"When we first faced Avulash, she had become infused with some sort of power. Was it Danir strengthening her?"
"It must have been," Grimwold stared at the dark line of trees and Lethos followed his gaze. They sky was violet with winking points of starlight.
"We have other concerns, or have you forgotten Myrakka and Kelata? They murdered Kafara and Turo, if your memory is failing." Lethos sat on the stump and scratched his head. "They would have killed us both if we hadn't been lucky."
"I haven't forgotten them, quite the opposite. I had another meeting with the woman, Myrakka."
Lethos leapt up no sooner than he had sat. "And you survived it?"
"Her Cohort is in a deep sleep, a victim of their own treachery. She is weakened but mad as a trapped bear. She promised reprisal, and I welcomed it."
"Glad you felt up to speaking for both of us. You realize that knife she carries killed Kafara with a single stroke? It can kill any of our kind."
Grimwold smiled. "She is not immune to my power. If she had been foolish enough to carry it against me, she would have handed it over. Instead, I got this."
He withdrew a chunk of stone from a pouch covered by his cloak. It seemed ordinary rock, but Lethos knew what it was.
"I should have dashed her brains out with it," Grimwold said. "But I doubt she would have stayed down. There is a revolution among our kind, and the timing of it could not be worse. The Tsal are coming."
"So we should find Tirkin and Storra like Turo said. We still need someone to guide us. There's so much more to learn about our powers."
Lethos took the stone from Grimwold and weighed it in his palm. It felt lighter than other rocks of its size. He wondered if right now someone searched for his stone, preparing to craft an arrow that would drop him from the shadows.
"Danir is clear on what I must do next. I have to bring together his order and find a sword of my own. Syrus will help me with the research. Valda must be High Queen in Valahur, and she will have her own part in the coming war."
"You're sounding like Kafara now. What happened to you?"
Grimwold did not answer immediately, but continued to stare into the distance. "I changed. As have you. We have a role to play in this age of the world, and we are only just learning what it is. Think of where we were just a year ago? Neither of us would recognize ourselves today."
Lethos laughed. "I'd have called myself a barbarian."
"Not so bad, is it?" Grimwold finally turned from the horizon and placed his warm hand on Lethos's shoulder. "The path ahead leads into the mist. We have carved ourselves a moment of peace, but the real battles are yet to begin. Whatever lies ahead, I am glad you will be with me to face it."
They remained in silence while the sun set and the stars ascended into the purple night. Lethos thought of gargantuan white arks plying soundlessly through mist-shrouded waters, then drove the vision from his mind. He had earned his peace by blood and bone, and for one night at least he would enjoy it before the storms returned.
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Other Books by Jerry Autieri
Ulfrik Ormsson's Saga
Historical adventure stories set in 9th Century Europe and brimming with heroic combat. Witness the birth of a unified Norway, travel to the remote Faeroe Islands, then follow the Vikings on a siege of Paris and beyond. Walk in the footsteps of the Vikings and witness history through the eyes of Ulfrik Ormsson.
Buy the entire series on Amazon.com
Fate's Needle
Islands in the Fog
Banners of the Northmen
Shield of Lies
The Storm God's Gift
Return of the Ravens
Sword Brothers
The Children of Urdis (Grimwold and Lethos Book 2) Page 36