Free The Chesian Wars (A Griffins & Gunpowder Collection) by Joshua Johnson Page A

crouched and pulled back the hammers on his revolvers.
    "They will honor my promises," Niklos said.
    "You're going to have to do better than that." Kasimir pressed his heels against the wall of chamber opposite of the door. He wasn't the fastest soldier in the Malkalan army, but he was deadly accurate with his revolvers and he would have the element of surprise.
    "His promises will be honored," a Chesian voice said. "I am a captain. My word will stand before our generals."
    "You'll forgive me if I don't trust either of you," Kasimir said. He breathed deeply to steady himself. He would not survive this, he knew, but at least he would do a part of his duty before he was killed.
    "What do you want then?" Niklos asked, and Kasimir smiled a wry smile.
    "I want you dead," he said as he pushed off from the wall.
    Several feet separated the wall from the doorway, but Kasimir was strong. He had pushed off hard and his momentum would carry him far. He dove forward and twisted as he crossed over the shattered remains of his door. Chesians brought their muskets up around him and shock covered Niklos’ face.
    Kasimir brought both of his pistols up and squeezed the triggers; Niklos, who realized only too late what was happening, fell against the wall clutching his stomach. Kasimir pulled back the revolvers' hammers and squeezed the triggers again. One of his rounds exploded through the back of Niklos' head; the other cut through the nearest Chesian's throat.
    The last thing that Kasimir saw before a dozen muskets boomed and darkness closed over his eyes was the Chesian captain clutching at his bloody throat and the corpse of Niklos Hollatz slumped against the wall. One hand clutched his stomach, the other clutched a bag emblazoned with a red dragon and full of Chesian gold.
     

-The Gathering Storm
     
    The rain fell in heavy sheets as his horse moved slowly up the steep hill. The road had turned to mud and the horse could not find solid footing. Above him loomed the city of Arbina, capitol of Ehtroy, a black mass against the lightning. Fires burned in windows along the walls and with every flash of lightning he could see the sentries pacing along the walls.
    The hill finally leveled off and the road turned to cobblestone; the horse regained its footing and trotted to the gatehouse. A dozen mounted guards followed behind him.
    "Who goes there?" a voice from above the gatehouse asked in  Trade.
    Malis Acantha looked up at the battlements, his face pelted by rain as he searched for the source of the voice. Half a dozen sentries stood on the battlements a hundred feet above, muskets clutched in their hands.
    "I am Malis Acantha, Grand Duke of Istivan. I am here to treat with the King!" the leader of the small band of riders shouted. He was taller than six feet by a pair of inches, his hair was black as night, and his green eyes twinkled with every flash of lightning. The men around him wore black cloaks with hoods pulled over their heads to keep the rain out of their eyes.
    "The Grand Duke of Istivan would arrive with more than a dozen guards in the middle of the night, I think," the voice said from wall.
    "What is your name?" the leader of Istivan demanded.
    "Sergeant Nolan Ferland," the voice replied.
    "Well, Sergeant, if you would like to come down and kiss my ring before you admit me into the city, you are more than welcome to. Consider this, though: if I am forced to prove my identity to you by standing here in the rain and having you grovel in the mud, this will the last night that you serve as a guard of Arbina. I think a deckhand on one of your king's merchantmen would be an ideal assignment for you."
    The guards were silent for several long moments before the thick iron doors began to swing open, their hinges screaming. The inner doors were already open and a dozen soldiers stood inside, waiting. Malis spurred his horse forward and his guards followed.
    "Your Grace." The man that stood before him wore a blue uniform with white