Free Severed Empire: Wizard's War by Phillip Tomasso

He just hoped they’d put arguing, and even disagreeing aside. They all shared a common goal, were about to go against a common enemy. As a united strand, they stood a much better chance at seeing this through victoriously, than as a frayed rope.
    “You show some serious promise.” Eadric stepped forward, and ran his hand along the side of Babe’s muscular neck.
    “Promise?”
    “As a leader. You speak and people listen. That is no simple feat to accomplish. There are men placed in positions of authority who cannot demand the attention you just snared. I’m impressed, son. Very impressed,” he said. He smiled, and while Eadric’s eyes were flat brown, like trampled mud, staring into them now Mykal saw a deer skin brown, with a splash of light, of life. It was as if a spark had been set off. The eyes didn’t sparkle and glow, but there had been that glimmer, that spark. Mykal was thankful he’d seen it.
    “I don’t know much about leading,” Mykal said. The words he spoke were true enough. However, over the last few months it wasn’t exactly accurate. If anything it was modesty mixed with denial in his response. He supposed at some point, if the time was ever right, he would tell his father stories about the quest. There was the tale about nearly dying from the serpent’s venom, the fights in the bowels of the mountains, the ghosts inside the catacombs…
    The ambush by the valley. Galatia’s kidnapping. Karyn’s sacrifice.
    “Mykal?”
    “Yes?”
    “You went somewhere else just now,” Eadric said. “You okay?”
    “We better catch up. I hope you had a hearty breakfast. One thing I’ve learned, eat when you can, sleep when you can. Those two things are not always a given,” Mykal said.
    Eadric regarded him for a moment, smiled, laughed, and then clapped a hand on his son’s shoulder. “You are just seventeen? Seventeen?” He shook his head, as if baffled. “Your words are wise, Mykal. So wise.”
     
    ***
     
    Quill and Blodwyn stood side by side. Mykal was felt relieved seeing this. Behind them, on horseback, he saw Coil, and three other Archers.
    Quill stepped forward. “It has been agreed that Coil, and the others will ride with me. We will go directly for the cove and await a response from the Voyagers.”
    Mykal caught the slight change of tone in his uncle’s voice when he said the name, Voyagers. There was just a hint of mistrust that escaped lightly clenched teeth.
    “Any idea on how we should entertain them if a ship arrives before we hear word from you?” Quill looked at Mykal, although the comment seemed clearly directed toward Blodwyn.
    It was Blodwyn who responded. “When they dock, let them know I am forthcoming. Chances are they won’t get off their vessel. It is very likely they will bring sold supplies, and will preoccupy themselves with any transactions presented. They’re resourceful that way.”
    Eadric raised a finger. “I do have one concern. We’re going to Grey Ashland. Unless there is royal blood flowing through one of us, I do not see us walking into the keep and demanding a meeting with the king. For the sake of argument, let’s say we get to the keep, and the king agrees to see us. Then what? What is it you plan to tell him?”
    “What they told us,” Quill said. “It is why Anthony and I joined them on their quest in the first place. A war is the last thing anyone wants. Things may not be perfect, but it’s peaceful. If King Hermon Cordillera plans to cross the Isthmian intent on conquering Nabal’s realm, Nabal needs at the very least to be warned. Even before encountering the Mountain King, I knew I did not like him. He will not stop with Nabal’s castle. He will not be happy with torching this forest. The man is crazed. He is after ultimate authority, and unparalleled power. I am not a king, and I understand the need to stop a madman before his dark dreams are realized.”
    “Don’t get me wrong, brother,” Eadric said. “I agree with what