Free Neversfall by Ed Gentry

about it for even a moment. Taennen saw the annoyance on Jhoqo’s face, but the man said nothing ill of her lack of an attempt.
    Taennen stepped forward and said, “Is it because of heavy passage in that spot, sir?”
    Jhoqo smiled and nodded. “That’s it exactly, son. Well done,” he said.
    Taennen returned the smile and fell back into his spot in the pacing order. He glanced at Adeenya, who had turned her eyes back to the horizon ahead, away from the treeline.
    “You see, the trees have been somewhat damaged by the constant passing of the foul beasts of the forest that they spend their resources repairing themselves rather than growing stronger, bigger and brighter,” Jhoqo said.
    Taennen had assumed as much but it was good to hear his commander affirm his conclusions. “Fascinating, sir.”
    Jhoqo pointed to a crumbling hump of dirt near the passage. “Ah, further evidence of the beasts—that mound there… That’s probably their attempt at burying a kill or their own feces. Maybe others use it and it grows all the time, covering their filth,” Jhoqo said.
    Taennen’s nose wrinkled, but he nodded. That made sense. Taennen glanced toward Adeenya again. She had moved several paces ahead, probably out of earshot. Her loss, he thought.
    The mage Khatib stepped up next to Jhoqo, his hands cradling a parchment. “Sir, I do not wish to interrupt, but I have checked the maps. We should reach the citadel inside of two bells,” he said.
    “Excellent,” Taennen said with a smile.
    Next to him, having fallen back from her lead, Adeenya said, “Yes… excellent.”
    Jhoqo called for a stop after another half-league and took advantage of the break to move himself a little closer to the woods. Taennen gave the man his privacy and moved to check on the prisoners. Jhoqo clearly had a personal interest in the woods, and Taennen left him to it. He watched as his commander stood several hundred paces away and stared at the forest, his back to his troops. The soldiers took the time to rest, their feet no doubt pounding like Taennen’s from the long walk.
    After a short time, Jhoqo returned to them, and they resumed their march. The air was dry, and Taennen sipped
    from his waterskin frequently as the dust of the plains coated his tongue.
    The Maquar and Durpari, though not disdainful of one another, marched in separate groups with several paces between them. Adolescents at coming-of-age ceremonies could have learned much from the divisiveness the soldiers exhibited. Trust was difficult, he supposed. Their mission promised no shortage of danger, and the two forces would need to find some cohesion soon.
    “Orir,” Taennen said, stepping closer to Adeenya. “We must find a way for our people to bond. Their lives may well depend on it soon.”
    “I agree, Durir. Suggestions?”
    Jhoqo’s voice broke in as they crested a hill. “I think it may be moot for the moment. If this does not bring them together, I am uncertain what would.”
    Taennen followed Jhoqo’s gaze to where a form took shape in the distance. Tall and thin, it stood out dark and solid against the bright blue sky. It was farther off than his naked eye could distinguish, so he pulled a spyglass from his belt and held it to his eye. In the small circle of his view, Taennen saw it for the first time: Neversfall.
    Through the lens it appeared like some child’s construct of blocks. High walls on each side held what was likely a large courtyard. Two lean towers stood on each side of a third, larger tower that rose into the sky to at least twice the height of the others. What could only be windows showed as dark spots at a distance. The wood came from the Aerilpar, no doubt, but the stone? Taennen had always heard that magic was involved in the making of the tower, and now, seeing the sheer size of the thing, he believed it.
    He handed the lens to Jhoqo who stared through it for
    a long time before returning it. Murmurs wove their way through the marching troops