Knights: Legends of Ollanhar by Robert E. Keller

muttered talk in the houses and
taverns that things would soon change.
    Lannon was apprehensive about leaving Taith in the care of
the innkeeper, but he was reasonably sure the boy would receive excellent care.
After all, the innkeeper wouldn't want to risk the wrath of Lannon or the
Divine Knights. Lannon fully expected the innkeeper to put Taith to work
(something Taith would hate), but he felt it would be good for the boy to be
given some chores and responsibilities considering the hardships he would be
facing as a Squire of Dremlock. Taith's days of slogging through life were
over. He would soon learn a new way that would push his mind and body to the limits--a
way of pain and punishment and fierce endurance. The fires of Dremlock would
forge him into a warrior, stripping away his pettiness and laziness, dulling
his fears and regrets, and leaving him no time to dwell on the pain of his
past. His days would be filled with sweat and competition, and any rest he was
lucky enough to receive would feel like a true blessing.
    Good luck, Taith , Lannon thought. He didn't envy the
lad.
    They intended to ride until dinner, but in an unexpected
move Aldreya decided to pause for lunch. They rode into a field and built some
fires. They had stocked up on a lot of vegetables in Red Barrel, which they
fried up with canned venison and seasonings in their large iron skillets.
      After everyone had
eaten, Aldreya produced a map she had purchased in Red Barrel that revealed the
lands leading to Wolfbine Kingdom. She pointed to the location of a town called
Maldorian Alvorian, or Malva for short. "We could reach this town by
nightfall," she said.
    "I would advise against going there," said
Galandra. "That town is in the Mud Belt, and towns in the Mud Belt are
having serious problems with bandits lately." She traced her finger over
the map. "I suggest we stay on the Aktos Trail and just camp when evening
comes."
    "Agreed," said Saranna. "Some of those gangs
of rogues are extremely dangerous. Lately the whole Mud Belt is a den of
thieves and cutthroats making war on each other and whatever honest people
still live there."
    "What do you think, Brakthas?" asked Lannon.
    The tall, bronze-skinned warrior hesitated, then said,
"I have to agree with the ladies. If we're looking for fighting and
bloodshed, that's the place to go. On the other hand, the Aktos Trail is
dangerous too."
    "We definitely don't need any trouble," said
Lannon. "We had enough of that in the Soddurn Mountains."
    "Last I knew," said Saranna, "Malva itself
was bandit free. I visited there about two months ago. A Ranger named Fodan
maintains law and order there, and he's no one to fool with. It's the journey
there that would cause me concern--through long stretches of forest where
bandits hide out waiting to ambush travelers. I've heard reports that the
region has grown more dangerous since my visit, with a gang called the Blue
Vultures causing the most trouble."
    "The Blue Vultures?" said Lannon, raising his
eyebrows.
    "That's right," said Brakthas. "The Blue
Vultures. Those are some nasty, nasty barbarians. Sneaky, too. If we were to
encounter them, we'd have a tough fight on our hands. The Blue Vultures are
some scary fellows."
    Aldreya smirked. "I don't think we have much to fear
from wandering bands of barbarians. Dremlock doesn't yield to rogues."
    "You're not in Silverland anymore," said Saranna.
"Things are different out here. Some of these gangs are like trained
armies."
    "Is it even worth going there?" said Dallsa.
"We have plenty of supplies, and we can sleep in our tents. I don't see
the point."
    "We need more warriors," said Aldreya. "And
there is no safe place for us on this journey. If Malva has what we seek, we
should go there."
    "Warriors can be found there," Saranna admitted.
"There are a few wealthy businessmen living there who protect what they
have at all costs, and Fodan has some highly skilled mercenaries working for
him. Some of the best fighters money can