Page 42 of Sword of Rage
They continued on, not stopping until sunset. Harley and Idina helped Gytha erect their tent. Once they finished, the three of them went to get supper.
Harley grabbed a bowl of stew and followed Gytha to a fallen log. She sat down, Gytha and Idina on either side of her.
“How close are we to the castle?” Gytha asked.
“We’re a little more than half way.” They’d be passing by Penlar soon. Harley shoved that thought from her head, not wanting to think about the fate of her parents.
“I don’t know about you,” Idina muttered, “but I’m not hungry.” She pushed the food around in her bowl.
“We’ll have our revenge,” Harley commented. “As soon as Owen reclaims the throne, we’ll go after Russek and make them pay for what they’ve done.”
Idina set her bowl down. “That’s what I’m worried about. Do you think it’s wise for us to attack Russek? Do we even have enough soldiers for such an assault?” She folded her hands together, placing her elbows on her knees. “I see the devastation here. These Russek barbarians kill without mercy, slaughtering innocent women and children. If they fight without rules, if they are this vicious, how can Owen stand against them?” Her lip quivered.
“I think the real question is, how can he not? If he does nothing, he will be condoning this behavior. He has to stand up for what’s right—even if that means going to war.” Her brother’s death would not be in vain. Men who sought power, and greedy people like Lyle, who took what they wanted without asking, couldn’t win. Something she’d heard Ackley say wedged its way in. He’d said war should be avoided and that there were ways to seek revenge without going to war. She rubbed her temples, confusion setting in.
Idina placed her hand on Harley’s forearm. “I’m afraid that because you and Owen lost everything, your judgement may be clouded by anger. Russek left Melenia. Isn’t that enough?”
“How can you even ask that?” Tears welled in her eyes.
“Let me counter your question with one of my own. How can you risk waking a sleeping bear?”
“All bears eventually wake,” Ackley said from behind them, startling Harley. She hadn’t heard anyone approach. “Russek came once. If Owen doesn’t strike back, they’ll come again.”
Idina swung around to face her brother. “How can you say that?”
“As the saying goes, if the hunt is good, the hunter will return.”
Harley couldn’t believe Ackley was siding with her on this.
“There can be diplomatic relations between kingdoms,” Idina pointed out.
“Perhaps.” Ackley shrugged. “Perhaps not. We don’t have enough information to determine that.”
Shaking her head, Idina said, “I’m not in the mood to argue with you tonight. All I wanted to point out is that maybe our focus shouldn’t be on revenge. That’s all.”
“I know war and the taking of another’s life should never be done without considering all options,” Ackley replied.
Idina snorted. “Funny coming from you.”
“Because it’s late, I’m going to ignore that comment. I need a moment of Lady Harley’s time.” He finally looked her way.
Harley nodded and stood, following him away from everyone and deeper into the woods. She was about to insist they not go any farther when he stopped and faced her.
“Owen asked me for a favor.” Ackley shoved his hands in his pockets, looking at the tree beside him and not at Harley.
She waited for him to explain.
“Since some of the larger towns have been spared, he wants to know if his aunt and uncle are alive.”
Harley’s parents. She’d been trying hard not to consider the possibility of them being alive. To think it only to discover them dead would be unbearable.
“I’m going to find out for him.”
Her cousin could send anyone to find out if Penlar had been destroyed. So why did he choose to send Ackley?
“Since I don’t know my way around this kingdom, Owen asked that you accompany me.”
Liar. “You found me in Kreng just fine.”
