Ria's Mark (Guardians of The Path book 2) by Nicole Dragonbeck

Author:Nicole Dragonbeck [Dragonbeck, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0000000000000
Published: 2021-10-23T15:04:43+00:00

"Now, I don't recall how long this tunnel is, but just keep going until you reach the end. A trapdoor will take you up and out," Llaem said as he led them through the rooms and passages of his home.

They ended down in the cellar. A small lantern at the door spread a small circle of orange light and then the cellar was swallowed in darkness. They stood close together, and close to the light, as Llaem gave them final instructions.

"Don't call any more attention to yourself than you have to. My contacts in the Cities say things have been going crazy. The sands are a-shifting, as they say."

"What?" Jæyd asked, her voice unusually sharp.

Llaem looked a little surprised. "The sands are a-shifting," he said. "It just means things are changing. It comes from an opus of the Desert People called The Red Desert." He pinched the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes closed. "Let me see if I can remember the whole verse...

"Under the red desert sun, the sands begin a-shifting, the beast from the dark comes up for air, not breathed for a thousand years, the red desert sand falls away, from the fangs and the claws of the beast, now loose in the world, under the red desert moon.

"That's a bad translation and a worse paraphrase. It's much more...what's the word? Chilling! Much more chilling in the original..." Llaem trailed off as he became aware of everyone staring at him. "Not to mention the traditional drum accompaniment gives a flavor words just can't replicate," he added when no one said anything.

"You speak the desert tongue?" Liæna said, her head tilted to one side.

"Of course not," Llaem said. "But I own the translated works of Damian Rok of the Spiders. He's quite a famous playwright, even through Torin and D'Ohera."

"Right," Cedar said, his tone as bemused as his expression. "Now, this tunnel?"

Luca had no idea what was going on, but judging by the pensive expression on Liæna's face, she was very much clued in. He leaned closer to her.

"What does that mean?" he whispered. "Why would the Maker speak the desert tongue? Why would he not?"

"The Desert People were decimated ten thousand years ago. Their culture crumbled and practically disappeared. Only pockets of them still survive, hiding in the desert. Most of them left, fled to the Wild Islands, or got stranded in Isos."

Luca started. "I think I would remember if there were Desert People in Isos," he said. "I got around! I knew every corner and gutter in that city!"

"The Painted People," Liæna said. "I'm sure you've heard of them."

Of course Luca had heard of the Painted People. They were all over Isos, whole districts of the Water City were overrun with them and the white whorls on their cheeks wherefrom they got their name. "You're joking."

"No. They used to use the white paint to reflect the light and heat of the desert sun," Liæna explained in a low voice. "Now the white marks are all that is left.

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