Age of Valor: Blood Purge by D. E. Morris

Author:D. E. Morris [Morris, D. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-05-23T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

It was past midday by the time the foursome landed in Alybaen. Connor directed them to the lake from which they'd taunted the hunting party, telling them it would be safer there than in Cieria. Unlike the quick journey on the back of a full-blooded dragon, they had to stop on more than one occasion to give Mairead a rest and let her take a break from her draconic form. She was nervous and battling anxiety, which seemed to be making her more prone to the pull of her Gaelic blood and the allure of staying in her shifted state. Of course, she knew the longer she was shifted, the harder it would be to return human and eventually, she could lose her desire to be human all together. Badru kept close account of her after her quiet confession and checked in with her often, making the group take more breaks than Connor thought they required. When he complained, Lilia was the one to try to talk him out of his irritation without any required explanation. She knew Mairead well enough that she didn't need words to understand that something wasn't right.

“We are being watched.” The group walked through the lush woods of the Alybaenian forests, and something had caught Badru's attention.

“By who?” Connor asked. He reached for his sword, but Badru stayed his hand.

“Those that claim rights to this land. We mean them no harm and they will see as much if we just keep walking.” Now that everyone was aware of them, if they looked, they could see people hidden among the trees. Men and women of all shapes and sizes with skin every different shade covered in tattoos watched from a safe distance. The women wore thin pelts of furs and leather across their chests and wrapped around their waists in short, jagged skirts. Barrel-chested men wore enough to protect them from being indecent, but little else, their bodies covered by more ink than clothing.

“They didn't look like that at the games,” Lilia whispered, taking Connor's hand.

“These are their border sentry,” Badru told them. “It would be highly unlikely to send any of them to a summit, let alone a festival, especially one held in another country. I doubt many of them have even been outside of Alybaen, if any at all.”

Mairead glanced to her side as they progressed forward, seeing a man step out from behind a tree up ahead, a spear in his hand. “Do you speak their language, Badru?”

“Unfortunately, I do not. It is not one I have studied. As I said, however, if they see that we do not pose a threat, they will let us pass.”

“Surely they must have seen me shift.”

Hearing the high, tight clip to Mairead's quiet voice, Badru fell into step beside her and nodded. “I am certain they did, but do not forget that the Nagini are a people who have always vowed to protect life rather than destroy it.” He placed a gentle hand of reassurance against her back.

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