Dragonhammer: Volume I

Dragonhammer: Volume I by Conner McCall Page B

Book: Dragonhammer: Volume I by Conner McCall Read Free Book Online
Authors: Conner McCall
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them alone.  Go say hello before they leave.”
    “You’re planning on coming with me, then?”
    He takes a deep breath.  “I was actually hoping I could talk you out of it.”
    “What?”
    “It’s uh…” he stutters.  “I won’t have you go to your death,” he says lamely.
    “He’s our father.  There are many men that gave their lives so you could save your skin, and so I could save mine.  I’m merely returning the favor.”
    “Yes, I realize he’s our father and that the Jarl is important and it’s possible for them to die, but Kadmus…”  He searches for something to say and finally says, “Live to fight another day.”
    “You think I won’t survive?”  I phrase it like a question, but it’s really not.
    He doesn’t answer.
    “Nathaniel.”  I look to my younger brother for support.  “Will you come with me?”
    He looks nervously between Gunther and me, caught between the two opinions of his nearly greatest role models.  “I don’t know…” he finally leaks.
    “Am I alone then?” I ask.  The soldiers close by look away as I turn to stare them down.
    Frederick says, “I fear for your life, Kadmus.  Your actions are your own, however.  You may choose to do as you will.”
    Percival winces as he tries to stand.  His father grasps Percival’s shoulder and says something quietly.  Percival ceases his attempts to stand and says, “If I could, I would gladly stand behind you.”
    “Thank you Percival,” I say quietly.
    “When will you go?”
    “What time is it?” I respond.
    “An hour or two after dawn,” says a soldier.  “We’re probably going to get moving soon.  We’re not out of the fire yet.”
    “Not ‘til night, then,” I say, answering Percival’s question.  “Their soldiers will most likely clean up most of the mess this morning and then sleep all afternoon and night.  We could use some rest ourselves.”
    Percival and his father Darius are discussing something, though it’s pretty obvious what about.  Percival is upset and begins to speak louder.  Finally the conversation comes to an end and Percival says to me, “I cannot come with you.  But I will be here, waiting for you.”  He stands with the help of his father and rests his hand on my shoulder, though I am several inches taller than he.  “I have faith in you.  I will not leave until you return.”
    Shortly after, the captains gather the horde of survivors and start off down the mountain path.
    Jericho’s words bring me hope:  “I have to go, to stay with those who can help me recover.  I know you’ll do it.  Every step of the way, I’m behind you.”
    “I’ll see you again,” James had said.  “You and your father.”
    Frederick only said, “I have faith in you, Kadmus.”
    Now I stand watching them from the crumbled gate of the old fort.  It will take them at least three or four days to travel the length of the path to even get out of the mountains, and then another four to get to Kera once they are on the main road.  I hope to catch them in a day or two.
    Percival stands with me, as does his father.  Both are slightly irritable, but say nothing.  They go back down into the fort after only a few minutes, but I stay and watch until the lines of men disappear around the mountainous bend.
    Tall pine trees decorate the small pass that leads to the front of the fort.  Fallen rocks, that on closer inspection appear to be ancient carved columns, lie about the bases of the trees.  The front archway is intact, as is the front wall, but the gate has long since rotted away.  The hinges still hang on the sides, rusted and orange.
    The fort sits nestled in a horseshoe-shaped ring of rocky cliffs, the front gate pointing out of it.  Remnants of towers stand like they’re trying to prove they still have some strength.  The fort has a side door that leads through a small pass to the left, hidden from the front.  I don’t know where it leads, but guess that it probably

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