River of Spears (Kingdom's Forge Book 0) Read Online Free Page A

like her to miss out on potentially useful information. Dain didn’t begrudge her this. Everyone used whatever tools they had at hand to survive in this world, and paying attention to whispers was one of Bix’s.
    “If what you say is true…then we aren’t limiting their movements at all,” Tindall said slowly, bringing Dain back to the moment. “We aren’t exerting any leverage over them. And without leverage, we will never tame the river or the grasslands. We will never win this war.”
    “Correct.”
    Tindall frowned. He had arrived at the conclusion fast. It had taken Dain a full week to convince the previous major of the war’s true status.
    “Then we are just wasting our time here, achieving nothing. But our patrols—”
    “Never find anything,” Dain interrupted, meeting Tindall’s eyes. “The Tyberons find us. What you experienced earlier, with the raid, that’s how it always goes. We are nothing more than bait to draw out the Tyberons.”
    Dain drained his mug, letting his words set in. He studied the major’s face. Tindall’s forehead wrinkled and his eyes gazed behind Dain, past the tent’s entry and into the long miles beyond.
    “Surely command knows about this and has some sort of plan? They can’t all be blind?”
    Dain shrugged. He didn’t have the answers, only what he’d seen and learned for himself. Blindfolded toward the abyss , he reminded himself. But, for the moment, the major’s blindfold had slipped. Now, will he pull it back up or slide it off completely?
    Tindall went back to studying the map in silence, this time in earnest.
    “If we are to be bait,” Tindall began “then so be it, but I intend to survive this war, as I’m sure you and the others do. How do we do that?”
    Here it was then. The delicate moment, perched like a great boulder over the edge of a cliff. Dain wouldn’t leave it up to chance or the man’s judgment—better to push Tindall over the edge. He cleared his throat.
    “Your predecessor and I had…an arrangement. One like what you described earlier. One that was mutually beneficial. You’ve noticed my accommodations are better than most?” With an open palm, he gestured at the surrounding tent. “These arrangements are actually far more common than your generals suspect, although I’ve often wondered about that.”
    Dain smiled. Unfortunately for his former officer, their arrangement had worked too well. For his “effectiveness,” command had promoted the man to a tougher and even more dangerous assignment.
    “You have more experience than I,” Tindall said. “You will act as patrol leader, and I will only hold the role in an official capacity.”
    Tindall continued to impress Dain. He had underestimated the Esterian. He learned quickly and drew the correct conclusions, and he seemed to be relatively unhindered by the hubris that crippled so many of his peers.
    The major sat quiet as a stone for a moment, his head still tipped downwards toward the map. Then his eyes met Dain’s again and he spoke.
    “I have one request before we agree to this.”
    “Go on.”
    “I want you to teach me what you know. Someday I may need to be more than a figurehead, and I want to know what to do when that day comes.”
    Dain paused—not to consider refusing the request, but to scold himself again for underestimating the fresh-faced Esterian who, Dain reminded himself, really wasn’t much younger than he was. Less than a fortnight at the front and Tindall already showed more foresight than his predecessor, who himself had proven wiser than most.
    “Deal. Now, you understand that I will need to know about any and all communication between you and your superiors. I can’t make informed decisions— suggestions —without that,” Dain said.
    Tindall smiled slightly. “That makes sense. I presume you want to start with what the commander told me tonight after you left us.” Dain nodded, and Tindall continued. “In another week a full battalion will