Free The Descendants Book One: The Broken Scroll by Kurtis Smith Page B

about ten rows deep.  It looked as if only one half regiment had come.   
    Roland joined Davin outside.  He examined the army for a moment.  “There aren’t enough soldiers here for even a Dous Captain to be commanding, much less the First Captain himself.  Odd, isn’t it?” 
    “What do you bet it has something to do with those soldiers we saw in the forest?”  
    Roland nodded. 
    People were now stopping to watch the parade of soldiers.  They formed along both sides of the street and spilled over into adjoining streets.  Davin and Roland joined the crowds.  Just when Davin began to wonder when the line would stop, he heard an unseen man call out.
    “Halt!” a voice sounded, smooth and high.  There was tightness in it that commanded authority. 
    The townsfolk had now created a half circle around the army.  The crowd extended down the street on both sides of the soldiers, everyone cramming to get as close to the scene as possible. 
    The First Captain definitely was a man with a powerful presence, despite being young in years.  Raising his hands in a sort of greeting, he addressed the crowd. 
    “Good day to you all.  I am First Captain Cygnus Deverell, Commander of the Grand Army.  We come here en route to Slainte.  This is merely a stopover in which we are to resupply with new equipment and rations.  As long you don’t get in the way of our business, you have nothing to fear.”
    He paused as if looking around to make sure his words were sinking in. 
    He continued, “Now, since you were not appointed a governor, where is the elected official of Lemirre?”
    Several people in the crowded street exchanged glances with one another.  No one seemed bold enough to speak up.  First Captain Deverell chuckled softly to himself, amused by the response that he had received. 
    “First Tenant, Thomas, will you fetch the man known as Tralton?  I don’t have time for this,” Deverell grumbled impatiently. 
    Before the First Tenant could answer, Edmund Tralton stepped out of his home.  It was located only a short distance from where the First Captain stood.  Deverell spotted the elected lord of Lemirre coming towards him and acknowledged him with a nod.  He smiled kindly, but his eyes remained cold. 
    Everyone knew Tralton to be a cheery old man.  And most seemed intrigued by how he would take the First Captain’s unfriendly demeanor. 
    “My lord, Deverell, “he began,” it’s good to see you again.”  Tralton reached out to shake the man’s hand.  When Deverell didn’t oblige, he pulled his hand back quickly, apparently unfazed.  The man was too aloof most of the time to really be bothered anyway. 
    Tralton continued when Deverell said nothing.  “Perhaps you don’t remember me, sir.  We met once at the Capi tal.  I was a guest lecturer at the Acadeems.  You were training new recruits.  It was some time ago now that I think about it.  Must have been-“
    “That will do, Lord Tralton, “Deverell cut him off.
    “Um, right, of course, sir,” Tralton fumbled.  Deverell’s interruption left him at a loss for what to say next. 
    Deverell broke the silence.  “Where is your blacksmith?  One of my Dous Captains issued him an order of equipment some time ago.  I have his name here.”  Deverell consulted a slip of parchment that he had pulled out of a side pouch.  Before he could say the name, Tralton offered it himself. 
    “Ah, yes, sir, you must mean Roland,” Tralton answered quickly, gaining his peppiness back, “this way, this way.” 
    Deverell gritted his teeth for a moment behind Tralton, clearly irritated about having been preempted.  Tralton turned back and Deverell fell into step behind him. 
    The two men left the circle of people gathered around the army.  Everyone watched them as they left.  
    Davin noticed Roland was no longer with him.  He took special interest in this and was slightly worried.  Having seen this Deverell in person now, he was