s shoulder roughly, then made his way down the hill.
    Kinsey took a deep, calming breath. Twenty souls depended on him to make the right decisions. He was trying. Battling his own frustrations, on top of the pressures of making the correct decisions for everyone else, was becoming more difficult as the journey dragged on.
    Even a few short months ago he was able to maintain his composure when a plan went sour, or when suffering the jibes from an irritating speck like Kesh. But now, even trivial setbacks seemed to provoke an anger in him that felt almost alive, twisting inside his chest, aching to be set free.
    He shook his head. Maybe it was just the pressure of this mission. He had led many expeditions before, but none this high profile. The weeks previous to departure had been grueling, locked up in a room with Basinian aristocrats going over every detail. And etiquette, for Eos’ sake: “Proper this,” and “Proper that…” The whole ordeal made Kinsey feel nauseous. Relocating royalty was a pain that no one should have to suffer.
    Kinsey could see Chancellor Tomelen walking amongst the men, gesturing for them to get up and prepare to move out. The goldenhaired nobleman then proceeded to direct where direction wasn’t needed.
    Kinsey mumbled to himself, “Or people who think they’re royalty, for that matter.”
    Moving down the hill to the lip of the ravine, Kinsey stood where he could see the entire group and spoke loud enough for all to hear: “Everybody, listen up!”
     
     
     
    Erik took what supplies he needed from his saddlebags as Kinsey’s voice carried over the ravine. This little detour is going to be tricky , he thought. The game trail was only a couple of hundred yards from the Wildmen campsite and any excess noise would certainly lead to discovery. He knew the soldiers could handle themselves; it was the nobles, mules, and horses that concerned him. If the animals got