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

“Oh, they tell me now,” grumbled Hallan. He yanked the logs out of the fire and doused them in a puddle of rainwater on the ground before rising to find other fuel. But before he could leave, I saw Tou approaching.

“Squadrons!” I called out. “Officer present.”

Mag’s and my units stood and snapped to attention. Tou came to a stop, folding his hands behind his back and giving us all a nod.

“Good eve, all of you,” he said, his voice carrying through the evening air. “I have come to relay the captain’s compliments. You all carried yourselves well today, and the plan was as successful as could be expected. You have his thanks, as well as mine.”

“Ser,” we replied in chorus.

“As you were,” he said. “Enjoy your rest tonight, for you all deserve it.”

As most of them returned to their seats, he came to me and Mag. Mag raised a hand in greeting.

“Lieutenant,” she said.

“Sergeant,” said Tou. “In particular, I wanted to relay my appreciation to you. You were on the front lines, but you did not lose even one sword. That is worthy of high praise.”

Before Mag could answer, Dibu stood from his seat and stepped up to join the rest of us. “It is worth more than praise, Lieutenant,” he said, folding his bronzed arms behind his back. “Watching her was like witnessing an Elf-tale. She was everywhere in the fight. Her spear was like lightning from the sky.”

Mag’s jaw clenched. Tou seemed to notice it, for a small smile crossed his lips as he stroked his goatee and cleared his throat. “No doubt she was impressive, and yet she was not the only one who gave a good showing. You fought well today, soldier. Even better than you did against me in the trial.”

Dibu’s mouth worked. “Thank you, Lieutenant. Your training has been invaluable.”

“Good training still requires a good student,” said Tou. “It is a rare pleasure to find one who so easily takes lessons to heart. And that goes for all of you.”

He placed a hand briefly on Dibu’s muscular arm before stepping past him to Li. She still sat on the ground, and she was staring at the fire Hallan had been trying to build. Its embers were dead now, but she did not seem to have noticed.

“How are you, Li?” said Tou, more quietly now.

The sound of her name seemed to break her reverie. Li looked up at him, eyes lost for a moment. “I … am fine, ser.”

“You survived your first battle,” he said. “You should be proud.”

She gave a brief, humorless laugh. “How can I be proud of something I had little hand in? Were it not for Dibu, I would be a corpse burning with the others. He saved my life and killed two of the enemy to do it.”

“Yet you rose again,” said Dibu, stepping up beside Tou. “And you claimed one foe for yourself before the end of the fight. The lieutenant is right, Li. You should be proud.”

Li nodded, but from her expression, you would have thought she did not even hear them. Tou gave a little sigh and stood, turning to Dibu once more.

“Well, I do not wish to take up too much of your time. I only wanted to pass on the captain’s praise. Dorsea is indebted to you all for your service today. And so am I.”

Dibu swallowed hard and bowed his head. “Ser.”

Tou gave Mag and me a quick nod, and then he set off to do his rounds with the rest of the squadrons. When I turned to look at Mag, she was fighting hard to contain a smile.

“What are you grinning about?” I asked her.

“Hm? Oh, nothing,” said Mag. “Only it seems we are in the captain’s good graces at last.”

“And about time,” I said. “One step closer to Kaita.”

That caused her smile to evaporate at once. “Yet not quite close enough.”

“Not yet,” I told her. “But soon. Come now. Let us get our people situated, and then get ourselves to bed. I will sleep like a rock tonight.”

“As if you ever sleep any other way,” said Mag.

I snorted and shoved her shoulder, and she shoved me back (which sent me stumbling three paces). I went and checked on my squadron’s tent lines, made sure they knew their watch schedule, and then started making my way to my tent. I still had not seen Yue, but I knew it would be best to leave her alone until she was ready. But on my way to bed, I spotted Chausiku. He stood a little apart from the rest of the camp, away from the fires, staring out into the Greenfrost with his hood drawn up. I approached, and as he heard my footsteps coming, he looked over at me.

“Ser,” he said, nodding.

“Good eve,” I said. “You should be getting yourself to sleep.”

“I will, ser,” he said. “But my mind is racing now, and I am trying to let it wear itself out.”

“I confess I sometimes need the same.” I stood beside him, folding my arms over my chest for warmth. “Today was your first taste of battle, and you did well. But how are you, really? I know you did not enjoy it, as Jian did.”

Chausiku snorted. “That I did not. I cannot understand that woman, and I doubt I ever shall.”

“Give it time,” I said. “You are united in purpose, even if you view the purpose differently.”

“I know that to be true, yet I find it hard to believe,” said Chausiku with a sigh. “Her bloodlust is unnerving. I answered Captain Zhou’s call because I care about Dorsea, and I would not see my nation betray the High King. But I could have gone my whole life without killing another person, and I would have been happier for it.”

“Would not we all,” I said, “if only the world were gentle enough to allow it. Yet still, you and Jian may find common ground in the end. I hesitate to hope