Free Walk Through Fire by Joshua P. Simon Page B

“Did you set that last potion up like I asked you to?” he asked.
    “Aye, it’s where you wanted it,” said Hag. “What is it?”
    “Something I was saving for the right occasion.” He calmed himself, closed his eyes and began an incantation, focusing on the contents of the container near the small half-wall that acted as a border between the Hell Patrol’s camp and Effren’s. After a moment he opened his eyes. “It’s done. Let’s go,” he said, pointing to the approaching mob.
    “What’s done? Nothing happened,” Hag called out as the three set off on horseback.
    “Just keep moving, you old bag of bones.”
    Krytien kicked his mount, doing his best to steer the beast clear of broken rock and holes barely visible by the light of the night sky.
    Booming thunder that shook Krytien’s insides erupted from behind followed by a sudden rush of air that nearly pitched him to the ground. Flames shot up engulfing their old camp while debris rained to the earth.
    “Was that Nitroglycas?” Cassus croaked.
    Krytien cleared his throat. “It was.”
    “What is Nitroglycas?” asked Hag, her voice too was filled with awe.
    “Something that does a lot of damage,” said Cassus, sarcastically.
    Krytien expected a smart comment from Hag, but for once she held her tongue. Wagons and tents burned as bright as the sun. Balls of fire played havoc around the camp. Men screamed. Terrible, drawn-out screams, before dying in agony.
    Finally, Cassus whispered. “One Above, how will Jonrell make it out of that?”
    Ronav never expected to get out. Krytien shook his head and turned his mount. “C’mon. Let’s go.”

Chapter 7
    If not for the fear of being overtaken by Effren’s army, Krytien knew he would have collapsed long ago.
    The Hell Patrol was less than a day’s ride from Asantia. Riding hard that first night and distancing themselves from Effren’s army, Krytien forced the outfit to maintain a steady pace with little rest. They lost several mounts to exhaustion and took turns walking the animals while the worst of the men rode atop the beasts or in back of the sole wagon they took with them.
    Krytien looked over his shoulder through lids heavy with fatigue and raised a hand to shield the sun. Heads hung low throughout the column of men and chins rested on many a chest as some caught a few winks in the saddle. They would have to stop tonight and rest. Not knowing what to expect when they reached Asantia tomorrow, he figured any strength they could muster from now until then would be advantageous.
    He pulled on the reigns of his mount, but the beast ignored him, too caught up in the steady, monotonous press. Krytien pulled harder, nearly wrenching the animal’s head back before it stopped. Others behind him did the same. Sighs of relief and gasps of breath were interspersed between curses against anything and everything. Krytien eased himself from the saddle, legs shaking from weariness upon touching the ground. He patted the horse on the neck and tied the animal to a nearby tree. He knew he should rub the animal down, but he just didn’t have the energy.
    Cassus came up beside Krytien. The soldier’s thick black hair had matted against his skull. “Are we stopping for the night?
    The mage shook his head. “We can’t afford to stop that long. We’ll take off again sometime before morning after we’ve all caught a few hours of sleep.”
    Cassus sighed. “Four more died.”
    “That makes what? Twenty?”
    “Twenty-two of those who made it out with us.”
    “So, forty-nine in total?”
    “Forty-five, not counting Jonrell, Ronav, Kroke, and Glacar.”
    “They’re gone, Cassus,” said Krytien. “Ronav stalled for us to get out of there.”
    “I won’t believe it until I see proof. They still could have gotten out.”
    “They’d be here by now.”
    “Not necessarily. Who knows what they had to face. One Above, they were in the middle of an entire army.”
    “That’s my point,” said Krytien. He