Empire of Bones by Christian Warren Freed Page A

One Eye.
    “Useless creatures,” Kodan hissed sharply.
    Amar held up a staying hand. “The Harpies still serve a purpose. Have them brought to me. I have a specific task they need to accomplish before their servitude ends.”
    “They have failed more times than not and only two remain,” Kodan reminded them.
    Harpies had been hunted to near extinction and what remained were sorry representations of what they had once been. Three had been contracted to harry and harass Bahr upon leaving Chadra. Instead of performing adequately, the Hags grew careless and made their play much too soon, or too late depending on the point of view. One of them had been mortally wounded, leaving the two survivors sulking in their mountain haunts. Kodan regarded them as useless in every aspect and couldn’t figure out why Amar continued to keep them on a leash.
    “Their assault on the wizard was…unfortunate, but that doesn’t negate their uses. Instruct the Gnaals to kill all but the princess.”
    “You mean to capture her again?” Kodan asked, the surprise in his voice was too evident for his liking and told Amar just how eager he was to forge a new destiny for the Dae’shan.
    Amar fixed him with a deadly glare but said nothing. Let the fool stew in his anticipation.

     
     
     
TEN
    Hunted
    The night grew much darker than any they’d ever experienced in the north. Hundreds, thousands of insects chirped or hummed. Large predators with luminescent eyes watched them from the safety of the jungle. Occasional loud crashes sounded out, making those few still awake cringe. All but Rekka and Anienam found the jungle alien. Even Boen, whose travels had taken him around the world and into almost every imaginable environment, felt displaced. His grip never left the hilt of his sword.
    As soon as he dragged himself up out of the wreckage of the barge he gathered his weapons and patrolled the surrounding area. This was no place to leave anything to chance. Veteran of a hundred campaigns, the Gaimosian was finally back in his element. The freedom of moving alone and at speed thrilled him. He crept past fallen trees and blended with bushes. He froze when strange sounds reached his ears. His eyes, once dulled, were now sharp, watching everything with great interest. He was the warrior again.
    Unbridled, Boen circled wide around the wreckage. He found one of the horses lying twisted with a large tree jutting from the ribcage. Grimacing at the horrible death suffered, Boen gave the mare a final pat on the neck before moving on. He fully expected to run into another party of river Men anxious for revenge. Scum like that were little better than herd animals. He harbored no qualms about slaughtering them. Just like they deserved.
    His turn at guard duty came and went but he couldn’t find sleep. His nerves were wound too tightly. Boen snorted. He was always wound too tight. Men in his profession often were. Only the strongest became fully acknowledged Gaimosian warriors. Each was promised a lifetime of wandering, trying to find their niche in life. They held no titles other than Vengeance Knights. No homes. No lands to call their own. They were the children of the world and executed their special brand of justice on those found wanting. Boen discovered early on that he thoroughly enjoyed his life’s calling. For him there could be no other way.
    The call of a jungle cat followed closely by a strangled cry and silence forced his eyes open. Boen stared skyward, enjoying the stars one final time before they entered the thick, double canopy of the jungle. Heavy rustling drew his attention without raising his guard. Whatever had killed the animal was finished and unconcerned with this large of a group. Kill or be killed. It was the law of life. Boen gradually closed his eyes and let sleep claim him.
     
     
     
    Dawn broke with unusual splendor. The dark clouds were gone, replaced by crystalline blue skies and only the faintest wisps of clouds. Boen yawned