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Nomad Mortis – Snippet 3

Nomad Mortis: Terry Henry Walton Chronicles Book 8

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Nomad Mortis – SNIPPET 03

Terry Henry Walton Chronicles Book 8

by Craig Martelle and Michael Anderle

   Cory jumped back in. “So it’s settled. Joseph and I will talk with the next Forsaken before you whip out your blade,” she said accusingly. Terry was instantly angry. Cory hadn’t seen what he’d gone through at Kirkus’s hands, what the Forsaken had done to the survivors of Cheyenne Mountain.

     Terry’s daughter was a pure heart, a pure soul. He couldn’t stay angry with her for long.

     Joseph played with the blade at his side. Akio had originally intended to give the Mameluke, a Marine officer’s sword to Terry Henry, but decided to give it to Joseph after the Forsaken’s actions within Mammoth Cave. Terry was okay with that as he preferred the shorter cavalry blade. It didn’t catch on as much of his other gear as a longer blade would, even though there was a certain attraction to carrying a Marine’s sword.

     Joseph caught Terry looking at it. He slid the sword free of its stainless steel scabbard and handed it, pommel-first to the colonel.

     Terry took it, turning it over in his hands. He looked down its edge, appreciating the coloring that only Damascus blades had. He checked the edge with a thumb. Joseph was keeping it well-honed. Terry smiled appreciatively. It was engraved. “United States Marine Corps” with filigree etched lightly in the surface.

     “Take care of that. It’s one of the best that the world has to offer,” Terry stated.

     “Trade you? I’m not a big sword guy,” Joseph offered.

     “But mine fits better with my gear,” Terry replied.

     “Wear it across your back and be done with it. You know you want it.” Joseph started undoing the scabbard. He replaced the sword and held it out to Terry while pointing at the cavalry sword.

     “Are you ever going to fight someone using your sword?” Terry asked.

     “You know me. What do you think?” Joseph quipped. No, Joseph was never going to start a sword fight.

     “Since you’re not going to use it,” Terry replied, quickly undoing his belt and removing the shorter sword. He handed it over and took the Mameluke almost reverently.

     Akio had been right when he thought that Terry would fall in love with the sword. Terry carried it in his left hand, grip forward for a quick and easy pull. He shook Joseph’s hand.

     Cory put her fists on her hips and glared. When Terry finally noticed her, he knew he was in trouble.

     “What?” It wasn’t really a question. Thirty years with Cory’s mother, and he knew the stance well. “I’m sorry, Cory. I didn’t mean it, and I won’t do it again. Honestly!”

     “Didn’t mean what?” she asked through pursed lips. His preemptive generic apology had fallen flat. He shook his head and held up one hand in surrender.

     “You hijacked my conversation with your drinking buddy!” She declared, stomping one foot and crossing her arms.

     “I thought we were done. You and Joseph tell the Forsaken that they should trust me before I kill them.”

     “Is that all you heard? You are impossible!” Cory stormed away.

     “That’s what I heard,” Joseph whispered.

     “I heard that!” Cory yelled over her shoulder.

To discover more about Craig Martelle and his life in the 49th state: http://www.craigmartelle.com

About the author

Craig Martelle

Visit Craig's web page, craigmartelle.com for the latest posts and updates or find him on Facebook, Author Craig Martelle. Send an email to craig@craigmartelle.com to join his mailing list for the latest on new releases, information on old releases, and anything related to his books.

Enough 3rd person - this is me writing to you, the incredible readers who have stumbled upon my stuff and then liked it. The great reviews, the emails, the notes, the Facebook comments - all of it keeps me writing because you are so supportive.

I grew up in Iowa, joined the Marine Corps and got to see the best and the worst that the world had to offer. No matter where I went, I always had a book with me. Thanks to 21st Century technology, I now have hundreds of books loaded on my phone and computer at any point in time. This breakthrough allows us to binge read our favorites. How many books would I have read on deployments and at home had I not had to have a physical book with me. I paced myself so I wouldn't finish it too quickly.

We aren't encumbered like that now. I love the works of Andre Norton, Anne McCaffrey, JRR Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, and so many more. I have been compared to Andre Norton and that is humbling - she was an incredible author with a huge list of novels to her credit. With every new book, I aspire to live up to the comparisons to make you, my readers happy that you've picked up my latest book.

Through a bizarre series of events, I ended up in Fairbanks, Alaska. I never expected to retire to a place where golf courses are only open for four months out of the year. But that's the way it is. It is off the beaten path. My wife and I get to watch the northern lights from their driveway. Our dog has lots of room to run. And temperatures reach fifty below zero. We have from three and a half hours of daylight in the winter to twenty-four hours in the summer.

It’s all part of the give and take of life. If we didn’t have those extremes, then everyone would live in the sub-arctic.