Scales and Stingers by K. M. Warfield

Author:K. M. Warfield
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781956183733
Publisher: Creative James Media

Chapter

Nineteen

The misty rain fell through the trees. The leaves, while mostly green, were beginning to turn. Every now and then, a larger drop would form, and Thia would feel it hit the top of her head. The hood of her coat kept her dry.

She tilted her neck, trying to work out the kinks. They’d left Almair days ago, and her body missed the bed back at The Green Frog. This is what I need to do, where I need to be. Jinaari was right. It’s time we brought the fight to Lolc Aon. He’s arrogant, but he’s also my best chance at having any sort of normal life.

Her hands were encased in soft leather, supple enough for her to manipulate the magic but kept them warm and dry. The old cloak was replaced by a hooded coat made of dark gray wool. No more trying to keep folds of fabric around her, struggling to find the opening at the end of wide sleeves. This fit snugly against her body, even with the new chain shirt underneath her tunic.

And then there was her pack. She had no idea where it came from, or how it worked, but she’d been able to stuff everything Caelynn bought for her, including two pair of boots, and it wasn’t full. There was no weight to it, either.

“We’re almost there,” Jinaari told them. “Stay close. This entrance isn’t normally guarded but it wouldn’t surprise me.”

Thia swallowed, trying to keep the fear down. He’d said he knew a different route that led down to Byd Cudd, and she believed him. The plan was built on the idea that they’d get into the mountain and down to the city, without being found. Get in, take care of Lolc Aon, maybe Herasta, and get out. The whole time, making sure that she wasn’t taken prisoner.

Don’t go there, she thought. It doesn’t do me or anyone else any good to dwell on the ‘what if’ possibilities. Trust Jinaari and Adam. One’s going to keep them from getting close enough, the other will get me out if they do.

Jinaari’s hand flew up, and she stopped. “Wait here,” he said. As he walked forward, his back to the rocky cliff to her left, she noticed the others edging closer to her. Surrounding her. Her heart began to race. A series of whistled notes echoed in the forest, and she relaxed.

“Come forward,” Jinaari called out. “They’re friendly. Or so he says.”

The tone of his voice was enough to warn her. Whoever he’d found wasn’t going to be someone she wanted to see. Adam looked past her, nodding once to Caelynn. The elf silently retreated, blending into the surrounding trees. Thia quickly lost sight of her.

“Just in case,” Adam said, his voice low.

Pan walked next to her. “Just in case what?”

Adam scowled at the young man. “Just in case whoever Jinaari found isn’t as friendly as they say they are.”

“Oh.”

They rounded the bend and saw Jinaari standing in front of a crack in the rock, barely wide enough for him to pass through.

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