Raven Thrall by J Elizabeth Vincent

Author:J Elizabeth Vincent [Vincent, J Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mistweave Press
Published: 2018-02-28T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

THE KING’S DOMAIN

Their journey that day grew increasingly arduous as they aimed toward the highest point on the road. Once they reached Brywann Pass, their progress would be mostly downhill. Shira told Mariah that if they made camp near the pass or just beyond it, they might be able to hit flat land by evening the next day. In three days’ time, they could be in Kannuk. If she could convince Shira to go through Laikos, maybe sooner.

The road up and through the pass was hard-packed dirt with markings from the frequent traffic of horse hooves and wagon wheels. They reached its highest point in the late afternoon. The road there was just wide enough for one wagon to pass as it curved along the ever steepening sides of the mountain.

As the three travelers moved up onto a grassy spot between bleached boulders and watched a wagon pass, Mariah felt a great sense of relief that they were walking and wished again that they could fly, well, at least the two of them. For riders, one wrong pull of the reins, and their horse and wagon would be dragged down hundreds of feet onto the rocky slope below.

Trees littered the mountain face in front of them beyond patches of green grass and clumps of dark red flowers. The peaks of other mountains, higher and covered in snow, were visible to the east and south. The sun moved toward the horizon as the road started to finally slope downward.

The path widened, but the trees narrowed, forming a wide, dark tunnel as the three descended toward the plains below.

After they had traveled about a hundred yards through the gently sloping passage, Mariah spotted a wide, rough trail moving off into the trees to their right.

“We should make camp,” she said and started toward the path.

Shira grabbed her arm and shook her head. “Not there. Let’s keep going. I know a place a little farther on.”

“If we go much farther, we won’t be able to see at all,” Xae put in.

At that moment, around a bend in the road ahead of them, half a dozen figures on horseback came into view. Their black clothing blended into the growing shadows, but the gold of their breastplates and helmets reflected the small beams of yellow and pink light coming in through the trees from the west.

Mariah stopped breathing. Shira pushed her gently forward out of the way of the trail. Xae stood on the other side of the trail as the Varidian soldiers, four men and two women, passed between them.

“Good evening to ya,” Shira said, sounding as if she was greeting guests at the inn.

One of the men pulled up on his horse’s reins, stopping the massive animal. He had dark skin and friendly brown eyes. “You folk should find shelter soon. Night is almost upon us. Of course, you’re welcome to our fire.”

Mariah continued to stare, but the man’s attention was on Shira.

“Oh, you’re most generous, sir, but I’ve traveled this road

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