Shadeborn: A Book of Underrealm by Garrett Robinson

Author:Garrett Robinson [Robinson, Garrett]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Children's Books, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy & Magic, Fantasy, Epic, Children's eBooks, Science Fiction; Fantasy & Scary Stories, Sword & Sorcery
Amazon: B015BMLXAM
Publisher: Living Art Books
Published: 2015-11-27T00:00:00+00:00

nineteen

They finally stopped to see the glowing fires of a town far ahead. Loren guessed they could reach that horizon with a few more hours’ ride.

“Let us stop here, and reach the town tomorrow,” she said.

“We could ride after the moons rise and get there tonight,” suggested Xain.

“And then what? We could not find a ship at night. And if the Shades have come this way they might have gone to the town and then could hear of our presence before we managed to leave.”

He nodded, saying nothing more, and they found a spot near the shore to camp. Loren would not let them start a fire, for finding the Shade that day had made their pursuers seem altogether too near.

She took first watch and sat it atop a dune overlooking the water. Staring down, she could see the forms of her friends sleeping in the silver moonslight reflected off the water. One of the shapes moved then rose and climbed the dune toward her. Her heart sank, seeing Chet. She did not wish to face him now. But as he neared, she scooted to let him sit on the sandy slope beside her.

He sat silently at first, and she avoided his eyes. Instead, Loren relished the cool breeze wafting in off the water, for the summer was much hotter here in the north. But she held no illusion that preferred their silence. She could see it in the nervous twitching of his hands, the way he often turned his head toward her then away when she was not looking.

At last she found herself growing impatient. “Out with it, Chet.”

He folded his hands over each other. “That man today. The one that Xain killed.”

“Yes. I was there.”

“I do not blame you. Neither of us could have stopped it. But I did not expect you to speak against me.”

“Did I speak against you? With the deed done, there was nothing to be said. We had to carry on.”

“You did not only urge haste, Loren. You said the wizard had no choice. Those were never words I thought to hear from you. What he did was wrong. The man was our prisoner, and was half-dead from lack of food and water besides. He was no threat.”

Loren stayed silent. In truth, she did not know how to answer.

Chet turned toward her, edging closer.

“I know you agree with me. Yet you spoke in Xain’s defense. You cannot tell me you have grown as bloodthirsty as the rest of them.”

“It is no thirst for violence. It is wisdom. We cannot leave enemies all about us, aware of our plans and intent on our harm. I have done that ever since leaving the forest, and it has brought only tragedy to my friends. And myself.”

“You would never have said that in the Birchwood.”

She looked at her hands, fidgeting in her lap, fingers twisting about her thumbs. “Perhaps not. I used to think as you do. Always I would chastise the others when I saw them as violent, when they would kill or urge me to take a life.

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