Hemlock And The Dead God's Legacy (Book 2) by B. Throwsnaill Page A

shoving each other and arguing.
    Tored’s voice rose above the throng. “Cease this disorder immediately!”
    The Tanna Varrans were silent to a man.
    “Faud!  You are an impulsive fool for using magic here despite the warnings.  You have shamed our tribe!  Umra Vyle!  You have struck Faud without consulting me first.  You are not the leader of this band.  I am!”
    Tored’s angry gaze alternated between Faud and Umra Vyle. “Both of these actions were foolish, and bring dishonor to us.  Because Faud has been dishonored by Umra Vyle, he will not be punished any further.”
    Umra Vyle exploded in rage . “He should be flogged!”
    “No!  Umra Vyle, you and Swarth Taros also used magic to go after Faud.  You two should be punished.  Vyle, you also struck Faud, and that should warrant further punishment.”
    At these words, many voices from the Umra clan broke out in anger.
    “Silence!” shouted Tored again.
    Again, all were silent.
    “I will not further dishonor our tribe by inflicting more punishment at this time.  This matter is closed.”
    Angry voices broke out from both clans at this pronouncement.  Tored ignored them and strode ahead, alone.
    Hemlock rushed ahead to catch him.  As she passed the group of Tanna Varrans, she heard the sarcastic voice of Taros Sundar call out. “Umra Vyle has once again proven his prowess at jousting with birds and fools!”  Muted laughter rang out from the Taros clan in response to the remark.
    She reached Tored a moment later . "What was that all about?  And stop!  We have to prepare to defend ourselves from the chaos magic," Hemlock said.
    " Hemlock, I apologize for that foolishness.  Apparently Faud is a bigger fool than I realized.  He will face trial once we arrive back at Tor Varnos.  I will organize the men in a defensive formation."
    Tored again quieted the Tanna Varrans and organized them into clustered squads.  Renevos walked in the center , ringed by the First Circle wizards.  Sensing that Tored wanted to be alone for a time, Hemlock walked with the wizards.
    Hemlock wanted to ask Renevos questions about what danger they might now face from the chaos magic, but decided against it for fear of making noise and breaking the peace of the fragile truce that Tored had imposed on the two Tanna Varran clans.
    An hour passed without incident , and Hemlock decided to move closer to Renevos so that she could talk to him without shouting.
    “Nothing has happened.  Do you think we’ve been lucky and avoided the danger?”
    Renevos still looked nervous, but less so than before. “Possibly.  In my experience, the attacks from the chaos magic are usually nearly immediate.”
    Hemlock overheard the Tanna Varrans to her left talking softly amongst themselves.
    “Look, a rainbow!” said one. 
    “It is a good omen,” said another.
    Seeing the rainbow, Hemlock felt her spirits rise with the Tanna Varrans.  She looked back to Renevos, but his expression was unchanged.
    Hemlock dropped back to walk with Tored, who was walking in the rear of the group by himself.  As she did so, she found herself thinking back to her dream of the strange man in the tricorne hat who had severed her connection with the spirit that she had been aiding.  She could see that Tored was still simmering from the recent lack of discipline in his unit.  But she felt a sudden need to unburden herself by telling him about the dream.
    “Did you see the rainbow ?” she asked.
    “Of course.  It pleases me little after what has happened,” he replied.
    “Well, it seems like Faud’s mistake may not cost any lives.  That has to please you.”
    “I will take heart in that at the end of our journey—not during.”
    “Tored, I know you’re upset, but I want to talk to you about something.  It’s important.”
    Tored cleared his throat softly, and then replied in a more supportive voice . “All right.”
    “Something happened to me on the morning that you arrived.  That’s why I