Page 117 (1/2)

Mese ht wildly, but not so s the warriors could exploit

While the attention was on the the de collapsed and it fell, catching itself with a clawed aring spear

But then another shriek, this one fro Mese in its hind talons The lacquered wooden plates of his warded ar, but they did not protect his with a great flap In an instant, it would take to the sky and Mese would be gone

Tha the killing blow to save the soldier He see his spear just as the wings caught air and the coreling began to rise

The count had allotted for the ascent, punching his powerfully warded spear through the demon’s chest when it was a dozen feet in the air It went li but very much alive

The distraction cost Tha the edge of his shield and launching hiave a roar, launching itself at hiht his axe down, severing the spiked end of its tail Spewing ichor, the tail cracked like a whip, knocking Gared frohtsthe de time for Thamos to snatch the spear Mese had dropped Rojer looked to the south ridge, but there was no sign the Angierians were even there

Thae to draw the demon’s attention from Gared It hesitated, then struck at hiht on his shield as he continued to advance

He had the demon’s full attention now, and it was unprepared as the other Wooden Soldiers, led by Sergeant Mese hiic, Gared was healing even before he rolled to his feet He ht had become personal

He almost pitied the demon

As Tha his axe two-handed, the Baron of Cutter’s Hollow chopping wedges frooldwood tree In moments he severed the joint entirely, and the demon fell with a booht from the south, followed quickly by several ierians quickly emptied their quivers The demon’s head seemed to explode as bolt after bolt struck horeat horns above Rhinebeck’s throne in the dining hall, and spent the night drinking and toasting

Mese fell to one knee before Tha the count’s fine spear across his arms "Your spear, Lord Commander"

Thamos held up a hand "I have others Keep it, Lieutenant Mese"

Theit at the count’s feet as he dropped to both knees "My spear is always yours, Lord Thamos"

He lifted his new spear with a shout "The lord co ale "The lord commander!"

Rhinebeck and his brothers raised their tankards and drank as well, but Rojer could see hatred and jealousy in their eyes as the men chanted Thaierian courage, brothers This is what you ally beside The peace of the Pact and the loss of battle wards made us all soft, but the heart of a warrior lies in every Thesan breast Unite with us, and ill drive the Krasians back to the sands where they belong"

Sament crossed his arms "Bold words, but what of the Hollow? Will you hold to the Pact as well?"

"The Hollow is rily, "and will do as I corit his teeth, but he nodded "It is as lorious attack, Lord Commander, or is this just brash talk?" Sament demanded "Euchor will not commit soldiers for the latter"

Thamos nodded "We send an army to make contact with Lakton and link our forces Come at Docktown from the land even as the ships of Lakton sweep in froe will be crushed between us, and by the ti thaws the bodies, ill have secured a permanent border"

"And Rizon?" Sament asked

"Will not be won in a season, or a year But when they see the Sharum thrown back, the Rizonans will rise up They outnuain their spirit"

"Your plan takes a lot on faith, brother," Rhinebeck said

"Indeed," Mickael agreed "Do you even kno many of the desert rats there are in Docktown?"

Thamos lost a bit of steam "Not precisely …"