Mage Hunter Omnibus (Complete 5 Book Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

lain. As he eyes began to focus, he could make out a dim room, light filtering through a window in which the shutters had been pulled from the wall. Leaning in front of him was a ragged-looking fellow, a man in wool leggings and a heavy coat of wolf fur. The stranger’s nose was hooked, his face marked with pocks of some long ago illness, yet there seemed to be genuine concern in his eyes.
    Guthrie sensed other figures in the room, and soon enough he could make out two more men, burly fellows in fur wrappings, swords at their waists.
    One of those chuckled. “It would seem he lives, Pindle.”
    The man leaning forward, his face not far from Guthrie’s own, stood straight with his hands on his hips. “It’s a miracle he didn’t freeze to death.”
    Glancing down at himself, Guthrie found he was still garbed and his weapons were on his belt. He was sitting on a ramshackle bed, a covering of some kind of gray pelts now bunched together at his knees, obviously having fallen from him when he had lifted up. He glanced around again and realized he was still in Herkaig, nestled away in one of the stone houses.
    “ Who are you?” Guthrie felt his throat was dry as he croaked out the words.
    The two men with swords chuckled together.
    The fellow in front of the sergeant grinned. “My name is Pindle. These other two are Sagurd and Roranth. I’m guessing you’re a survivor from the stronghold, from the looks of you one of the soldiers.”
    Guthrie shook his head as if to clear away the last of the cobwebs in his thoughts. “No. Yes. I mean, not exactly. I was not there during the attack.”
    Pindle looked to the others, then back to Guthrie. “Then how do you know there was an attack? Were you there afterward?”
    “ It is a rather complicated story.” Guthrie rolled to one side, planting his feet on the floor but remaining seated for the moment. “My thanks for your tending to me.”
    “ We didn’t do anything,” one of the swordsman said, “just found you here. Surprised you’re alive, to be honest.”
    Guthrie ran his gloved fingers through his hair to brush back the dark locks from above his eyes. He felt around behind him and discovered his helmet had been removed from his back, the steel object now resting near the head of the bed. Retrieving the salet helm, he snapped it atop his head and tied its straps beneath his chin. “How long since the keep was attacked?”
    Pindle looked to the others again, confusion clear on his face. “Three days ago. Why?”
    The sergeant cursed.
    “What is it?” a swordsman asked.
    Guthrie pushed himself off the bed until he was standing, swaying on his booted feet before steadying himself. “I’ve been out for at least those three days, maybe longer.”
    “This is a story we’d like to hear,” a swordsman said.
    Now on his feet, Guthrie ignored the last speaker’s prodding for the moment and took in a better look at the three in the chamber with him. The door to the hovel was open and he could spy movement out there, men rushing back and forth. The sound of work came to his ears, men hammering and moving about, talking, orders being yelled. Looking at his new companions again, Guthrie noted they wore not uniforms nor bore official sigils or colors of any kind.
    “Militia?” he asked.
    Pindle nodded. “Yes, sir. We came up from further south after word reached us about the Dartague.”
    “My thanks again, Pindle,” Guthrie said, then nodded to the others, “and to you Sagurd and Roranth.”
    “ What be your name?” one of the two asked.
    “ Guthrie. Guthrie Hackett.”
    “ You wear a soldier’s cloak,” Pindle said.
    Guthrie nodded. “I’m a sergeant with His Holiness’ army.”
    “Then why weren’t you at the stronghold when it was hit?” a swordsman asked.
    “ Sagurd?” Guthrie said to the man.
    “ No, I’m Roranth,” the fellow said.
    Guthrie nodded again. “I was sent with a squad into Dartague before the attack occurred. This village was