Shattered Lives (The Wizard's Legacy Book 1) by H.R. Rekow

Author:H.R. Rekow [Rekow, H.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-11-06T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Legends of Old

Olivia and Theron laughed as Sobriina ended her elvish fable of a foolish Sulphuro slave; even Duke Aldret smiled. Olivia shook her head as she glanced between the smiling faces around her. She took in a breath to tell a story of her own, but stopped. A lump formed in her throat and choked her. With a gag, she grabbed her throat and tried to breathe, coughing until air filled her once more. Her chest heaved as she sucked in more air, her eyes darting to and fro.

Olivia looked down and noticed goose bumps dotted her arms. Her hair stood on end. A dark shadow enveloped the wagon. She blinked and realized everyone else had stopped laughing. She glanced at them, her head tilted to one side. The men sat, their shoulders rigid and hands on their weapons. Mistress Sobriina took a breath and closed her eyes. She let it out in one slow whoosh to calm her nerves. They all felt an eerie chill that not only caused them to shiver, but penetrated their souls and deep within.

“What’s going—?” Olivia’s whisper faded into nothing as she looked out the window, her eyes wide. Her glass heart trembled. The final remains of the rolling green hills passed out of view and a thick woodland consumed her. The whisper of the wind and buzz of insects were cut short until cold silence remained.

They had entered Wraith’s Hollow.

Thick shadows of gnarled trees fell across the travelers. They tangled among one another until they were a new, living being. The trees’ limbs arched over the only road through the wood, Savior’s Way, and their branches wound together until the sky paled. The soft stomp of horses’ hooves and the creak of wagons’ wheels mingled with the chilled air. All was still, as though the forest was holding its breath.

Olivia tried to swallow, but could not. She thought to clear her throat, but would not dare. She feared someone would hear, and turn their yellow glowing eyes upon her from the gloom. She clenched her hands together as she turned out the window. She had never seen such a thick forest! There was scarcely enough room for the trees to breathe, let alone feel the sun’s warmth. That was why everything felt dead, she considered. No warm light was allowed in, as though it were banned from the forest.

Wizard, keep us safe, please! Olivia’s eyes leapt from shadow to shadow; something was watching her, she knew it. Let nothing come to harm us!

“Who is Lord Demus supposed to be, exactly?” Sobriina whispered. Olivia flinched at her words; they were a scream in the unnatural stillness. Olivia’s brow furrowed as she opened her mouth to object to the question, but shut it and looked away. “I am poorly versed with Tulish mythology.”

“Lord Demus. . .” Aldret’s whisper drained into silence as his pale eyes darted from tree to tree. “How is it you are uninformed of his character, being an experienced traveler through this tree line?”

“I sought truth, my lord,” Sobriina retorted.

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