Master of Chains - Jess Lebow [68]
The undead giants turned to face the new Ryder.
"Psst. Ryder," came a voice from above.
Ryder looked up. He could just make out Curtis's head sticking out over the edge of the palace wall.
"Ryder," he called. "Hurry through the gate. The illusion won't last forever."
Ryder looked back at the giants and the illusionary version of himself. Guess the skinny man knew more than a few parlor tricks.
Ryder turned and ran unsteadily through the broken gate to Fairhaven. He was attacked the moment his foot crossed the threshold, and he landed on the ground, chest first.
"Hold," whispered Giselle. "It's only Ryder."
A pair of Broken Spear warriors got up off the downed fighter.
"Thanks," said Ryder as he got back to his feet, "you really go the extra step to make a person feel welcome."
Giselle stepped right into his face. "So much for the plan."
Ryder dusted himself off. "We had no choice. They were going to find us, so we improvised."
"And where's Nazeem?"
Ryder spun around to look out on to the path leading away from the gate. "Hells. He's still out there."
CHAPTER 15
"We'll be riding out a communique for Baron Purdun to King Korox of Erlkazar," explained Captain Beetlestone. "The road will be treacherous, and we expect resistance either from the Awl-"
Liam squirmed a little when he said this.
"-or from another source."
"Sir?" One of the other soldiers stood up from his chair.
"Yes, Buckwald?" acknowledged Beetlestone.
"Another source?"
The captain took a deep breath, looking at each of the soldiers around the table. All of them belonged to the unit that reported directly to Beetlestone. He was going to be leading this mission, and none of the other troops in the baron's army would accompany them.
He nodded. "There have been an alarming number of scouting reports recently about an incursion of the walking dead in the region surrounding Duhlnarim, particularly in the areas near Dajaan and along Shalane Lake."
Though no one spoke, Liam could feel the room tense. They would no doubt be headed to Klarsamryn, the king's stronghold in Llorbauth. The road to the capital ran parallel to Shalane Lake almost the entire way.
"If there are no other questions," said Beetlestone, "then we will mount up and head out immediately." The captain placed his hands behind his back, waiting.
The room remained silent.
"Very well, then," he said. "To the stables."
The soldiers all stood and filed out of the briefing room. Outside, the sun was just coming up.
The stables had been a late addition to the north end of Zerith Hold. It was attached to a special holding cell used to deal with large groups of prisoners. The dungeon in the Hold wasn't very large, so long-term criminals were moved to other facilities. Or so Liam was told.
The stable boy brought the soldiers' horses into the courtyard. The young man approached Liam and handed him the reins of a beautiful brown mare.
"This one's yours," said the youth.
Liam took the reins. "Thank you." He'd never had a horse of his own. And this one was magnificent. Tall and lean, it was a young horse in its prime. It had been well cared for, and its eyes were bright and clear.
"Hello, there," he said, running his hand along the horse's mane.
The horse let out a whiny.
"Liam," shouted Captain Beetlestone.
Liam looked up from the horse to see that all the other soldiers were already mounted and ready to ride.
"Do you know how to ride, son?" asked the captain.
Liam placed his left foot in the stirrup and swung himself up onto the horse's back in a single fluid motion. Once he was situated, he turned and saluted the captain. "Yes, Captain."
Beetlestone smirked. "Very good." He turned his horse and headed toward the gate out of Zerith Hold. "Let's ride."
The gate opened, and the soldiers filed out of the courtyard. They fell into line, two abreast, and headed down the cobbled path, the horses' hooves clanking on the stone.
Liam rode beside a gray-haired man. Though he didn't appear to be too old, his