Page 27 - Mad Shadows II

Thims and I watched the centaur turn the corner, still
ranting and raving.

“Friend of yours?” I asked him.
“Yes. He’s another veteran of the Rogue Blades. So is
Doctor Gamahl, by the way,” he said. “The good doctor lost his
leg in battle. As for Jaltz . . . do you know the difference
between instant courage and consistent courage?”
“What warrior doesn’t?” Many veterans of war have
experienced moments of instant courage, say when a comrade is
pinned down and you risk your life trying to save him. But
consistent courage . . . that’s when you keep risking your life to
save as many of your mates as you possibly can.
“Exactly,” said Thims. “Jaltz displayed consistent courage
above and beyond the call during one battle. Nine warriors from
his platoon were wounded and pinned down. One of them was
Doctor Gamahl. Jaltz kept rushing to the front to save them, one
man at a time. He saved those nine men and was wounded
many times before he was finally captured and tortured by the
Jhamurri. They did that to him, took his legs before he was
rescued.”
Being a combat veteran myself, I felt great pity for both
halflings. I gave Thims a thoughtful look. “Five marks says it
was you who rescued the centaur from the Jhamurri.”
Thims blushed. “You win. But I was almost too late in
saving him.” He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, as if
trying to erase a horrible memory. When he opened his eyes, he
gave me the stern look of a sergeant about to give a raw recruit
a dressing down. “Now what the devil do you want in Glacken?
There’s naught there but ruins, shadows and bullfrogs.”
“I have to dig up something.”
“Well, your business is your own.” The good sergeant
shook his head. “Best keep one eye looking over your shoulder,
though. The Khodo brothers were released about an hour ago.
Someone posted their bond.”

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