These events take place just after the Neslah/Gicha battle in Chapter 20.
Insects and birds mingled their songs together, competing for ownership of the last note before full darkness.
Azrail wiped the sweat from his brow and pushed a thick clump of grass to one side, moving quietly through the gap with Balo in his wake, staying close enough to be his shadow.
The day had been a hot one and it stubbornly held on to its heat even after the sun slipped below the horizon for the night.
The two Neslah had traveled at an aggressive pace for two days with few breaks and little sleep, but they had yet to encounter any group of animals or Kefi that might pose a threat to their supremacy.
Both men were tired, frustrated, and on edge. They were itching for a fight, and they knew Keres would deal harshly with them if they came back with nothing to report.
Azrail slowed and then came to an abrupt stop. Although the light was fading, he could just make out a body of water slightly downhill.
The forced marching left him desperately thirsty, and he couldn’t take it anymore. He turned to face Balo in the rapidly fading light.
“I need water. Come if you want or wait here.”
With that, he turned off the path and slipped silently down to the water’s edge.
Stopping on the very edge of the lake, he thrust his hands and his face in, slurping and sloshing up as much water as he could, heedless of dangers or how much noise he was making.
He was so consumed with quenching his thirst that he did not see the first disturbances in the water on his left side, not far from where he stood.
However, his thirst was quenched a moment later, so he was alert enough to see a rapid series of disturbances and ripples from the right side.
Azrail leaned over the water to get a closer look.
As he did so, a pair of thick green arms shot out, pulling him under the surface so quickly that he had no time to scream or do anything. The water roiled for a moment, then grew still.
At the top of the ridge, Balo stretched, yawned, and sat down on a nearby rock. He produced a wicked black skeen and began using it to clean his fingernails as the last slivers of light faded away.
The frog soldiers surrounded him before he even knew what was happening.
“You shouldn’t be here, Neslah,” A croaking voice said near his right ear. The voice sounded wet, cold, and devoid of feeling.
Balo tensed and got to his feet, but they were on him before he could touch his blade.
“For our brothers!” they screamed in unison.
Balo screamed as frogs swarmed over and around him, each one clutching razor-sharp blades in their forelimbs.
In the throne room of King Gask of the Neslah.
Marth walked into the center court, looking to his left and right and trying to remain both respectful and alert.
Armored guards stood on either side of a massive black throne. It looked as if it was made from an enormous deformed thorn.
He continued to advance until the guards closest to the throne brandished their spears, compelling him to stop and bow.
Marth bowed low as instructed.
“What do you want, Snow?” A flat, harsh voice intoned from the throne.
Gask’s voice briefly robbed Marth of his focus. He hesitated a moment too long.
“ANSWER ME, WORM!!” Gask bellowed, his acid voice bouncing and echoing off the throne room walls.
“I bring news, my king. Your brother is dead.”
Gask’s hands tensed on the arms of his throne, his long nails gashing the surface. He sat silently for a moment, then spoke in a hollow voice that scared Marth more than his screams.
“How did he die, Snow?”
Marth learned his lesson this time.
“He was murdered by a Gicha boy.”
“A boy? Not possible, you are mistaken”
Marth gulped.
“No, sire, I am not mistaken. I was too far away to stop it, but I saw a Gicha boy throw a knife into Keres’ skull.”
“You were there, and you failed to stop the murder of a son of Neslah by a Gicha whelp?”
“My king, it happened so quickly, I had just regained consciousness.”
Marth had responded automatically, and he instantly regretted it.
“I see.” Gask paused for a moment. “That will be all, Marth Snow.”
King Gask rose from his throne, descended from the dais and walked out without giving Marth a second glance.
Marth rose to his feet, trying to see all sides of the throne room at once.
Even so, when the guards attacked, he was caught off guard. Six blades struck as one from all sides, and Marth Snow was no more.
Servants appeared and began to clean up the blood and mess.
In his chambers, Gask turned to his chief advisor.
“Gosef, I need to know who this Gicha boy is; I want him found, and I want him dead. Summon the hunters.”
“Right away, sire.” Gosef bowed and left the throne room.
Warrior frogs 🐸 heck yeah!!
Very compelling!! I can’t wait for more Kefi.