Free Soul's Reckoning (Broken Well Trilogy) by Sam Bowring Page A

Corlas needed them both nearby to have any chance of victory. The Sprites could carry their magic out of the wood for a short time only, and once they depleted all reserves there would be no way to replenish them except to return.
    ‘Look at you all,’ he announced, and to their credit all fell to hush. He let them wonder for a moment at the hard tone of his voice, let them think perhaps they’d displeased him, and stroked his green beard as if in deep consideration. Then he let a fierce grin break through.
    ‘I remember our people from the days of old,’ he said. ‘And we do not look so different. Our ancestors would be proud – you are Sprites through and through!’
    Cheer replaced worry, and his warriors raised their spears. Several expulsions of magic flew skywards, violet spirals that expanded as they went.
    Yes , hethought, nodding at beaming faces. We are right to reclaim our place in the world. And they will never see us coming.

 
Control
    ‘Here,’ said Bel, reining his horse to a stop – a mare he’d bought from the fisherman the previous day. The man had been understandably shocked to learn that an army of shadow was about to come calling, and had willingly offloaded the horse in exchange for gold, which he would no doubt need to build a new life – unless by some miracle Losara left his house intact.
    Querrus drew up alongside on Taritha. Ahead was Jeddies, close enough to see the brightly coloured buildings of the sprawling river town, with smoke rising from many chimneys.
    ‘I’d say that’s about a league,’ Querrus agreed.
    Bel surveyed their surrounds. To the west the Nyul’ya bustled by, twinkling between two lines of trees, which only broke for a stone bridge. On all sides were open fields, the grass waxy and thick underfoot. To the south .   .   . it was hard to be sure. A darkness on the horizon?
    ‘Can you make that out?’ asked Bel, for mages could see further than most.
    Querrus followed his squint. ‘It’s them,’ he said. ‘Probably be here by this time tomorrow.’
    Bel turned to the east, hoping that the flashing armour of Kainordan troops had somehow appeared there since he’d checked minutes before. ‘Still no sign of ours?’
    Querrus narrowed his eyes in the same direction. ‘Not yet,’ he muttered. ‘Although .   .   .’
    ‘What is it?’
    ‘Hard to say, but a smudge in the air – perhaps a swarm of Zyvanix?’
    ‘Hovering over the ground forces,’ said Bel. ‘Good. They are not too distant either.’
    ‘The shadow will arrive first,’ said Querrus.
    ‘So be it. Here I’ll stay. Losara will not sweep into Jeddies as easily as he wishes.’
    Querrus had reservations, Bel knew, about what they were here to do – as should anyone, he supposed. He did not, however: if anything, he felt impatient, itching to swing a sword at those who came rolling so boldly across his land. He knew that fighting might not come tomorrow – tomorrow was about delay – but perhaps the day after that, or at least soon. In the meantime, the couple of cards he had up his sleeve made him feel empowered.
    ‘Blade Bel?’
    Querrus had been speaking, but Bel hadn’t taken in the words.
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘I asked if there was anything in particular I should get from town?’
    Bel shrugged. ‘I see no reason not to pass the time comfortably. Feel free to get some fine food for a picnic.’
    Querrus grinned. ‘Best orders I’ve had in a while. You will remain here?’
    ‘Yes,’ said Bel. ‘I’m not in the mood for being stared at by townsfolk. I’m in the mood for being stared at by enemies.’
    Querrus rode away towards Jeddies, and Bel dismounted. He didn’t know if the fisherman had named the horse, and certainly he hadn’t done so either. He did not think he’d bother with such sentiment. The beast would probably wander now, and although Bel could tie her to one of the lone trees that stood here and there, he didn’t see the point. The old thing wasn’t the