Legend of the Stone Keepers by J L Trepanier

Author:J L Trepanier [Trepanier, J L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781728770697
Published: 2018-12-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen: A Warm Welcome

“Captain Elaro?” A hand gently shook his

shoulder.

Elaro opened his eyes, and the daylight rushed in and blinded him. He quickly turned over and felt Cirra kneel beside him.

“Breakfast is ready. Atlas and I found some apple trees growing by the river, so we made apple porridge. Come eat with us.”

Elaro sat up, rubbed his eyes, and looked around. Everyone was awake. Satchels were packed. It was late into the morning. How had he slept past sunrise?

“Why did no one wake me earlier?” Elaro asked. “I would have helped you guys with breakfast.”

“We thought we’d let you sleep in a little bit and take care of the morning chores ourselves,” Ronin said.

“As a way to say thanks for everything you’ve done for us,” Garenth said.

“Besides, you will need your mind sharp for our meeting today,” Atlas added.

“Does that mean Plutollo’s—”

“Aye.” A burly voice came from across the campsite. Plutollo stood tall and tapped his once-broken leg on the ground. “Strong as a horse. I gotta say, Cirra, I didn’t know why they were sendin’ a little girl along as our medic, but I get it now. I owe yeh one. How’d yeh like a job in the northern fleet when yeh graduate?”

Cirra blushed. “Really? You can do that?”

Plutollo grinned. “I’m second in command to General Kato. All I gotta do is get him to put a word in with Commander Naori. Promise me you’ll keep up with yer studies, and I’ll make it happen.”

Plutollo extended a hand to Cirra, and she shook it.

“Aye,” she said.

Elaro didn’t have much of an appetite during breakfast. The porridge was delicious but difficult to get down. Everyone else was alert and a little extra cheerful this morning. They took extra time to enjoy their breakfast. Although Elaro thought he should hurry everyone along so they could start their travels, he didn’t bother. They were already a day late getting to Valeria; another hour wouldn’t matter.

Plutollo told a fantastic tale of his fleet running a gang of pirates out of the ancient city of Thalos when he was a young soldier. Kindle and Atlas shared rumors of a special project they would be assigned through the magery when they got home. Garenth told a story from when he and Ronin were children, one that Ronin was less than enthusiastic about sharing.

“Mother told us over and over not to go out in the backyard until father got home to take care of the quillipine nest, but this one”—he pointed a thumb in Ronin’s direction—“decided, at seven years-old, that he would become the great slayer of quillipines.”

“You know, this isn’t really that exciting of a story,” Ronin grumbled.

“No, please Garenth, continue. These stories are my favorite,” Kindle cut in with a wicked smile.

“So he waits until Mother is doing the washing, and he charges out into the backyard with a pot lid and a tree branch.” Garenth’s eyes were beginning to tear up with laughter.

“Oh, Ronin, no,” Cirra said as she covered her mouth to stifle the giggles.

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