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

“As soon as we may.” A sudden smile crossed Albern’s lips. “After all, we have the coin for it.”

Despite herself, Sun gave a little smile in return, and her fingers rose to slide along the straps of her new purse. “I … I suppose we do.”

“They have no way of knowing you are here,” said Albern. “Not for certain. We are not in danger yet.”

Sun blew a heavy sigh out through her nose. “Mayhap not. But let us keep it that way. We should leave Bertram now. We have enough coin for the next leg of the journey. Whatever your other business here, you can return for it later.”

Albern hesitated, and his gentle smile faded away. “I cannot. Someone is expecting to meet me here today, and if I do not appear, it will cause trouble. I am sorry, Sun, but I have to see this through. I hope you will come with me.”

A rising tide of panic threatened to make her vomit. “How urgent can these errands be? When we were in Lan Shui, you made it seem like Bertram was one of many choices. Was that true? Or did you always mean to come here, no matter what I said?”

Albern did not hesitate in the slightest. “Both,” he said. “We could have gone another way if you wanted. My errands here could have waited a few days, or even as much as a week or two. But I always intended to come to Bertram eventually. And now that I am here, I must finish my business in the city. If you wish to leave Bertram at once, there are places I can arrange for you to go. You can return when you and I are both assured it is safe. But if you stay, I do not think you will regret it.”

The offer to send her away was tempting. She feared to stumble into another of her family’s guards out here on the bustling streets. And she thought of herself far away, spending her days in an inn, with plenty of coin to pay for food and ale while she waited for Albern to fetch her.

But then she thought of being alone. Of Albern’s absence. And what if her family found her regardless of her caution? Then Albern would not be there to help her escape them.

That was not such a tempting thought, after all.

Albern seemed to spy the indecision in her eyes, for he spoke again. “Remember what I told you not long ago. My family tried to pull me back into their clutches, but they failed. You will not be taken anywhere while I draw breath. Something you should do, by the way.”

She sucked in a deep gasp of air and then let it out in a rush. For a moment, she felt lightheaded. But then her head seemed to clear, and she came to a decision.

“Very well,” she said. “I will stay with you. But for the sky’s sake, please do your business in the city quickly.”

“As quickly as I may,” said Albern. “And if you wish, I will not continue the story until we know we are safe again.”

“Do you jest?” grumbled Sun. “I need something to distract me. Say on.”

Well. You remember that we had driven the Shades into the hills north of the Greenfrost. While our company set up camp in the wood, Kun gathered Tou and the sergeants for a small council after the battle. His customary smile was absent. Soldiers had died that day. He found a large rock to use as a makeshift table and laid a map of the area upon it. With one hand wrapped around his chin, he studied it as he spoke to us.

“Our foes will not go far tonight,” he said. “They are already weary, for they have pressed their march hard, and now they have wounded to tend to. We can wait for the rest of our force to arrive in the night, and then we can wipe them out at our leisure. Let the company rest and recover themselves. What were our losses?”

“None from Black Squadron,” I said. The other archer sergeants gave the same reply.

“None from Green,” said Mag. “A few cuts and bruises, but nothing to slow anyone down.”

“I lost three, ser,” said Yue, in a voice sharp as flint. “And four wounded.”

My gaze snapped to her. Her face was stony, and her eyes were not quite on Kun, but staring over his shoulder into the far distance.

Kun sighed. “The bodies?”

“The rest of Blue Squadron is seeing to them now,” said Yue. It sounded as though she was about to say more, but she did not.

“Very well,” said Kun. “As for my unit, six Mystics fell. Eight more were wounded, but only two very badly. That leaves just over a score at fighting strength. I will have to share the burden of the center line in future battles.”

“Understood, ser,” I said. Mag looked troubled, and she remained silent.

“At least their lives were not given in vain,” Kun went on. “A score and a half of our foes lie dead. My best guess is at least that many more are grievously wounded, which will slow down the rest of them. It is never easy to lose a comrade. But our fellows who ventured into the darkness today made the enemy pay dearly in blood. We who survive must honor them.”

“Yes, ser.” This time the whole council spoke in unison.

“Good,” said Kun. “Lieutenant Shi, see that sufficient sentries are posted to prevent any surprises. The rest of you see to the arrangements of your units. If any soldier has snuck wine or ale into their packs, let them enjoy it moderately—and have them share with their fellows as well. Everyone deserves a drink tonight, if they wish it. Dismissed.”

“Captain,” I said, throwing up a hand. “One more thing, if I may.”

Everyone