Free The Children of the White Lions: Volume 02 - Prophecy by R. T. Kaelin

Nikalys. “Excluding you, he’s our quickest study.”
    Kenders eyed her brother sparring with Zecus. Even to her unpracticed eye, it was plain to see he had improved much over the past turn. Zecus, however, appeared to be no better than when they had arrived at Storm Island.
    She asked, “And Zecus?”
    As the question slipped from her lips, Jak pressed an attack against the Borderlander. It was all Zecus could do to turn aside each blow while backpedalling quickly, kicking up gravel.
    Frowning, she turned to Sergeant Trell to wait for his evaluation.
    The sergeant shared a quick look with Nikalys before saying diplomatically, “Learning the blade is a difficult task and Zecus is a hard worker. If he keeps at it, someday he will be able to turn aside most simple attacks.”
    Kenders was disappointed. She wished the sergeant was wrong, but knew he was not.
    Sergeant Trell sat forward and said, “Now, give the man a staff or spear, and he’s one of the best here. And with a properly weighted dagger, he can hit an acorn from twenty-five paces away.”
    Kenders gave Sergeant Trell a quick, grateful smile. The man had a gift for reading people.
    “That’s kind of you to say, Sergeant.”
    The three sat quietly, watching the men duel and enjoying the crisp day. Without the wind, she did not mind the nippy air as much. Kenders took a moment to enjoy the quiet and stared out at the courtyard, watching the men to whom she owed her life.
    Two hundred Shadow Manes, most of them soldiers, had stumbled upon the Progeny at Shorn Rise, and helped them to repel the last of Jhaell Myrr’s attack. After taking a night to dispose of the oligurt and razorfiend corpses, their troop continued to Storm Island. Over a week later, they reached the small land bridge that led to the enclave. Apparently, the island was not a true island, at least not all of the time. Tidal shifts covered the strip of land four times every turn. Broedi said it had something to do with the phases of Terrene’s two moons.
    After crossing the muddy land bridge, their party passed through an oak forest, leaving the towering ebonwood trees of the mainland. The leaves of the oaks were just beginning to change at the time, turning the landscape a myriad of reds, oranges, and bright yellows.
    A half day later, they emerged from the forest and were greeted by a long, dark, flat line that filled the eastern horizon. Kenders, her siblings, all of the Red Sentinels, and the two farm girls they had rescued from bandits—Sabine and her younger sister, Helene—openly gaped at the vast Sea of Kings. None of them had ever seen the ocean.
    Broedi called back for everyone to remain calm, they were about to ride through the protective veil hiding the enclave. Moments later, a stone castle suddenly appeared on the cliff’s edge, a village larger than Yellow Mud sitting outside its walls.
    They rode through the small town of Claw, gathering a large following as people rushed from their homes and shops to stare. Upon reaching the courtyard of the castle, over five hundred individuals trailed them. Men and women made up most of the crowd, but Kenders spotted a number of hillmen as well, easily recognizable as they stood a full foot above the tallest man in the crowd. Much to Nundle’s disappointment, there were no tombles.
    Once the crowd quieted, the baroness in charge of the enclave, Lady Vivienne, made a short speech, warning that the time for which they had been preparing was at hand. The God of Chaos was on the move in the Borderlands. The time was near for the Manes to reveal themselves to the duchies and lead the fight to stop the Cabal. Facing Nikalys and Kenders, she announced that the Progeny had returned.
    The courtyard erupted into loud, raucous cheering.
    Even now, a full turn later, she swore she could hear the joyous roars echoing about the courtyard. It had terrified her seeing how much faith these people put into her and Nikalys. It still did today, more so,