The Invisible Chains - Part 2: Bonds of Fear Read Online Free Page A

several
    passersby. “You’ll break your stupid neck. You don’t know the horse
    yet. The horse doesn’t know you. Come back. Oh, damn it, there he
    goes again.”
    After an hour, just when Hemarchidas started to become seriously
    worried, Anaxantis returned. His friends were still standing on the
    inner courtyard, talking among themselves. His cheeks were glowing
    and he looked happy, through and through.
    “Guys, he is magnificent,” he said. “Thank you so much.”
    He dismounted and caressed the neck of the horse.
    “And fast. He is so fast,” he continued enthusiastically. “He
    seems to know what you want to do, before you know it yourself.
    Hemarchidas, you wouldn’t believe it, but we almost flew. And he
    liked it too. He handles so well. And—”
    “And you could have broken your neck,” Hemarchidas said dryly.
    “Oh, don’t be a spoilsport,” Anaxantis smiled. “I named him
    Myrmoranga. Myrmos for short.”
    “Lord of the wind. Wind,” Hemarchidas said, and this time he
    smiled too.
    Anaxantis handed over the reins to Arranulf to bring the horse to
    the stables and take care of him.
    “We’ve asked the kitchen to prepare something festive and
    they’re ready to serve whenever we are,” Tomar said.
    30
    Andrew Ashling
    They went to the same big room in one of the guest houses where
    they had celebrated New Year’s Eve, although Anaxantis seemed
    more inclined to follow his horse to the stables. After dinner they
    continued chatting in varying groups.
    When he saw that Iftang was not engaged in any particular
    conversation, he made a sign for the general to join him. The others
    were too involved to pay them any attention.
    “Iftang, we’re leaving for the Renuvian Plains within the week. I’d
    like to take about a hundred men.”
    “That will be quite an expedition, then.”
    “Oh, yes. We’re taking scribes, cartographers, servants, the
    works.”
    “You’re sure we need a hundred soldiers?”
    “Well, Marak’s father mentioned that a gang of robbers is active
    on the Plains. The Dermolhean Forty have had to cope with them
    for a long time. They reckon that they operate in groups of about
    a hundred or so. I doubt they’ll prove a match for trained soldiers,
    though. So, a hundred on our side seems about right. More would be
    inconvenient. As we don’t know if we will be able to live off the land,
    we have to take enough food with us. More soldiers means more
    provisions to carry with us.”
    “I see,” Iftang said, rubbing his hands. “Really, I’m looking forward
    to this. That’s what an army should do, you know. Not sit in some
    encampment waiting for the enemy to come and get us, but actively
    seek out opportunities to fight and beat him.”
    “I agree,” Anaxantis said. “In more than one sense, in fact. Did
    you know that the conquest of Amiratha, some three hundred years
    ago, was the last time Ximerion was actively expanding? Since then
    we have been cooped up in our own borders. That’s not healthy. The
    Bonds of Fear
    31
    very moment you stop growing, you start decaying. I still believe that
    is one of the main reasons for the fall of the House of Chaldarina, the
    previous dynasty. Yet, if father had his way...”
    Iftang looked at him as if he was debating with himself whether
    he would broach the subject.
    “Speaking of your father,” he said, having made his decision, “any
    idea yet how you’re going to handle him?”
    Anaxantis looked at him with amusement.
    “Yes, I have, but you don’t really expect me to go into details, do
    you?”
    “I guess not,” the general grinned. “I only hope that you know
    what you are doing. I don’t even know why I worry. Until now you
    seem to have had things firmly in hand.”
    “OK,” Anaxantis laughed, “flattery will get you everywhere. I’ll
    give you a hint or two. Mind you, this stays between us. Agreed?”
    “That goes without saying.”
    “Well then. What are the two elements that have to be present