The Heartstone Saga, Archibald Bradford [the snowy day read aloud TXT] 📗

at her own phrasing, then chose a slightly different wording; “Make me guess? This wasn’t something he picked up from wiping with the wrong leaves or eating some colourful berries, this was some kind of magic.”

The man with the injured thumb cradled his hand to his chest and gestured with his chin at the corpse.

“The hell kind of magic could do-”

“‘Some kind’ I said! How would I know? I got enough schooling to treat a Manticore sting, not enough to counter whatever the fuck that was!” She gestured at the distorted remains with her flask, accidently sloshing a bit of booze onto the dead man’s face.

Tristan bit back another snarling curse, instead turning to the onlookers, his eyes blazing as he glared at the surviving prisoners.

Once he found the one he was looking for, a hulking black haired brute named Carl who’d taken it on himself to be the leader of the bunch, he pulled his pistol out and spoke evenly.

“Someone found your little flower party. No more fucking with the natives.”

All around the prisoners were eyeing his crew, every one of which had a weapon in hand and an unfriendly glint in their eye.

Carl wasn’t stupid; in fact once they were free of the wilds he intended to do everything he could to get in on whatever operation Tristan was running, so he was quick to ingratiate himself.

“You heard the man.” He turned and barked out at the other escapees; “Next one with his dick out gets dead.”

A sullen silence greeted his words, until a whiny voice from the back called out the obvious.

“What if we need a piss?”

“Then do it in your pants like your momma taught you!” Carl roared back.

Tristan rolled his eyes and began giving orders of his own.

“Forget sleeping. We’re breaking camp. Then you lot are going to show me how fast you can run, because anyone who can’t is getting left behind to face whatever did that!”

His hand gestured violently at the demented carcass before them.

None of them argued with his thinking, setting to work immediately.

“Whose mother teaches them to go potty in their drawers?” Joan muttered before taking another long drink from her flask.

__________

On the outskirts of the city of Garland was a boarding school run by an old friend of Ophelia’s, Madeleine Tillman.

After word arrived in the city about Lipton Falls, the headmistress and faculty alike were deeply concerned for the safety of the children in their care.

Which is why when groups of monster girls began to arrive in the city in response to Volka’s call to arms Madeleine quickly volunteered the open field immediately next to the school’s gate, as well as the courtyard within its stout walls, as lodging for the grim-faced warriors.

Concerns for the security of the place were quickly allayed when the grounds had a variety of fierce monsters patrolling them at all hours.

The children, bless their little hearts, thought it was the coolest thing since baked beans.

The most exciting kind of bean.

Out of respect for their hosts, Volka’s budding army tried to keep the noise down at night, but little could be done about the Valkyrie’s golden wings as she returned to Garland before her family, the glow of her divinity lighting up the courtyard as she landed.

“Tiana.” She called out in a low voice as a familiar figure came out to greet her from the pavilion they had set up as a command tent; “How many?”

“Dominar.” The Amazon tilted her head down in deference; “Two dozen came in this afternoon. A war-party sent from the Gael tribe. Young wildlings, but good fighters.”

Volka pursed her lips and nodded.

“Not the flood I was hoping for, but a trickle is better than nothing.”

“Forgive me Dominar, but I think you’ve underestimated the task you’ve given Escrya and the other Saenga girls. In the centuries after the founding of the Aegis most of the Amazon tribes scattered, choosing to dwell in the wilds where they felt most at home, or wandering the world in search of glory as we Brael did.”

The Valkyrie reached out and placed her hand on Tiana’s shoulder, giving her an affectionate squeeze before shaking her head.

“Be that as it may, we need numbers. I do not know Evadne’s endgame, if she even has one, but I know that we must have the strength to match it when it comes.”

“As you say.” Tiana nodded.

“How are you adjusting here?”

After Volka had accepted the mantle of Dominar in the ruins of Lipton Falls, the Brael tribe had effectively deserted the Aegis in order to follow her.

“Well enough, but I still feel my sisters and I ought to be with the Saenga, helping to keep the Vakyrja-datta safe.”

Volka shifted closer and put her arm over Tiana’s shoulders, then leaned in to kiss her on the cheek.

“I appreciate your concern, but it is not just my husband’s safety we must see to. I need someone here who knows me and who will act without hesitation if and when a crisis arises. I will not soon forget who it was that fought at my side when Evadne first revealed her treachery! Nor should you ever forget that this place you now safeguard is meant for children.”

Before the Amazon leader could respond, there was a faint rustle from the little hedge maze beside the command tent, and Volka quirked an eyebrow at Tiana who frowned as her grip on her spear tightened.

But the Dominar shook her head with a smile and when she spoke again she did so in a louder voice, very obviously speaking to whoever was hiding in the maze.

“Children who ought to be abed come nightfall, lest they earn themselves a swat on the bum from an angel.”

There was a little squeak of distress and a trio of little