Empire of Bones by Christian Warren Freed Page B

and stretched. His muscles were sore from sleeping on the hard ground again after so long. His neck felt pinched and his eyes were red, sore. He’d never felt more alive. Decades of life in the field trained him to endure moments like this. Fatigue often set in on the less experienced, the younger. He was beyond that. The soreness would pass and he’d be back to his normal self soon enough. All he needed was a few moments of solitude. Hungry, he decided to take his sword and run through a series of warm-up exercises and drills. There was only shame in being caught unprepared.
    Dorl propped up on his elbows and watched Boen whirl through his drills. He’d never seen the like. The Gaimosian moved with such precision it hardly seemed real. Dorl thanked whatever god was listening that he didn’t run afoul of any Gaimosians.
    “He has much experience. You should know this already,” Rekka chided from beneath the blanket next to him.
    Dorl couldn’t help but grin. They’d lain together long into the night, enjoying the feel of each other’s arms. They kissed for a while before sheer exhaustion set in. He enjoyed the intimacy they shared while secretly wondering if it was going to last when things went sour. Rekka was a capable warrior with more skills than he could ever hope to possess. That left him a liability. He couldn’t decide whether she’d cut and run or stand by him to the bitter end.
    “I’ve never seen him actually practice. I thought Gaimosians were born with the killer gene,” he admitted.
    “Perhaps they are but every weapon needs to be honed before it can be put to use. They are a proud people, from what little I know. He is a good Man.”
    From what he gathered, Dorl seemed surrounded by good Men. That and a handful of good intentions wouldn’t buy him a pint in the local tavern. “These aren’t times for good Men, Rekka. Malweir needs rough Men who are ready to visit violence on others.”
    “That is a dour outlook,” she replied. “It would serve you better to abandon it before we get too far into the jungle.”
    The jungle. He felt unrealized fear at the very thought. “What lies within?”
    “Many things,” she answered too quickly for his liking. “There is great beauty as well as mystery. Death and life are boon companions. It is the most dangerous environment I have ever been in.”
    “That doesn’t help my confidence,” he said flatly.
    Rekka’s hazel eyes shined in the morning sun. “Nor should it. The jungle is capable of killing in a thousand different ways. Caution alone will not be enough to ensure our safe passage. Take heart though, my love, all is not bad. I grew up here. I can keep us alive long enough to accomplish our task.”
    Dorl wasn’t entirely sure but had no other option but to trust in her abilities. She was their only link to the inside world of the jungle. He sighed and started to get up. “I hope this Hamr is worth it. I have a feeling we’re about to have plenty more dumped on us before the end.”
    Rekka cocked her head, failing to understand what he meant by dumped. “Our enemies will not tire, Dorl. Neither can we. This task goes well beyond your personal needs or mine. All Malweir stands in the balance. If we fail, the world will plunge into eternal darkness.”
    “You really believe that?” he asked.
    “Yes. The guardian of Trennaron is very wise, ancient. He knows the dark times approaching have been heralded for centuries. As does Anienam, they are akin to each other.”
    The idea that another venerable magic user locked in his ivory tower for countless centuries contemplated the end of the world didn’t sit well with him. Having Anienam around was maddening enough, he didn’t relish the thought of being around two such beings. No wonder the world banded together to end the Mage orders. They can’t be trusted.
    “Everybody up and pack! We need to get moving before the sun gets too high,” Bahr called from beside the stack of supplies. He