Seven Stones: Part Eighty-Five
Previously on Seven Stones: After resting for several days and studying papers recovered from various conspirators, Haelen discovers the maps don’t agree, leaving two possible locations for the final disruption. Anserth realises one of them is in a region reputedly sealed by the Maker to contain a great evil. With no way to determine which location is correct, Kobb convinces the others they have to risk it. The Stone disgorges them beneath the blazing sun, their arrival point surrounded by ranks of armed figures.
Kobb shielded his eyes with his hand. The ring of warriors stood at least five ranks deep. A wall of pale stone peeped between the heads of the back rank. If it were sword-against-sword, then the four of them might cut a wide-enough path to get out; breaking that density of pikes, though, needed relentless — and costly — assaults. Sighing, he eased both arms away from his body, palms well clear of his weapons. “Easy, everyone. No reason to see enemies in every stranger.”
“And he shall bear the wisdom of restraint!” A deep voice boomed across the ring of warriors. As one, the ranks split, revealing a tall man in a vastly ornate purple toga. He bowed slightly toward Kobb, then straightened and strode down the channel. “The Speaker of the Virtues greets the Killer of Innocence, the Misplaced Father, the Divided Slave…
