"Masquerade Cycle - 03 - Prophecy" - читать интересную книгу автора (McGough Scott)

sound of the wagon wheels crunching and sliding over the
broken roadway. Sergeant Atul signaled a halt, and
Haddad relayed the order down the line.

The chill breeze heralding the dawn cut through the
men. None of the soldiers spoke, though chattering teeth
sounded. Many moved closer to the wagons, holding their
hands against the warm sides of the oxen. Natal edged
closer to the animals, and Haddad shifted to give his
comrade room. The friends were several yards away from
Sergeant Atul as he conferred with the more experienced
soldiers. False dawn began to reveal details of the
landscape.

"I wonder if they know where we are?" Haddad
questioned again. The sergeant's ears were sharper than
anyone had suspected.

"You two quiet down. Check the oxen and wagons
now." Sergeant Atul spoke with no perceptible malice, but
the pair instantly started inspecting the condition of the
draft beasts and the wagons. Haddad and Natal split and
went down opposite sides of the line, checking the cargo
and the beasts. They peered uncertainly into the dim light,
hoping no problems would be found.

The sergeant continued to converse with the other
veteran soldiers. Bad luck and poor communications had
delayed the unit's departure far longer than anyone
planned. Unsure of the road, the technical unit had set out
into the wilderness. The combat troops were far ahead, and
most of the unit wondered if they could find them.

The Kipamu League's punitive strike had left at its best
speed in response to rumors of a Keldon raiding party. The
barbarians were supposedly encamped only miles away,
resting their beasts before returning to their base across the
desolate plain. The Keldons were warriors and slave takers.
They had swept over the world in ages past, though it had

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Vance Moore

been decades since any League city had suffered a serious
attack. Now the Keldons were once again raiding Jamuraa,
and the League was eager to test its strength. Friendly
forces had failed to catch the raiders during the past three