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Back Copper Chain Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Dedication
  4. CONTENTS
  5. MAP
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. 50
  56. 51
  57. 52
  58. 53
  59. 54
  60. 55
  61. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  62. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kargan gave a short laugh. ‘He may have the support of the desert men, and he may have a hundred and fifty warriors. By Helios, he may be able to summon sandstorms at his command, but I doubt he’ll stand against our counterattack.’

When he saw the general’s frown, Kargan waved a hand. ‘Now, Dhuma. Who is he really? Where does he come from? Is he from the south, from lands we are unaware of?’

‘That is my best theory.’

Kargan glanced at the map again. ‘Until this defeat, we finally had the empire united.’ He turned back to the general. ‘We can’t lose battles, not ever, or it inspires others to rise up against us. If you’d needed a larger garrison, you should have sent for support. You also should have had your ear to the ground and taken the measure of your enemy.’

‘Yes, Great King. I accept full responsibility.’

‘Now, let’s say for a moment that you were still alive, still a general, and were tasked with recapturing Malakai. What strategy would you recommend?’

Dhuma blanched and spoke quickly, releasing the words in a rush. ‘A swift assault with a large force, Great King. I would take four divisions from the capital to the Shadrian Passage. Cross them over to Verai on barges. Pick up some more men in Shadria. Then head directly for Malakai.’

The general finished, waiting expectantly for Kargan’s response.

Kargan looked at Javid, who gave him a slight nod. Dhuma’s strategy was exactly what Kargan had already determined he would do. He came to a decision.

‘Then, Captain Dhuma’—Kargan saw him wince at the change in rank—‘that is the plan you will be recommending to your new general. Lead the army to Malakai, take back my city, and then stick this Palemon’s head up on the walls. Dhuma, if you and your commander succeed, you’ll be a general again. If not . . .’ He trailed off with a meaningful look.

‘I live to serve,’ Dhuma said, keeping his face blank.

‘Now go. Get some rest. You have work to do.’

Kargan waited until Dhuma had left and then let out a breath as he turned to Javid. ‘Right now they’ll be plundering my coffers, killing my representatives, and rounding up the Ileans in the city and butchering them.’

‘What of these reports of a mysterious wind?’

Kargan snorted. ‘Despite what the priests say, I tend to believe what I see with my own eyes.’

Javid came forward. ‘These strangers. They defeated a far larger force. Dhuma’s description of their arms may be an exaggeration, or it may not be. Their origin is unclear. There could be worse to come.’

‘That’s what I’m worried about,’ Kargan muttered. ‘This may only be the beginning.’

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