STRANDED: Tales of Telenia, Book 1 by Lorraine Bartlett

Author:Lorraine Bartlett [Bartlett, Lorraine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781940801353
Publisher: Polaris Press

* * *

Brannan set out more traps in the yard, and visited a nearby farmer, who was only too happy to have him set traps for the critters decimating his own vegetable garden. Amanda had covered the sarpal’s cage with a blanket to block out the worst of the sunlight, and by the end of the day the sarpal had happily consumed six of the furry little animals known as barzols. They looked a bit like opossums, but were smaller in size with pale yellow fur and shorter snouts and tails. Their panicked squeals at being fed to the sarpal were heartbreaking to hear, and Wren had spent most of the afternoon in front of her spinning wheel with tears streaming down her face. Amanda still held the blaster aimed at the sarpal, just in case the creature went back on its word and decided to attack one of them.

Even after darkness had fallen, Wren pressed on for several more hours, determined to capture as much silk as she could, lest the sarpal change its cooperative ways. By the time they quit for the night, Wren had bags and bags of yarn, and was ready to set up her loom once again.

“No,” Brannan said with all the authority of Telenia’s Captain of the Guard.

“But—?”

“Tomorrow will be soon enough. We must all rest. And eat. Amanda, what do we have left from the Prince’s hamper?”

“Some vegetables and another cake.”

“That will have to be enough,” Brannan said tiredly, and the three of them trudged into the kitchen. This time, Brannan bade the women to sit while he assembled the makeshift meal. “I need to return to the palace early tomorrow morning. I have neglected my duties by being here for the past two days.”

Amanda and Wren shot each other concerned glances.

“Wren, do you think you can make enough cloth for one vest in the next day?” Brannan asked, passing her plates and cutlery.

“I will do my best.”

“Good. I will leave at dawn and return in the evening to check on your progress.”

Wren nodded.

Amanda frowned. Wren would be at the loom all day, which meant it was she who’d have to take over emptying the traps and feeding the sarpal. Well, if that’s what it took, she’d have to find the intestinal fortitude to do the task.

“Do you have any objections, Amanda?”

Amanda studied Brannan’s weary features. “No, we can manage.”

Brannan nodded and went back to setting the food out on the plates. It was then Amanda realized she’d lost her appetite.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.