Broken Forest by Eliza Tilton

Author:Eliza Tilton
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781620072516
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Published: 2013-05-01T05:55:38.515000+00:00

The next day, Raven showed me around town, Bruno trailing behind us. His dumb, dopey smile made me smile. Derrick went with Jericho to follow a lead. Apparently, Jericho’s good buddy had overhead another guard talk about Lucino’s betrothed while visiting the “tunnels”—no idea what those were, but I knew Derrick would bug Jericho for a deeper explanation. I wanted to go, but Jericho couldn’t take both of us. Too risky. Derrick argued with me for a good portion of the morning, and I finally gave in.

Back to the market we went. With Derrick, I hadn’t paid attention to any of the vendors or wares. We were too busy scouting. Even with an escort, I felt a little uneasy. I kept thinking a local would notice me. They’d scream OUTSIDER and then I’d have to fight my way out. Luckily, nothing like that happened.

Raven talked about Daath. She was clueless to the rest of the world. She thought Daath more advanced than the primitive lands surrounding it. She described Lucino as god-like both in stature and appearance. I wondered if she knew he could shapeshift into a reptile.

“You ever wonder why people think Lucino is a god?” I watched her face, waiting to see if she knew anything more than she claimed.

“Well, there are stories, but they’re old fables. None of them are true.”

If she only knew. “Tell me one.”

We passed by a vendor selling smoked meat. My stomach growled.

Her eyes darted to the right and left, just like the other day.

“Don’t worry, you can trust me,” I said, nudging her shoulder with mine. “They’re not true anyway, right?”

“He’s been ruling for longer than anyone can remember, and yet, hasn’t aged a day. Some think he wields powerful magic, but I don’t believe it. Daath has powerful herbs. I know because I collect them for coin. I’ve heard the herbalist in town talk about a mandrake that can renew the skin to younger years. I bet Lucino found it.”

She stopped in front of a weapon merchant. A gleaming rapier caught my eye. That is true beauty.

“Excuse me,” I said. I squeezed past her to pick up the blade.

Iron.

It made sense that Daath would have iron weapons. There had to be mines on this side of the mountains. The merchant had a table full of daggers, short swords, throwing knives, spiked maces and even a doubled headed axe. It was a shame Derrick wasn’t here to see the collection.

Placing the blade back on the pile, I searched for Raven.

She’d walked over to a nearby fruit merchant who was talking to a man in an oversized hat. She strolled by, and when the two men began arguing, she flicked her wrist, grabbed an apple and shoved it in her pocket.

That little thief.

She walked by a few more carts before heading back to me. “Find anything you like?” she asked.

“He’s got a nice collection.” I gestured at the weapons merchant.

We started walking again. Once we bended the corner, she took the apple out of her pocket.

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