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the areas where we’d be most effective.”
    Rolnir listened intently though his mind never strayed from the deep streaks of black circling the immediate area. “And these? What are they from?”
    Vajna actually broke a grin. “Fire. We had collected a lot of scrub brush and fallen trees. Once the Goblins walked into the trap we set the whole damned area on fire. They panicked enough for us to hammer them from three sides. And a good thing too. If it hadn’t been for that distraction we wouldn’t have won.”
    Nodding his approval for Piper’s innovative thinking, he asked, “Why did you engage? Light cavalry against heavy infantry isn’t the ideal situation.”
    “We didn’t have a choice,” Vajna said flatly. “They moved faster than anticipated and very nearly caught us off guard. Fortunately they were drunk from their previous raid on a village not far from here. Runner came back and reported everyone there was murdered. The houses burned.” His eyes blazed fiercely as he took in the nearest corpse. “These bastards got what was coming to them.”
    Rolnir had heard enough. “Gentlemen, very good work. That’s two hundred less Goblins we need to worry about. Have your vanguard form up and return to the main body. I’ll have another unit dispatched to cover the advance to the mountains. You did good today. All of you. Get some hot chow and refit. The campaign is just beginning and I’m going to need you if we’ve any hope of succeeding.”
    Piper took offense at being relieved; memories of his first engagement in Rogscroft started replaying in his head. “General, we can continue the march. Give me an hour to bury the dead and collect their gear. We’re good to go.”
    Rolnir’s eyebrow rose sharply. He seriously doubted his second in command was in as good of shape as he insisted, but he didn’t have any reason to pull him from the line. Not until he makes a mistake and gets someone killed. Damnation, but being a commanding officer is hard. Retirement doesn’t sound so bad right about now . “Very well. I want your unit refitted by the time my infantry cleans up the battlefield. Piper, that’s an order. I don’t want to hear it.”
    “Yes sir,” he replied meekly and went back to his soldiers.
    Rolnir returned Vajna’s salute and watched his best friend stumble back through the carnage, all the while thinking he was going to have to find a way to rest Piper before the end. Some lives were too valuable to waste in the preliminary rounds of the fight.

FIVE
    Delranan Burning
    “Ever you have sought to be more than your ancestors allowed. Countless decades of servitude to others have left you bereft of dignity. What it means to truly be your own man. Did you find it difficult to carry on day after day as the world progressed while you stagnated?”
    Harnin One Eye glared sharply at the coalescing shadows dancing across from him. He despised being mocked by anyone, much less one of the mysterious Dae’shan. Two facts prevented him from acting on those raw emotions. The dark creature, Pelthit Re, was infinitely more powerful than any mortal and he had facilitated Harnin’s rise to power. If it hadn’t been for Pelthit, Harnin might never have had the nerve to make a grab for the throne. Badron should have insisted he accompanied the army on campaign. Harnin snarled. Look where that arrogance took you! Delranan is now mine .
    “I feel your hatred, One Eye. It consumes you in glorious pain, slowly devouring each piece of your conscience. Give in and become more than yourself,” Pelthit cooed. It was an old game he enjoyed playing with his victims. Righteous men fell so quickly and easily. The Dae’shan preyed upon their strengths, casually turning them against themselves until only a bitter husk remained.
    “You given me enough of your gifts, demon,” Harnin snapped. “I rule this kingdom and no longer need you.”
    Pelthit concealed his amusement. If only Harnin knew he could snap him with