Free Into The Dark Flame (Book 4) by Martin Ash Page B

apprise you later of all that I know of the journey that lies ahead of you. For now, I must remove myself from your presence, for you offend me. Amuse yourselves!'
     
     
     
    iii
     
       It was a bitter day, a day chill with foreboding, as Leth rode out from the Tower of Glancing Memory. He was accompanied by Count Harg, his two surviving thugs and the four lean, putty-skinned Abyss warriors who had once been soldiers of Ascaria.
       Urch-Malmain had informed him of the four warriors ’ names. They were: Rasgul, Huuri, Dembarl and Fhurn. So similar in appearance were they that Leth could barely tell them apart, with the exception of Rasgul, their captain, who had irises of deep burnt orange pigment, in contrast to the dull umber of the other three. He was also a little more massive than they and had a distinguishing blemish or birthmark like a faint stain or shadow upon the left side of his jaw.
       None of them were prone to conversation in any form bar the exchanging of orders and necessary responses, which suited Leth. Count Harg, on the other hand, seemed keen to establish a feeling of bonhomie between Leth and himself. Leth had neither desire nor stomach for such a rapport, and gave him no encouragement. Harg was undeterred and spoke on as the mood took him, his manner smooth and light-hearted, as though they were setting out on an adventure no more perilous than a deer-hunt.
       Leth was bemused by him. Harg was plainly a man of refined background, almost likeable, yet by demonstration and his own admission, devoid of conscience, decency or feeling for others.
       Harg's two men were the gangling, pockmarked youth, called Juson, who had helped to tie Leth at the stone bridge; and a smaller weasel of a man, spare and quick of build, with cadaverous features and darting black eyes, whose name was Trin.
       They were heavily-armed, all of them. Leth wore his sapphire armour; the Orbsword was buckled at his belt, his dagger also, and he had been provided with a bow and arrows by Urch-Malmain. Behind his saddle was the magnificent horned and visored sapphire-blue helm. This had in fact been stolen by Harg at the bridge, but he had borne it with him along the Shore of Nothing and presented it to Leth as they prepared to set out from the Tower of Glancing Memory, commenting archly that he felt it only proper that a hero be fully-accoutred when setting forth upon a quest.
       Count Harg himself carried a longsword and numerous knives. A repeating crossbow, capable of firing several lightweight bolts in quick succession, was attached to his saddle, as were quarrels. He also carried a small silvery instrument which fitted into the palm of his hand. Leth had caught but a glimpse of this device. He was ignorant as to its precise function but assumed it to be a weapon of some kind.
       Juson and Trin each carried a longsword and crossbow, with a battle-axe slung from their saddles. The four Abyss warriors had their scimitars, knives, bows and short spears.
       Leth was far from easy in his mind, riding with men in whom he could place no trust. Had he searched the furthest corners of his kingdom he could hardly have found himself a more poisonous band of travelling-companions. Each one of them he knew to be either a cold-hearted villain or a tutored killer. Any or all of them might slide a blade between his ribs the moment his aim was achieved; he was not closed to the likelihood of their having received orders to this effect already. And apart from his brief to slay Ascaria he knew so little of the full nature of the mission he was engaged upon.
       Prior to their departure Urch-Malmain had withdrawn to his workroom with the four Abyss warriors. Hours later he had emerged to announce that the four were now subservient to Leth's command. 'They will follow your orders, Swordbearer, but only insofar as they concur with my own. Bear that in mind. These pale fellows will do all in their power to assist you in