Rise and Fall by Joshua P. Simon Page A

haven’t said a word. What’s bugging you? Do we need to be wary about the captains?”
    “The captains are fine.” He looked up and cleared his throat after a long pause. “I’ve decided to go on with the Byzernians.”
    Jonrell felt like the chair was taken from under him. He looked to Krytien. “Is he serious?” Silence. Jonrell turned back to Cassus. “I don’t believe this.”
    “They’ll need help,” said Cassus. “The ships we procured are going in opposite directions. You’ll be heading north while the other is entering a southern port near one of their islands. They won’t have any protection on their journey home.”
    “Protection? You’re one man,” said Jonrell.
    “One is better than none.”
    “This is crazy. Do you have any idea how long it will take you to secure a ship from there back to Cadonia to meet up with us.”
    “I’m not going to Cadonia.”
    Jonrell’s mouth hung open. I’ve lost my mind. That’s the only thing that could explain what I’m hearing. I’ve gone mad.
    Cassus cut in. “Look, I know this is a surprise.”
    “A surprise?! I’d call it more of a slap in the face. We’re going home. I need you with me.”
    Cassus laughed, shaking his head. “You’ve never needed me. I was the one who needed you. And you made sure to look out for me. Now I have the chance to do the same thing for these people as well as others.”
    “What do you mean others?”
    “There are slaves all over Mytarcis, most are from the Byzernia Islands. I want to stay and help them.”
    Jonrell looked up and mumbled to himself. “One Above, what have I done to deserve this?” He snorted. “Cassus, Hero of Slaves. What about your parents?”
    “What about them? Don’t pretend that they ever cared for me. I doubt they even remember they had a son.”
    “I can command you to stay,” said Jonrell, trying a different approach.
    “Not if I quit.”
    “I can command to have you restrained and loaded on the ship to Cadonia.”
    Cassus smiled and stepped forward, placing a hand on Jonrell’s shoulder. “You can. But you won’t.”
    Jonrell felt the fight leave him. He knew his friend well enough to know there was no changing his mind this time.

Chapter 4
     
    Tobin stared across the bleak landscape atop the highest ridge in the hills rimming the settlement. His back was to Munai, the village’s name discovered by Kaz’s cruel questioning of the prisoners. Even in daylight, the terrain varied little, mostly orange rock, dirt, and sand with the occasional patches of sparse vegetation. Having memorized the land around him, he reflected on the events surrounding the last few days.
    Two days after Munai’s capture, another eight hundred Kifzo had landed by boat along the weathered coast, adding their number to the surviving warriors occupying the settlement. The reinforcements reported that Tobin’s father, Bazraki, was in position to move against Nubinya once the city’s forces were drawn away.
    With that in mind, Kaz allowed several of the prisoners to flee under the guise that within a week an even larger group of warriors would land at Munai. Kaz led them to believe that the warriors in Munai would then launch an assault against Nubinya. The orchestrated escape forced villagers to pass through every small settlement the Kifzo previously destroyed. Coupled with the destruction those people witnessed firsthand, their tales of horror would force the Orange Desert Clan’s Warchiefs into swift action, hoping to retake Munai before the Blue Island Clan’s army swelled in number.
    After weakening Nubinya’s defenses, Bazraki and his main army intended to pounce on the desert capital, bringing it under his rule.
    Then it will be up to us to defeat whatever armies are sent against us, regardless of the odds. If all went as planned, the surviving Kifzo would then move south and join Bazraki.
    Tobin sighed as he scanned the horizon, checking for anything unusual. His eyes moved first to