Free Embers of an Age (Blood War Trilogy) by Tim Marquitz Page A

bloodshed. Should the battle go against them, there was a place of sanctuary hidden across the lifeless waters to the north where the people of Ahreele might yet find a home, far from the cruelty of the Grol and their allies.
    Such a plan came with its own obstacles, but they could be no more insurmountable than the ravaging forces of beasts and t he mysterious, new O’hra that appeared to threaten the realm. Escape from Ahreele would require a different focus of thought and energy, but it was possible. Uthul continued on, forcing each step to be faster than the last. He needed to speak to his people and tell them what he learned. Together, they could reason the best course to take before Ahreele came crashing down around them.
    Sickness churning through his veins, he plucked the last Succor from his bag as he ran, holding it away to let the whipping breeze steal its fetid breath. He wolfed it down and held its seed until he reached the river that separated the Korme lands from those ahead . There, he cast it into the water before he forded a shallow crossing and entered the land of the Tolen. He would be home soon.

Chapter Twelve
     
    Ellora walked alongside Argos and Kylle, doing her best to calm their fears, and her own. They were brave, she had to admit, both striding with their heads up and shoulders squared, but their eyes spoke volumes of their worries . They’d watched their uncle slay the Pathrans , his own soldiers , and even their grandfather . Ellora could see they understood no one was safe from the prince’s sword. Olenn had made that quite clear.
    She wondered how long he would let her travel with them, how long it would be before he realized she was just a peasant orphan he had no use for. She did her best not to draw his attention. Head down, she walked with out the need for prompting as the group pressed forward toward the shore. The Iron Ocean thrashed in the distance and she could hear its hissing roar growing closer and closer as it spent its last . Did Olenn intend to throw them into the Tumult ?
    Ellora dared a quick glance at the prince in hopes of reading his demeanor , but he had no eyes for her. He strode tall beside his sister and her husband, who had woken and now walked on his own . Olenn smirk ed at the couple. He gave no hint to his intentions as they traveled, saying nothing.
    The group continued on. As they neared the shrub-covered base of the Fortress Mountains, the Lathahn soldiers suddenly changed course and walked straight toward the bushes. They pushed aside a thick mass and forced the group into the foliage. Several yards in, the soldiers keeping the branches from their path, Ellora spied a dark opening against the green-shrouded rock face of the mountain.
    Prince Olenn raised a hand and the soldiers brought the group to a halt. He pointed to six of his men. “Go inside first and make ready.” He turned to the boys and Ellora as the first of the soldiers dropped to his knees and crawled inside the dark tunnel. “You three will follow after. Be smart and don’t cause any trouble or you will regret it . ” He grinned broadly, his expression reminding her of the feral cats that roamed the Ninth.
    The last of the soldiers the prince had directed to crawl through entered the hole. Ellora could hear their scraping knees and boots as they made their way inside . The tunnel seemed to go on forever , their noises echoing out a nd building with each man through . She waited patiently until the sounds drifted to silence.
    “We’re here,” sounded a voice from the darkness.
    The prince turned but Ellora had already ushered the boys forward, Argos in the lead. He dropped down and scrambled inside. Olenn smiled at her, nodding his head slowly as she helped Kylle follow his brother.
    “It’ll be okay,” she told the boys as she felt a tremble against the hand on Kylle’s back. “I’m right here.”
    She slipped into the tunnel right behind, not daring to say anymore for fear it drift