Rage of a Demon King Read Online Free

herds—and we know when we’re hearing a group of men approach.”
    “What’s your name?” asked Erik.
    “Akee, son of Bandur.”
    Erik nodded. “We need to talk.”
    The Baron said, “I protest, Captain!”
    Greylock said, “What, my lord?”
    “I protest this unannounced action. We were told to play the role of invaders and expect resistance by local militia and special units from Krondor at the town of Eggly. Nothing was said of a night attack. Had we known, we would have prepared for such!” he repeated.
    Erik glanced at Owen, who signaled that Erik should form up his company and depart while thePrince’s Knight-Captain soothed the ruffled feelings of the Baron of Tyr-Sog. Erik motioned Akee to his side and said, “Have your men gather their kits and find my corporal. He’s an ugly thug named Alfred. Tell him you’ll be coming with us to Krondor in the morning.”
    “Will the Baron approve?” asked Akee.
    “Probably not,” answered Erik, turning away. “But he doesn’t have much to say about it. I’m the Prince of Krondor’s man.”
    The Hadati hillman shrugged and motioned to his companions. “Let those men free.”
    “Free?” asked Erik.
    Akee smiled. “We captured a few of those you sent to the south, Sergeant. I believe your ugly thug may be among them.”
    Erik let fatigue and the pressure of the night’s exercise get the better of his usually calm nature. Swearing softly, he said, “If he is, he’ll regret it.”
    Akee shrugged, turning to his companions and saying, “Let’s go see.”
    Erik addressed another of his company, a soldier named Shane. “Get the men formed up at the south end of the camp.”
    Shane nodded and started shouting orders.
    Erik followed the Hadati to a point outside the perimeter of the Baron’s camp and found a pair of Hadati sitting next to Corporal Alfred and a half dozen of Erik’s best men.
    “What happened?” Erik asked.
    Alfred sighed as he stood. “They’re good, Sergeant.” He pointed to a ridge above them. “They must have moved the second they heard us coming, ’cause we were up there on that ridge, and I wouldhave wagered everything I own it wasn’t possible they could have come up out of that camp, crossed the ridge, lay low, then come up behind us as we headed down.” He shook his head. “We were being tapped on the shoulder before we heard them.”
    Erik turned to Akee. “You’ll have to tell me how you did that.”
    Akee shrugged, saying nothing.
    To Alfred, Erik said, “These hillmen are coming with us. Take them down to the camp and let’s get back to Krondor.”
    Alfred smiled, forgetting the tongue-lashing he was likely to receive from Erik when they were back at the garrison. “A hot meal,” he said.
    Erik was forced to agree it would be welcome. They had been out on maneuvers for a week, eating cold rations in the dark, and his men were tired and hungry. “Get moving” was all he said.
    Standing in the dark, Erik considered what was at stake in the impending war, and wondered if a hundred such exercises would prepare the men of the Kingdom for what was to come.
    Tossing aside such concern, he conceded that probably nothing would prepare them fully, but what other choice did he have? He considered that Calis, Prince Patrick, Knight-Marshal William, and other commanders were operating throughout these mountains, conducting such exercises this week; at the end of the week a council would be held to tally what needed to be done.
    Erik said to himself, “Everything, everything needs to be done,” and he realized his black mood was due more to fatigue and hunger than to Alfred’s failing to avoid the Hadati ambush. Then he smiled.If the hillmen from northern Yabon had gotten up over that ridge that fast, it was a good thing they were going to be on the Kingdom’s side, and even better, thought Erik, under his command.
    He turned toward the camp and decided he’d better join Greylock in mollifying the distressed Baron of