Embers of an Age (Blood War Trilogy) Read Online Free Page A

the Succor feeding his flesh, Uthul slept.
     

Chapter Four
     
    The burnt ruins of Lathah crumbled before him, and yet Warlord Vorrul raged.
    “He is but one man,” he growled. “How can an army not bring down one man?”
    The Grol soldier before him trembl ed and kept his snout down. “I—”
    “Excuses!” Vorrul lashed out and shredded the soldier’s cheek . He howled and turned his head away as four reddened grooves split his fur and spilled warm blood down his snout. The warlord gave him no time to recover. Vorrul’s second strike tore the soldier’s throat out. There was a wet gurgle and the dead Grol crumpled to the dirt.
    “One weak man!” he shouted, silencing the ranks that gathered about him. Vorrul cast the wet mass of the soldier’s throat at the front line. His jaw trembled as he snarled at his men. “One!”
    General Morgron dared to step closer. “A Sha’ree warrior ambushed our soldiers as they battled the Lathahn . He laid waste to our squa d of O’hra - bearers before they even realized he was there. The surprise allowed the Lathahn to escape.”
    Vorrul spun on the general. Morgron raised his chin and stood his ground. The warlord glared at the officer for a moment, and then loosed a forceful sigh. “Sha’ree?” His voice was little more than a whisper.
    Morgron grunted affirmative.
    “She lied to me , ” Vorrul muttered as he began to pace. “There was to be no Sha’ree interference, and yet here they a re . If they know of our advance in Lathah , what else might they know?”
    The general had no answer.
    “Was the Sha’ree killed?”
    “We’ve found no body,” Morgron replied , “nor have we found the O’hra our men wore , but the dust and smoke hinder our search .”
    “Then he still lives.” Vorrul said with confidence. He looked back at the wreckage of the city that had long defied his kind. It had fallen by his hand. Despite that, he could find little pride in its destruction. If the Sha’ree had already joined the fray, he had no certainty his soldiers could defend against such a foe even with the O’hra at their disposal. Just o ne of the ancient race’s warriors had decimated his ranks and stolen back a number of the magical tools Vorrul needed to assure his supremacy over the Pathrans. What would the whole of the race do? Did the Sha’ree know his plans? Had he prepared the felines somehow? There were far too many questions and no answers, and no hope of prying any from the bitch before he was forced to move on. Vorrul growled and surveyed the battlefield.
    On the plains behind him, the people of Lathah were being herded together and bound to those of Fhen, food for the army that shuffled nervously before him. His men were equipped and ready, his numbers still strong, but uncertainty nagged at the warlord. He needed the secrets of the O’hra. The fight against the Lathahn and Sha’ree showed him that . H e must drive ahead and press the assault against Pathrale for Vorrul had left the survivors nowhere else to retreat , but he must be cautious .
    “We march on Pathrale,” he told the general. “Leave a small contingent behind to gather the meat and supplies. We can no longer count on Rolff and his pathetic Korme soldiers if the Sha’ree are involved. The fool may well be dead already.” He pointed off in the direction of the small lake border ing Nurin and Lathah. “ Send a forward guard to ensure the Pathra do not flank us. Perhaps we will find Rolff in his place and can send his men to root the felines out of the trees .”
    The general snorted and turned toward the troops. “To Pathrale!” he shouted . H is voice roar ed over the men and set them in motion. He stomped off toward the lines of meat.
    Vorrul looked to the horizon, to the jungle of Pathrale. He’d accomplished more than any other of his kind, and yet he felt it was still too little. He needed to capture the Lathahn, more now than ever before.

Chapter Five
     
    Arrin reached the