Rise and Fall Read Online Free PDF

clan tonight?”
    The response was not what Durahn expected and it took him a moment to collect himself. “Any Kifzo who dies by the hand of a weak fisherman is better off dead to me,” he said at last, satisfied with himself.
    Disgusted, Kaz spat to the side. “And yet you desire to lead in my place, don’t you? Let’s hope your brethren show more regard for your life than you do for theirs.” Not allowing Durahn to respond, Kaz turned his back on the large man, showing his contempt. He looked at Tobin. “ Brother , take Walor with you and do not return until you discover what was missed.”
    * * *
    They made their way toward the settlement, meandering between several rock-covered hills. Tobin surveyed the terrain upon their approach, searching for the ideal vantage point. His eyes swung to the left where a rock formation protruded from the top of the nearest rise. Tobin gestured toward the stone configuration, and the two men climbed to the selected spot. Walor was the first to crest the hill. Tobin trailed several steps behind, his ankle slowing him.
    Several hours past dusk, the two men finally settled. The location allowed for an unobstructed view of the village. Tobin took a moment to confirm the scout’s information before looking more closely at his surroundings.
    Just as reported, the town consisted of five clusters of huts. In the center of each tight cluster sat a shared fire pit. The five groups surrounded a small oasis which included several date trees and other simple vegetation.
    Tobin turned his attention back to the fire pits. Tobin saw what he dreaded, what he hoped to avoid. Entire families sat around doing what looked to be nothing more than trying to stay warm on the cool night.
    He turned his attention to an animal pen outside the clusters, to the left. The pen consisted of several small sections, each one housing a different breed of animal. Goats and llamas dominated the population, but for the first time since arriving along the coast, Tobin also saw half a dozen camels, and almost double that number of horses.
    A perk of having fresh water nearby.
    A glint caught his eye. Tobin leaned in to Walor and whispered, “I need to get closer.”
    “There isn’t enough cover to get any closer.”
    Tobin inclined his head to the right toward the village. “There. That boulder should be fine.”
    “That’s over fifty yards away and I’d hardly call that a boulder. I’ve skipped rocks bigger than that.”
    “From this angle there isn’t anything else between here and the village I can use.”
    “What are you hoping to get a better look at?”
    “Call it a hunch.”
    “A hunch, huh?” Walor paused. “Well, I’m faster and smaller. Tell me what your hunch is and I’ll go.”
    “No. I can see better at night. It might not be anything, but I need to be certain. Besides, standing that close to the flames, the villagers aren’t likely to see me anyway.”
    Not waiting for Walor to argue, Tobin set off down the opposite side of the hill, staying low to the ground. He paused once near the bottom then darted to the cover he had pointed out, ducking behind the boulder. Grimacing, Tobin took his time to position himself before peering out.
    I hate to admit it, but Walor was right about the stone’s size.
    Tobin stared into the night, eyes flickering between the huts and animal pens, confirming his suspicions. Rather than returning to Walor immediately, he lay motionless for another half hour until the last fire died out and the villagers returned to their huts for the night.
    Finally satisfied, Tobin made his way back to Walor, careful not to pry loose any gravel. He rested a hand on Walor’s shoulder at the top of the rise, signaling it was time to leave.
    When they rejoined their fellow Kifzo, Kaz stood waiting, arms crossed. Tobin noted the restlessness in the others as he approached.
    “We expected you back some time ago. I trust you have some news, Brother ?”
    “Yes. They know we’re