Roads of the Righteous and the Rotten (Order of Fire Book 1) by Kameron A. Williams Page B

rose up from where he’d been hiding among a patch of ferns. He walked over to the two slowly, still looking a bit shocked, and frequently glanced about the wood as if someone might jump out to attack him at any moment. It wasn’t until he came much closer to the pair that he finally looked relieved, and, seeming convinced the fighting was over, dropped to his knees to express his thanks.
    Zar assured the man that he owed him no thanks, and beckoned him to rise. He then turned back to the fallen commander, and squatted once again beside him. “You must forgive me for not telling the complete truth,” he said, turning his head back toward Asha who stood behind him. “It is only one ally—and though she’s quite brave, I must admit she’s never been any good with a bow.”
    The man lifted his head and beheld Asha, his face passing from disbelief to disgust in an instant before letting his head plop back down against the earth. His breathing grew more rapid and his body stiffened as he struggled to utter words.
    “You! I knew you—”
    “Settle down,” Zar interrupted, “or you’ll die before your fate is decided.”
    Zar raised his sword and placed the point of his weapon against the man’s throat, and with his blade firmly in position, beckoned the man who had just expressed his thanks to come over.
    “Good sir, what is your name?”
    The man approached with curious eyes. “I’m Prynner.”
    “Good Prynner, not many moments ago this man would have decided your fate with his words. His voice alone would have granted you life or death, or—something in between.” Zar brought his left hand to accompany his right on his sword hilt and tensed both his arms as if ready to puncture the man’s throat. “But now,” said Zar, keeping his blade firm against the man’s throat until beads of blood began to trickle down, “now things are quite different, are they not, Prynner?”
    Prynner stepped closer to the spot where Zar towered over the man—stretching out his sword that looked as if it might leap forward at any moment to end the man’s life. “Aye, because of your kindness.”
    “I am no more kind than this man is just.”
    “You saved my hide today and for that I am in your debt.” Prynner bowed a bit.
    “You owe me nothing,” said Zar, still gazing down on the Snowguard. “I daresay such wickedness is always compensated, either now or later—though for you it seems to have come just in time.”
    “Aye, it has,” Prynner replied, his tone squeezing every bit of gratitude into each word. “What will you do with him?”
    “Well, he would have decided your fate,” said Zar, turning to Prynner. “Now you will decide his.”
    Prynner fell quiet, looking hard upon the man whose life had suddenly fallen into his hands. The wounded commander began to plead and beg most pitifully, and even threw in mention of gold in his whining. Zar stepped down on the man’s neck to silence him.
    “What is your answer?” said Zar. “My arms grow restless.”
    “I … I do not know. I cannot make such a decision.”
    “Ah, but you can,” Zar replied. “You mustn’t leave the decision to me, for I will most certainly kill him.”
    “Friend, I … I’m not certain—”
    “Well, you must say something if you want him to live,” Zar insisted. “And quickly. Don’t trust me with his life.” Prynner’s face bent with concern, his eyes fixed upon the man that bled into the dirt. He gazed at the man for several moments before looking away, then stood silent with his head down. Zar’s sword moved forward.
    Prynner looked up slowly. “Forgive my delay,” he said in a hushed tone as his eyes focused in on the man on the ground.
    “Forgive me if I worried you,” said Zar with a smile, “it wasn’t my intention. I meant to scare him , not you.” He could see a bit of relief on Prynner’s face as the man realized the guard yet lived, and Zar smiled heartily as he finished cleaning his blade on the