A Blaze in the Dark (A New Dawn #1)

Chapter 48 - Nick (Part 1)

I wish you were here to reason with Crystal, to bring Frederic's youngest down from Pride's horse, and to knock some sense into Seb. I'm turning into Father more each day.

Nick glanced over his shoulder. Like the other ten times before, there was no Captain Jonathan or any of the Lieutenants on horseback. There was no distant clopping of hooves either. They hadn't followed him. Above his head, a pigeon flapped its wings and set course along the river Faith, flying upstream.

The forest was growing thinner, the wide-open meadows of Sundale coming into view. It still wasn't too late. He could still turn around and head back, pretending he hadn't abandoned his men. He wouldn't be a deserter.

Yet he marched on.

An arrow to the heart may be the punishment for desertion in times of war, but there was no war. Only the false peace of a looming Silvermark attack that no camp could prepare him for. All in all, the camp had been a lengthy game of power; the slaughtering of defenceless magicians the highlight of the week that served only to keep the hate alive.

Had it been the God of Envy who had convinced the first Greenlander King that these men and women were born out of sin and should be persecuted? Violence only led to more violence; hate to more hate.

He stuffed his hands into his pockets, finding the rough edges of his sycamore pins. His fingers curled around them and contemplated throwing them into the river, ending his army career before it had properly started. The God of Patience prevented him from doing so.

Why he did not know.

For miles and miles, he had the warmth of the sun on his back, beads of sweat gliding down into the crack of his arse. His own shadow guiding him home to Billy and his bed, and biscuits and a long bath. But also to the scorn of the King and General.

He wasn't afraid of them. For the longest time, they had wished he would embrace his status as royal ward, and now he would. Let them hear him out—he had a lot to say.

The surrounding air grew thick with the smell of fresh manure. A cart pulled by oxen was fertilising the land, the farmer walking alongside too occupied to notice him. He pulled off his jacket, his white undershirt making it less obvious that he was a Cadet on the run.

One meadow turned into another, the towers of Sunstone Castle appearing on the horizon. On a fine Spring day such as today, Ol' Dicky and the stableboys would take the horses out to roam on the six-acre set-aside land just outside the gates.

But as he passed the luscious green field not long after, his goofy stallion wasn't there. He counted three other white horses, but they were either too tall, too fat, or they had a large brown spot on their muzzle. None of them were Billy.

Worry settled in his stomach. From the city gates approached a man in an army uniform. He had silver hair and a short beard, his darker skin tone revealing he mostly worked outside. Lieutenant Max.

He towered before Nick, blocking his path. "I was instructed to take you to the castle as soon as possible."

"Fine." Nick shrugged. It wasn't as if he had plans to frequent a tavern or stroll the streets endlessly. "I take it the Captain sent a pigeon."

"He did, indeed," the Lieutenant said, slightly startled. "The General got the message a few hours ago. All guards were informed accordingly."

"I'm not surprised."

The Lieutenant grabbed Nick by the wrist and took him into the city, not giving him any reply. As they passed the gilded gate, a senior Serjeant with a dimple in his chin muttered something about the younger generations being a disgrace. Chuckling at the remark, Lieutenant Max pushed Nick through the carts and stalls, and onto the usual afternoon hectics of Main Street.