The Defiance of Vim (Catalyst Book 4) by C.J. Aaron (graded readers txt) 📕

no longer has a bearing in reality, I’m afraid,” the captain admitted. “That the gift found itself in your possession when it did is good enough.”

“It would have mattered not, if not for your timing,” Andr said. “I owe you my life. Thank you.”

The look that passed between the two soldiers was brief yet profound. Le’Dral nodded subtly in response.

“We need to see to the wounded.” The captain’s eyes were pained as he surveyed the bodies strewn across the area. Blood and gore soaked the ground. The potent scent of death choked the air.

“Gather the horses. See to the sentries at the other side of the woods.” Le’Dral issued the order to Moyan. “I fear they’re all lost. We’ll be hard-pressed to maintain a sustained defense if we lose many more heads.”

Moyan grunted in response before hastening toward the stables. Several of the guards were already in the process of wrangling the spooked horses. His booming commands rallied others to assist. Many of the mounts remained under control inside their paddock; others galloped through the fallow fields.

From the square came the rapid approach of a large group of tributes. The reinforcements were armed with blades, bludgeons, or anything that could serve as a weapon. Andr watched with admiration as the contingent moved with confidence and haste. They were all untrained, yet ready to fight side by side with those who’d chosen to protect them.

Andr’s eyes scoured the incoming tributes. With the glow from Vox’s mage lights nearly extinguished, the party was close before their faces were recognizable. He caught his breath as the image of the one leading the charge resolved.

It was Cray.

The mercenary felt a surge of pride rush through his battle-weary body. His emotion must have been evident. His practiced indifference faltered at the sight. The captain followed his gaze, grinning as he saw the object of Andr’s attention.

“They are a resilient bunch. After all they’ve been forced to endure, they retain hope,” Le’Dral commented. “If they have a drop of the same power that Ryl or his companions hold, I fear for those who stand in their way.”

Andr, alerted by the captain to his show of emotion, instinctively adopted his regimented impassive guise.

“We’ll likely need them for what comes if we stand any chance of survival.” Andr’s answer was dark and foreboding.

From Tabenville, the shrill, animated voice of Mender Jeffers cut through the din of commotion. He barked out commands as he hastened to assist with the wounded.

Andr’s eyes scanned the battlefield around him. Chaos abounded over the entrance to Tabenville. The newly harvested fields that lay on either side of the road had been tilled by the footsteps of the battle that waged over their furrows. The ground had been watered by the blood of the dead and dying. Bodies covered with sinister black cloaks or shrouded in the light armor of the kingdom’s guards lay strewn throughout. Vox still stood by Ryl and Kaep’s side, though the fire burning on his arm had been extinguished. Nielix and Dav remained with blades drawn, standing guard at their sides.

“We need to make haste. We need to abandon this village.” Andr’s voice was firm, his determination resolved.

The captain nodded his agreement.

“Ryl commands the forest. From what I understand, he and Kaep were the only tributes … I mean phrenics who knew the path. With him down, how will we find the way?”

Andr observed the captain for a moment. The steely demeanor cracked with his statement. There was a hint of fear behind his words.

“You said yourself that the lines of reality and fantasy have blurred as of late.” Andr grinned. “The Erlyn was generous in the boon she provided. There are more surprises yet in store for this day, Captain.”

Chapter 4

The sky to the east had begun to transition from the darkness of the waning hours of the night. Deep violet hues morphed into royal shades of blue, foretelling the coming of the day as Moyan at the head of his cavalry thundered from the village.

The experienced horsemen had little trouble rounding up the errant horses that had broken free from the corral. The startled beasts calmed quickly once back in the hands of their trained riders. Though it went unnoticed, the unseen wave of calm that washed over them, courtesy of Vox, assuredly assisted in the endeavor.

Somehow, the Lei Guard had approached undiscovered, catching the sentries at both ends of the forest unprepared. Twelve soldiers had perished in the silent, one-sided assault on their positions. Eleven were guards who had defected with Le’Dral and Moyan. Andr mourned the loss of their companions. These men had willingly sacrificed their lives for the cause of righteousness. They’d chosen to live and die on the side of what was right.

The twelfth to perish in the initial assault was the hardest to bear. The body of Soldi, Vigil from the hidden city of Vim, was found among the soldiers guarding the interior exit from the Erlyn. Of all those who’d perished, the cunning warrior was the only one to have drawn a blade in his defense. In the defense of the tributes. Another defender from Vim had poured his lifeblood out onto the fertile soil of Damaris.

As with the others, there would be little time for mourning. The dust had yet to settle from the battle, and all had been roused from their slumber. Preparations were underway to vacate the tenuous camp for the safety and seclusion of the Erlyn.

The mender, with Sarial at his side, had wasted no time treating the wounded from the surprise attack. Three of the soldiers—among the first to answer the call to battle, who’d come charging with weapons drawn to the fray—had been struck by arrows. One was dead by the time Jeffers reached his side. The others had sustained injuries, thankfully, none too severe. Their care was left in the hands of others as the mender hastened to triage the remainder.

Frustratingly, Jeffers was at a loss at the conditions of