FIREFANGED

Chapter 14 (Walking Wounded)

Vigil Snow gave his approval with the explicit requirement that I return in time for the summer promotion ceremony. He would double the castle guard until I came back. He also allowed me to pull from the summer recruit class—but only with Sergeant Masterson's blessing.

Masterson gave me the choice of his walking wounded. "Pick two," he said, with the caveat that I return them whole for promotion.

I answered immediately, "Gunner and Hicks."

He nodded as if he already knew who I'd pick and told me where to find them.

The summer company recruits were housed in a barn-sized barracks. Rows of bunk beds, weapons racks, and chests covered most of a cavernous room that also included rough-hewn dining tables with seating for a hundred. A bathhouse, kitchen, and latrines were attached.

Finding Brandon Hicks first, I said, "How's your head? Feel like taking a little trip with me?"

"A trip?" Hicks's eyes lit up at the offer. "The concussion's almost gone, and anything's better than being sidelined."

"You'd miss the last week or two of training before promotion." I spotted Gunner a couple of bunks away and waved him over. "Is Gunner a first name or a last name?"

"My full name is Gunner Trew, but everyone just calls me Gunner."

The recruit was a good two inches taller and twenty pounds heavier than Hicks and me. He had a relaxed manner to offset his powerful frame and confident air. With his sandy blonde hair and dimpled chin, he stood out with or without a heavy axe on his back.

"How's your arm? Can you swing a light axe?"

"Sure, it's just a sprain now. I'd even swing a heavy one if ordered."

"We're going light. I'd like you and Hicks to see me safely to the dark elf city of Bastian, about a hundred miles north of here through the Everest range. It's rough country, but the passes are open this time of year. We'll need to get there and back safely before promotion time, and before you ask, Masterson has already signed off on the trip."

"This have anything to do with that girl Raven that ran off this morning?" said Hicks. "She's half-elf, isn't she?"

"It has everything to do with Raven, but there's a bigger problem. The dark elves have their own demons to conquer, and as far as I can tell, they're losing. If we don't do something to help them, there's a chance things on this side of the range will be next."

Hicks glanced at Gunner. "I'm not sure what three sentinel-recruits can do to swing the balance, but count us in."

"Good. We can talk more on the road. Pack your light kit, a warm cloak, canteens, plus dry food for a week. Meet me at the North Tower of the castle tomorrow at dawn. We'll leave from there with the first scout patrol of the day."

In one long month, I had gone from an aimless, pain-ridden orphan—someone adrift on the next breeze—to someone with a place in the world, people worth fighting for, and a reason to come back.

Rae still didn't want me to go on the trip, but she also intended to do everything she could to help me get there and back. With Andy's help, she had sketched out a map of the fastest route to Bastian. The landmarks they supplied should be easy to follow, and with three of us on the trip, we ought to be able to sit watches and get some sleep along the way.

Andy had offered up his talisman, and I figured that the recruits could take turns wearing it. One could be the hunter, and one could be the goat.

Raven made it a point that I was never to remove my talisman, and she promised that she would do the same. She said we had a connection through them now—one that would serve us both.