Eliesmore and the Green Stone by Angela J. Ford

Author:Angela J. Ford [Ford, Angela J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781545370612
Google: JsmjswEACAAJ
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2017-08-15T23:00:00+00:00

38

Eliesmore

Eliesmore awakened lying face down in a pile of damp moss near a bush. He rolled over, blowing leaves out of his face and wrinkling his nose against the rotting smell they gave off. It seemed to be midmorning, and he could hear the gentle snore of his companions. He sat up, counting them with his eyes. In the distance, he could make out what looked like Idrithar, standing with his back to the Green Company. He was hunched over his staff in a way that it appeared he slept standing up. Yamier and Wekin lay near him, back to back, with their hands tucked under their heads as they snored faintly. Zhane was leaning against a tree. Eliesmore could not tell whether he was asleep or awake. Dathiem and Optimistic were sprawled out behind some bushes. Before he could figure out where his female companions were, his stomach rumbled in dissatisfaction.

Reaching for his pack, he opened it for the first time and peered inside to see what kind of treasures the Mermis had given him. At the top, there was dried meat wrapped in leaves. Eliesmore unfolded one and began to chew; it was salty with hints of hickory. He turned it over on his tongue, unsure how he felt about the taste. A sound made him jump; he looked around. The quiet snores of his companions continued. He took another bite, and then it came again: a hiss and then chattering above him. Eliesmore craned his neck, searching for the source. His eyes spied a booted foot hanging from a tree branch. It moved. Looking up, he caught a glimpse of Glashar’s golden hair. “I just want to talk,” Glashar whispered.

Eliesmore, keeping an eye on her, crawled closer to the tree until he could hear the exchange properly. He wondered who she was talking to. A squirrel? A bird? He couldn’t imagine why she would take the trouble to climb a tree to speak to an animal.

“Go away,” a creature replied to Glashar; its tone was hostile and forceful.

The words were almost visible, sharp as a pointed sword, driving into Glashar. He could see her petite frame perched on a tree branch. Her legs swung free as she held on to a twig with one hand. Although her face was hidden, he could tell she was angry by the way her shoulders hunched forward. “We are only passing through; we will not bother your tribe.”

“You are trespassing on our land. Get out!”

“I will wake my companions, and we will leave. You have my word.”

“No, you will leave now. We detest people. The very sight of you makes our eyes hurt. Go a different route that is not through our land.”

Eliesmore determined the person responding to Glashar was a female, but he could not see her.

“You have my word,” Glashar went on. “I will return to the ground, wake my companions, and we will leave you in peace. Will those terms be agreeable?”

A hush came over the treetops as if the creatures were considering.

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