Free The Dragonprince's Heir by Aaron Pogue Page A

humble servants.
    There were lanes among them, too. The king's men traveled in orderly formations that reminded me of the neat square blocks of the tower's south courtyard. The effect was strong enough that it felt like we were entering a dusty town when we passed between two of the formations and pressed toward the nobles' position at the front of the train.
    Others moved along the lanes, too, slipping from one formation to the next. There were officers checking on their men, stragglers hurrying back to their places, idlers seeking out gossip with their companions. I chuckled at the strangeness of it—a whole bustling town drifting north across the plains at an impressive clip.
    Caleb cast me a glare to silence me then urged his horse to a faster gait. I stuck with him, and we moved quickly up the artificial lane. But after a short way the formations changed. They became sharper, heavier, and the lanes emptied as we approached the main body of military men.
    We reached the infantry first, and I could feel curious eyes upon me as we rode past their ranks. We passed the archers next, and I could hear mumbling and grumbling from the nearest as we went by. A mounted officer came away from the third formation of crossbowmen we passed and drifted in our direction. But about twenty paces away he must have recognized us, because he dipped his head in a nod and returned to his place.
    Then I noticed a motion from Caleb and saw his hand closed tight around the hilt of the sword on his hip. I shot a glance back to the officer who had almost confronted us. Then I looked around again. We were deep in the heart of the army now. Even straining up in my stirrups, I could see nothing but uniforms in all directions.
    Had he truly been prepared to do battle here? My heart beat harder. I looked to my companions for comfort, but Jen's eyes were narrowed and her own grip white-knuckled on her sword. Toman sat stiff in his saddle and refused to meet my gaze. Caleb only clucked to his horse, and we moved on ahead.
    Beyond the archers were the cavalry, and as we approached the first row of their formations, a party of four horsemen—three soldiers and an officer, by the look of their uniforms—peeled off from the block on the right. An identical party came from the left. Three soldiers abreast fell into step ahead of us, and three behind us, and the officer from each formation moved up to ride beside us.
    The one on the left was closer to Caleb. I noticed nothing about him; my eyes were fixed on Caleb's white-knuckled grip on his sword. I found my hand resting on mine, too. I consciously forced it away.
    The officer on the left demanded, "What is your business?"
    Caleb shifted his shoulders, but he did not turn his head. "I go to join my lady," he said. "She rides at the head of the train."
    "The retinue is filled," the officer barked. "Go and ride with the porters."
    He began to rein away, as though the conversation were done. Caleb shot out a hand, still without looking, and knotted his fist in the shirt at the officer's right shoulder. Caleb nearly pulled him from his saddle before the officer steered his horse closer again.
    "You misunderstand," Caleb growled. "I am not under your command."
    The officer shook his shoulder, and Caleb released his grip. "The command doesn't come from me." The officer's voice dripped malice.
    Caleb finally turned his head. He moved slow as a thundercloud, slow as a stalking panther, and fixed his gaze on the officer's. I could hear his response clearly in my mind, "I am not under his command, either." I tensed against the outburst that would draw.
    But Caleb said nothing. We rode in heavy silence for several paces, but I saw the officer pale under Caleb's gaze. The officer pulled away again, this time out of fear.
    A voice from my right startled me. "Use your eyes, Pollix. It's the boy from the fortress! And their captain. These are the ones!" It was the other officer, the one from the formation on our right, and