Empire of Bones by Christian Warren Freed

be easy, but after the intensity of their ordeals she figured they were due for a break. Any modicum of hope wasn’t much to ask for. Instead the world continued to conspire against them. She doubted any of them were going to reach the mythical temple.
    As if sensing her discomfort, Rekka offered a small smile. “Take heart, Princess. All is not lost. There are many hardships yet ahead but we have strength I have seldom encountered. We will find our way through the dark. My people will help us when we arrive.”
    “She’s right,” Anienam added from beside the fire. The old wizard looked like a drowned dog, again forcing Maleela to wonder just how long ago they’d wrecked. “It’s best to recover our strength here before pushing ahead. We should spend the night. Even with my magic and Rekka’s expertise, the jungle is too dangerous to travel in the dark.”
    Bahr agreed. “I’ll establish the guard roster. In the meantime I want this camp tidied up and made into a defensible position before nightfall. Whatever sent that storm after us is still out there. I don’t want to run into it off guard. Let’s get some food going. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m starving.”
    They settled about their normal chores and prepared for an uneasy first night in the Jungles of Brodein. Bahr prayed they lasted the night.
    * * * * *
    Cold winds bit harshly across the snow-covered fields. Their haunting echo screamed down from the mountains reminding Amar Kit’han of troubling times. Once, when he’d been mortal, he became trapped in a massive snowstorm. Buried, he lay trapped for three days before managing to dig his way free. That first taste of frigid air burned his lungs. Centuries later it was a feeling he never forgot.
    His ice-colored eyes stared at the others. “The storm proved only moderately successful. Our enemies have been run aground but are still a threat.”
    “It was your plan, Amar,” Kodan Bak hissed from beneath his hood. “We should have sent more convincing measures.”
    “Gnaals are dangerous beasts. You know this. They kill indiscriminately.”
    “They were created by dark magic during the Mage War,” Kodan insisted. “Their sole purpose is to serve our cause.”
    “They were created by Men, not the dark gods and certainly not by us,” Amar reminded harshly. “We have no dominion over such creatures.”
    “I thought we served the dark gods,” Kodan Bak attacked.
    Pelthit Re glided back, careful to remain neutral in the event they came to blows. Ideations of stealing power entertained him for the time being.
    Amar bristled with raw energy. “You dare question me?”
    “Only your sense of purpose. Perhaps these mortals have eluded you for so long you no longer know how best to neutralize them?”
    Rather than lashing out rashly, Amar folded his arms across his chest and decided to hear his subordinate out. The time was fast approaching when he would be able to remove the troublesome Bak without much effort, but not yet. Not until the dark gods returned to claim dominance over all life on Malweir. Surely they wouldn’t begrudge him one minor act of retribution for all his years of dedicated service. “Explain yourself.”
    Kodan, thinking he had finally gained the upper hand, answered, “Gnaals are beings of pure dark magic. The Mages are gone, we helped see to that, but their creations still haunt Malweir. They answer to dark magic.”
    “Giving us control over them,” Amar finished. The idea had merit and he was disappointed he hadn’t thought of it himself. “This idea warrants attention. Find them, Kodan Bak. Enslave them to our purpose and send them after the princess and her fool wizard. I want that group dead long before they reach the jungle temple. Artiss Gran will not have his chance to execute his revenge.”
    “What of the Hags?” Pelthit Re asked. Ever the one to exercise caution, the lesser Dae’shan focused solely on his subjugation of Delranan and Harnin