Into the Wildbarrens (The Gems of Elsana Book 1) by Christian Sterling

Author:Christian Sterling [Sterling, Christian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-16T22:00:00+00:00

DISMAL DELAYS

FALIN and company trudged the mucky terrain for a fifth day, on guard in Suntalla’s unforgiving Marrow Swamps. Their paths were limited, often mere trails of mud straddled by murky water brimming with dangerous wildlife. Vines of oily leaves hung above, the trees making home in the water, with twisted roots covering the earth. Thumb-sized bugs sought to feast on their skin, quickly swatted away in their buzzing approach. The swamp often belched air bubbles, signifying creatures lurking beneath the surface.

They stopped at a patch of dry land bordered by stagnant water, and Bossador said, “May we take a moment’s rest? This air is a struggle to breathe.”

Falin was weary as well. “Yes. Everyone take a moment to sit and eat our rations. What is left of them.”

Bossador sat on a jagged stump bordering the water and removed his boots. He wiggled his blister-covered toes. “I envy Princess Bloom. What a lovely thing it must be to have a dragon fly at your command.”

“I don’t know that Bjorgun would let anyone ride on his back,” Red muttered. He scratched the scruff on his face. “She is special. Bjorgun sees that.”

Melquin struggled to re-braid her hair, as it was abnormally frizzy from the muggy weather. “It seems that more than Bjorgun finds her special.”

Red peered at the sage from underneath his brim. “Nothin’ came of it.”

“Nothing came of it yet,” Nym corrected. “Something tells me you two will cross paths again.”

Carthon chuckled. “When Red happens to make a trip to the Ruins of Darva on a whim.”

Jimbuah clasped his hands to his cheek like a faerie-tale princess and batted his eyelashes. “Oh, Red! Red! ‘Tis an ho-nor! Tra la la!”

Red grinned at his partner’s impersonation of the princess. “You’re a master of mimicry.”

“It would be a wonderful love story,” Bossador thought aloud. “An outlaw Freelander made prince to the princess of a Freeland Kingdom. You didn’t even have to fight a dragon! Just befriend him!”

Amused at the thought, Red cocked an eyebrow and shook his head. “I’m not sure King Pernicus will want me as the next King of Rorkshire, even if Bloom’s runnin’ the show. Not sure she’d want that either, come to think of it.”

“You never know,” Melquin argued in a sing-song tone. “She seemed quite eager to spend time with you in Darva. I’ve never seen a girl so thrilled to skin a cow.”

“King Redrick!” Nym exclaimed. “Ruler of Rorkshire. Enemies cower by the crack of his royal whip!”

Bossador laughed heartily, slapping his knee. “And King Redrick shall cower at the crack of Bloom’s!” They snickered at Red’s expense.

Falin noticed the water bubble behind Bossador. Sensing something large about to break the surface, the wizard yelled, ”Bossador! Look out!”

Bossador leapt barefoot from the stump and raised his sword. A gargantuan snake sprang from the swamp and towered over them, hissing with fangs bared. It stood as high as the trees, with a torso wider than their trunks. It fixated on Bossador and swayed its head seeking an opportunity to strike.

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