CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - REvAlATioNs

Tarn sat up higher in his horse’s saddle and glancedat his companions. Nyla was in the lead, and she staredintently ahead as they rode across the endless plains. Theyhad been riding for the better part of two days now, andas far as they could tell, were no closer to their journey’send than when they started. He had asked where they weregoing, and all she had said was “East.”He had tried to ask Tonath, but that had provenfruitless as well. All he could say was “east” as well, nomatter how forcefully Tarn pursued the question. It wasbeginning to get – no, it was – maddeningly frustrating.Resigning himself to a state of ignorance, he sat backin his saddle and stretched. He caught a glimpse of Loganas he did, and saw the subtle grin on his face. The youngerman clicked his horse forward, and Tarn pulled on the reinslightly, allowing him to catch up. He didn’t feel much liketalking, but he guessed he should be glad for the company.One thing was for certain: his other two companions weren’t saying anything at all.“Nice day, eh, Logan?”Shrugging, Logan pulled up next to him. “I suppose so.Could use some rain, though. Might help get rid of all thismuggy air.” He grabbed a waterskin from his saddle bagand took a long swallow of water. “Nice thing about riding with a cleric is that I can always conjure up fresh water,eh?” Tarn nodded. He was beginning to think Logan hadsomething he wanted to say, but didn’t know what, and hefound, strangely enough, that it unsettled him a bit. Sure

enough, though, a few seconds later, Logan began, “Tarn,how long have you and Tonath known each other?” Tarn thought about how best to answer that question.“Well, he was a drill instructor when I joined up all those years ago. He taught me more about soldiering that anyman I’ve ever known.”“Even Alec?” Tarn couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Alec?

Alec?

Youhave to understand something about Sir Alec, Logan. Alecrose to command of the garrison for one reason and onereason alone. In all my life, I’ve never met someone better atblustering and brown-nosing, well, downright

bullshitting

,if you’ll pardon my Brecht. He’s actually the son of a minornoble, and for all his life he has relied on his position to getanywhere in life. He’s also a master bureaucrat. I’ve neverseen anyone who could schmooze with people better thanthat man can.“Tonath, on the other hand, is a soldier’s soldier. BaronMournfell offered him command of the garrison at leastthree times that I can remember, and he turned it downevery time. Each time, he claimed it was because he ‘couldbe more use to His Majesty by remaining a simple soldier.’ “Truth be told, though, he is the best soldier I’ve everseen. He taught me more about swordplay than all theother soldiers I’ve ever known, and his discipline anddedication are unparalleled. I can’t remember how manytimes I’ve wished the Baron had ignored Tonath’s wishesand ordered him to take command of the garrison insteadof Alec. Things might have gone differently around here forme at least. There was a time that I would have followedhim into the heart of the nine hells. But now? I don’t reallyknow.”

“Why not now?”With an exaggerated snort, Tarn paused before hecontinued. “Tonath knew that Alec had framed me beforemy court martial. I never disobeyed an order, you know. I

honestly never had the chance. After that rst strike on the

clan holds, I asked for other duties, but was never given thechance to do them. As I think back on it now, I realize thatAlec had it in for me from the very beginning. He did frameme. Tonath knew it, but said nothing.”“What makes you say that?”“Tonath knew I was on the up-and-up. But you have tounderstand one thing about Tonath. More than anythingelse, he is a follower. He takes orders very well, but givesthem very poorly. Like I said, he’s turned down commandof the garrison more than once. But Tonath always viewedcommand as a burden, not a blessing.“And so when Alec laid out the charges against me, Tonath didn’t speak up, even though we both knew that heknew I was innocent. When I asked him, all he would say to

me was, ‘You have to obey orders, Tarn.’” He shufed in his

saddle for a moment before he continued. “I would neverdare to call Tonath a coward to his face, but that time he was, and for that I can never forgive him.”* * *Nyla held up a hand to halt them, and Tarn and Loganpulled their mounts up alongside hers“What do you see?”“Dust cloud up ahead. See it?”Weeks of exposure to Nyla’s keen eyesight had taught Tarn never to doubt her. “What do you think it is?”