A Promise of Vengeance

5. Pednor's Grove

Pednor's Grove

925 A.F. (After Founding)

Second Cycle of the Second Moon—Reunion

The morning sun heated the air and whisked the scent of humans up into the pass, a redolent trace of pines and mountain laurels riding along with it. Bokk savored it with a rapid flick of his tongue; it had been a long time since he had feasted on human flesh.

He removed the axe from his belt and crept behind a rock on the far side of the pass, green scales brushing the ground like a rasp scraping splintered oak. Black, beady eyes as keen as a hawk's scanned the streets and the town square. Bokk made note of the men with swords, and the women returning from the fruit vendor with children in tow. Two dogs also caught his eye, both of them at the far side of town; they would not spoil the approach.

Bokk ducked his head when three men exited the inn. Pednor's Grove counted a small population of retired Sykoran Guards, and even though the sharpest-eyed scout would find it difficult to see Bokk from this distance, he would not risk alerting the village. He had learned well his father's teachings of caution and wisdom, and how they shared the same den.

Brood Leader Trull slithered alongside Bokk, a sibilant whisper on his lips. "How many Sykorans?"

The scout's tongue flicked with each of his slow heartbeats. "Thirty to forty at most, but I count no more than seven with swords. If we take the back trail and keep to the woods, they will have no warning."

Trull nodded as he straightened his battle axe then made his way back to the patrol leaders. "Move. But slowly. Quietly."

The patrol leader stared down at the little ones playing in the square. He winced before asking the question. "And the children?"

The brood leader's black eyes bore into him. "Leave no one alive."

Bokk joined Trull as they made their way toward the village. "This won't take long."

"Not long at all," Trull said, then called to Kron. "Scout ahead at the next two villages—Treaschwig and Twin Forks. We will finish here before dusk, and I intend to march into the night." His claws scraped the edge of his axe as he spoke. "And take Jorr with you. Teach him well."

Later that evening Brood Leader Trull marched the Victa army through Pednor's Grove, through the smoke and smoldering flames and stench of death. Dread filled his bones and clung to every scale. The Master had been explicit. Everyone in Twin Forks must die.