Legends of the Riftwar Read Online Free Page A

replied softly.
    Dennis nodded, scanning the line of troops. His gaze fell on Richard Kevinsson. ‘Boy, over here now,’ he snapped.
    Nervously Richard looked up.
    â€˜The rest of you start moving,’ Dennis rapped out ‘we want to make Brendan’s Stockade and our own lines by morning.’
    Two men acting as trailbreakers sprinted forward, darting off to either side of the trail, lightly jumping over deadfalls and around tree trunks. Within seconds they had disappeared into the forest. Half a dozen men, the advanced squad, set out next, moving down the trail at a slow trot.
    Richard Kevinsson approached, obviously ill-at-ease. ‘Captain?’ he asked, his voice shaking.
    Dennis looked at Gregory, Tinuva, and the priest, his eyes commanding a dismissal. Tinuva stepped away, bowed in respect to the grave, then joined the column, but Gregory and the priest lingered.
    â€˜Father, go join the wounded,’ Dennis said sharply.
    â€˜I thank you for rescuing me, Captain,’ Father Corwin replied, ‘but I feel responsible for the trouble this lad is in and I wish to stay with him.’
    Dennis was about to bark an angry command, but a look in Gregory’s eyes stilled him. He turned his attention back to Richard. ‘When we return to Baron Moyet’s camp I will have you dropped from the rolls of the company.’
    â€˜Sir?’ Richard’s voice started to break.
    â€˜I enrolled you in the company because I felt sorry for your loss, boy. It reminded me of my own, I guess. But doing so was a mistake. In the last fortnight you have barely managed to keep up with our march. I heard a rumour that you fell asleep while on watch two nights ago.’
    He hesitated for an instant. It was Jurgen who had reported that,and then defended the boy, reminding Dennis that he had done so as well when out on his first campaign long years ago.
    â€˜It was you that the priest saw from the trail wasn’t it?’
    The boy hesitated.
    â€˜It’s not his fault,’ Father Corwin said, impassioned. ‘I stopped because I was exhausted from running. I was staring straight at him, I couldn’t help but see him.’
    â€˜That doesn’t matter,’ Dennis snapped, and the look in his eyes made it clear that he would not tolerate another word from the black-robed priest. ‘Well?’
    â€˜Yes, sir,’ Richard replied weakly. ‘It was me.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜I thought I was well concealed.’
    â€˜If that old man could spot you, be certain a Tsurani trailbreaker would have seen you. You are a danger to yourself and to my command. I’m sending you back. You can tell your friends what you want. I suggest you find a position with a nice comfortable mounted unit down in Krondor. No brains needed there, just ride, point your lance, and charge. Then you can be a hero, like in the songs and ballads.’
    â€˜I wanted to serve with you, sir,’ the boy whispered.
    â€˜Well you did, and that’s now finished.’ He hesitated, but then his anger spilled out. ‘Go take a final look at that grave over there before we leave,’ he said with barely-contained fury, his soft voice more punishing than any screamed insult. ‘Now get out of my sight.’
    The boy stiffened, face as pale as the first heavy flakes of snow that began to swirl down around them. The he nodded and turned about, shoulders sagging. As he rejoined the column the men around him looked away.
    The priest took a step forward.
    Dennis’s hand snapped out, and a finger pointed into the old man’s face. ‘I don’t like you,’ Dennis announced. ‘You were a bumbling fool wandering around out here where you had no business. Damn you, don’t you know there’s a war being fought out here? It’s not a war like the ones that fat monks and troubadours gossip about around the fireplace. I hope you got a good belly full of it