Angelslayer: The Winnowing War by K. Michael Wright Page B

the waxen seal with her thumbnail and pried out the wooden stopper. A papyrus scroll spilled into her palm. She carefully unrolled it and studied the print. Aeson was pressed beside her.
    â€œI am not that good with Etlantian script,” she said, “but I can read most of it. These are directions—they say to go east, several leagues beyond the King’s Highway. I know where that is. I have ridden there before.”
    â€œYou have? You have ridden past the King’s Highway on your own?”
    Pointing to the scroll, Adrea continued, “Do not be silly; of course I have, many times. In fact, this is the cliff that borders the eastern edge of the ocean near the forest. This is the top of the Dove Cara! And here—this names a time, the first degree of sunrise tomorrow morning.”
    She stared at Aeson, amazed, who stared back with equal amazement. “What are you going to do?” he gasped. Her expression did not require an answer. “You are going to do it! You are! Alone?”
    â€œNo, I will ask Lamachus to escort me. What? I suppose you would have me wait here hoping Marcian might drop by?”
    Aeson gave it some thought, narrowing his most serious brow, and then looked up with an idea. “Lamachus will be watching your every move, especially in the morning, but perhaps I can give him something more important to watch. Something he would not have the choice of ignoring.”
    â€œSuch as?”
    â€œLeave that to me.”
    â€œYou surprise me, Aeson. I would think you would warn me to stay away. What if it is a Daath planning to steal me?”
    â€œYou did not see the harlot—those rich veils, the bracelets, and the cylinder. That cylinder is pure silver. If it is a Daath, he is not an ordinary Daath. So I think you should go. But only on one condition.”
    â€œYou are laying down conditions?”
    â€œI follow you. I will be close—not that anyone will notice, however. I will use stealth.”
    â€œYou are practiced at stealth, are you?”
    â€œYes. I practice all the time. Do you know how boring it can be pushing cattle all day? I am planning on becoming an able scout. You think I want to herd cattle all my life? I can stay hidden. Anything goes wrong, be assured I will not be far.”
    â€œThen I have little to worry of, do I? Just make sure of one thing: make sure Lamachus does not notice my leaving.”
    â€œI will make certain you are the last thing on Lamachus’s mind.” He grinned.

Chapter Seven
Agapenor
    A tavern on the outskirts of Terith-Aire, that same night
    S even thick, bronze coins were slammed down onto a rough-hewn table and then mashed in place by a fat thumb. The pits smelled. The whole tavern smelled, but Agapenor had no choice. He was being called out. “Seven!” bellowed Cindos, one of Agapenor’s sergeants, invaluable in battle but utterly useless in peacetime. Cindos kept his thumb on his precious stack of coins and raised his fist in the air to stir the whole cavern into madness, which was working quite well. It was just the opposite reason Agapenor had come to the city. He had been hoping to find a quiet place to have a few drinks before shipping out in the morning, but that was definitely a dream lost now.
    â€œSeven!” Cindos screamed again. “By God, I lay seven bronze on our man Agapenor!”
    There were murmurs all about.
    A Daathan warrior stepped forward. There was an entire contingent of Daath in the tavern, all members of the tenth cohort of the second legion. Agapenor had no idea how they had overtaken the tavern so quickly. When Agapenor and his five axemen had first come in, there were a few Galagleans and a scattering of Pelegasian seamen. Now it was wall to wall with Daath.
    â€œSeven bronze?” the tall, lean Daathan captain said, smiling at Cindos. “Hardly a difficult wager, Galaglean—seven pieces of bronze. This is all you can say of your mighty