The Tales of the Wanderer Volume One: A Book of Underrealm (The Underrealm Volumes 4) by Garrett Robinson (elon musk reading list TXT) 📕

“You could hardly ask for a better sword arm than hers,” I told him. “Mag and I will vouch for her.”

“That is no surprise,” said Kun. “I imagine you have friends scattered all across the nine kingdoms, turning up when one least expects it.”

I did not miss the subtle dig. That could also have been a description of the Shades. I thought hard, wondering how I could convince him to let Yue stay on.

Yet I need not have worried, for Yue stepped forwards. The Mystics beside Kun tensed, but Yue stopped while still two paces away. In a tone I had never heard her use before—proud yet deferential, strong but respectful—she spoke.

“Captain Kun,” she said. “I am Yue of the family Baolan, former constable of the town of Lan Shui. I am kin to Constable Aroha in Opara, to Constable Pinti in Yota, to Constable Zho in Danfon, and to Constabular Captain Stubhart on the High King’s Seat. If letters can be sent to them, they will all vouch for me, as will Constable Ashta in Lan Shui itself. Also, my uncle Joshin serves the Mystics with honor in the city of Bertram, and my grandmother Brinna was a chancellor in Pinkeng in the south until her retirement five years ago. Long has the family Baolan served the King’s law, and I have no greater aspirations in this life or any other. I am the servant of Jun of the family Fei, the true king of Dorsea, and his kin, and through them the High King.

“I have fourteen months of training with sword, shield, and club, and nine years’ experience using them in service of the people of Dorsea. With these companions, Albern and Mag, I have fought and defeated vampires, and I would throw myself into the maw of a thousand worse horrors to protect the nine kingdoms.”

She fell to her knee right there in the slushy mud, and she bowed her head to Kun. “I decry the false pretender, Wojin, who now sits the throne, and all who swear fealty to him. I know of the Shades who threaten the nine kingdoms, and I pledge myself to their defeat. I have fought them already, and I will fight them again if given the opportunity, and I will not stop until their evil is driven from the land.

“If I may aid in your enemies’ defeat by the strength of my arm, it is yours. If I may bring you to victory by what courage I have, I pledge it. And if I can uphold the order of the nine kingdoms by either my life or my death, I give them both into your service, as I did when first I donned the red armor of my station.”

We all stood frozen. The air fell to silence. Some nearby militia had drifted closer as she spoke, and now everyone present stood in silent astonishment. Kun studied her. His perpetual smile had fallen away, and yet that did not worry me. I could tell he was impressed.

He dismounted, stepped forwards, and took Yue’s shoulder. Firmly, but not roughly, he pulled her to her feet.

“I accept your service, Yue of the family Baolan, and I count myself honored to do so,” he said. “If every soldier who marched for the High King were of your caliber, I do not doubt the war would be over within a month.”

His smile returned, and he looked at Mag and me over Yue’s shoulders.

“If all the two of you end up doing is bringing me her aid, I will consider myself well served, and more than compensated for losing our wager.”

I bowed. “Thank you, Captain.”

His gaze returned to Yue, and he arched an eyebrow. “Vampires? I shall need to hear that tale. But not now. I will summon you for counsel after supper, to hear this information you have on the Shades. Be ready.”

Yue saluted with a fist over her heart. “Yesser.”

He gave her a sharp nod and then turned to Zhen, who still stood close by. “That is enough of a march for today. Order the column to make camp for the night.”

So saying, he set off back to his Mystics. Yue turned to Mag and me, and she folded her arms under her chest.

“Well,” she said. “Now that I have saved you from trouble again, we should talk.”

“We should, but I would be remiss not to send for Dryleaf.” I turned to Chausiku, who stood close by. He and the rest of my squadron had observed all these proceedings with wide eyes, and more than a few of them with mouths hanging half-open. “Chausiku. Fetch Dryleaf from the train, if you would. He will want to be here.”

“Ser,” he said with a nod. For a moment longer, he stared at Yue, Mag, and me, but at last he set off, his tail of locs swinging behind him.

“Hallan,” I said. He snapped sharply to attention, beard bristling. “See that everyone gets themselves well situated. Keep the tent lines straight this time, and call for me if you need me.”

“Ser,” said Hallan with a nod. He turned to the rest of the unit. “You heard the sergeant! Line’em up nice, little ones, or I’ll have you digging latrines tonight.”

Mag turned to her squadron. “Dibu, Li, can you see to arrangements?”

“Of course, ser,” said Dibu with a nod. Li echoed him after a moment, and then slung her pack off her back, her wandering gaze momentarily fixed on Yue.

Yue was now looking at us with one brow cocked. “Sergeants, are you? A mark against my estimation of the captain, if he elevated you so.”

I laughed. “I am sure it will reassure you to know that we forced him into it. But dark below, Yue. What brought you here?”

“That is a bit of a tale,” said Yue. “As I recovered from my injuries in Lan Shui, I had time to think. When I became a constable, I did it to protect the kingdom. Now it seemed you