Empire Rising Read Online Free PDF Page B

this in as his horse reached the village well. He remained Empire Rising
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    astride until his men, horses, and pack animals filled most of the square.
    The village’s center had barely enough room for all of them, but they stood patiently, waiting for his order that would give them leave to put down their burdens. Unbidden, Trella’s words came into his mind. “As you won over the hearts of your soldiers, you must win over those whom you seek to rule.”
    Eskkar turned toward Sisuthros, his second in command, standing in front of the men, awaiting his orders. “Sisuthros, rest the men here, until you fi nd places for them to sleep. Keep part of the square clear.” His eyes turned to Grond. “Gather all the villagers and bring them to me. I want to hear what’s happened to them since they returned to Dilgarth. Don’t alarm them, just bring them.”
    His order to rest the soldiers, rather than dismiss them for the night, meant they could put down their burdens and sit on the ground, but little else. Eskkar didn’t want them wandering around, poking into people’s houses, frightening the villagers even further until he knew exactly what new calamity had taken place in Dilgarth.
    He swung down from the horse, handing the halter to one of the camp boys, as Sisuthros began shouting orders. Some of the soldiers left the ranks, taking the horses to the crude corral to water and feed them.
    Sisuthros gave further instructions, and the majority of the soldiers, along with their animals and supplies, wedged themselves around the sides of the square, leaving the center empty.
    Eskkar paced over to the rough stone well in the center of the marketplace and stood there, waiting. His mind tried to sort out what had gone on here. Except on the battlefield, where he trusted his instincts, he no longer made decisions in haste. He had learned to use whatever time he had to think things through. That included understanding what he wanted to accomplish, and what words he would use to obtain his goal. So he stood there, imagining what had befallen the village, using the time to prepare and anticipate what he would do after he heard their story.
    By the time Grond and a few soldiers fi nished searching the huts and rounding up all the inhabitants, Eskkar had his thoughts in hand. Grond escorted the last few stragglers into the market just as Eskkar ended his count. Thirty-six people stood before him. Fourteen were men or older boys fit for manual labor. Many of the women shook with fear as they gazed at the crowd of soldiers surrounding them. Others had the look of hopelessness on their downcast faces. Eskkar noted the signs of repeated 22
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    rape and beatings easily enough. He didn’t see any tears. Days or weeks of weeping had dried their eyes. The women had reached the point where even death might look inviting.
    “Who speaks for the village?” he asked, keeping his voice calm. Silence greeted his words, and he repeated the question.
    “Those who speak for the village are all dead, noble.” The words belonged to an old woman, gray-haired and stooped from laboring in the fields, almost invisible in the center of the crowd. A little girl of three or four seasons clung fearfully to her hand.
    “Are there any village elders, then?”
    “All dead as well, noble.” Her voice sounded weary, without any emotion, but her gaze met his without fear.
    Eskkar scanned the crowd but every face stayed downcast, no one willing to say anything. He felt his patience wearing thin but kept his temper as he walked toward them. They shrank out of his way until he stood in front of the old woman. “And what is your name, elder?” Eskkar kept his voice low and his words polite.
    “I am called Nisaba, noble one. As for these others, they are all afraid to speak to you, lest they be killed by the bandits when they return. They said they would come back as soon as you are gone.”
    “But you’re not afraid, Nisaba?”
    “They have already