Quest for the Three Books by Dawn Blair

Author:Dawn Blair
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Morning Sky Studios

Chapter 18

Daylight spread yellow and orange colors across the horizon and mist blanketed the forest floor. Steigan, Petor, and Martias walked in a dry riverbed. Steigan's head had passed throbbing some time ago and he thought he knew what an anvil felt like under the pounding of metal being forged. The heat, the hammer coming down, the sweat, the snapping of hot coals... Tap, tap, bang. Tap, tap, bang. If he kept his footsteps in that rhythm, he thought just for a moment that he might make it through this.

Petor gave a sob from behind him.

Tap, tap, bang.

Martias touched Steigan's shoulder. “Dominus Steigan, we should stop for prayers. The shock is wearing off.”

Tap, tap, bang. Did he dare stop now? Oh yes, stop. A break. No, if he broke his pace now he might not get it back. Looking back over his shoulder, he saw Petor falling further behind. “A short rest is probably a good idea.”

“He'll never see another sunrise, or see another beautiful day!” Petor cried out.

Martias put his arm around Petor and guided him toward the riverbank. “Let's give a prayer for the fallen. Come on.”

Steigan glanced around for any immediate danger and, glad that he didn't see any, followed the saperes.

Martias glanced back at Steigan, “Dominus, you should sleep. You're still pale.”

“Prayers,” Steigan said. “Then we should all get some sleep.”

Petor wiped tears off his cheeks. “Dominus Steigan, do you have any idea where we are yet?”

“I believe the riverbed is Ispion Creek. We've been traveling south, southeast pretty steadily through the night. We should come out in Lilinar Valley soon.”

“Thank the Goddess.”

Martias realized he'd been walking for a little while without anyone following him. “Sapere Petor?”

Petor flinched with surprise. “Coming.”

Steigan followed Petor over to where Martias knelt with his legs tucked beneath him and a stick in his hand. Petor knelt down beside the centaur and Steigan stood on the other side of Martias, who started drawing a circle with the twig.

“Every beginning has an end,” Martias said, “and in the ending there is a new beginning. Goddess, we gather this morning to mourn the end of Sapere Korain's life and celebrate the beginning of his walk in a new world.”

Petor held his hands out over the circle. “Goddess, bind the circle around Sapere Korain and keep him safe.”

“For the Goddess in Her love I serve. Together for Her we gather. Praise Her. Mind, body, and soul dedicated to Her service.”

“For the Goddess in Her love I serve.”

“Did Sapere Korain serve the Goddess?” Martias asked.

Petor closed his eyes and nodded. “Sapere Korain did serve the Goddess. He praised Her name every day and worshiped Her with absolute devotion.”

Martias looked back at Steigan, raising his eyebrow as Petor bent over and started to sob in earnest.

Between racking cries that rocked through Petor, he said, “I speak for him so that he may find his way to the Goddess. He held the title of Keeper of the West Tower, which he was extremely proud of and performed with pride.

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