Sora's Quest by Shreffler T. L

Author:Shreffler, T. L. [Shreffler, T. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, General, Epic
ISBN: 9780985166335
Google: CsU_lAEACAAJ
Goodreads: 13606393
Publisher: Runaway Pen
Published: 2012-04-18T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

Volcrian looked up at the sound of bodies crashing through the underbrush. Bold and confident footsteps, perhaps a party of three, careless about whether they were being overheard.

But why should they care? They were deep in the forest and evening was closing in. The woods were damp and slick with rain, glittering in the fragile twilight. In a sense, it was exactly what he had been waiting for.

The spell using Dorian's blood was almost a complete failure, but at least he knew that the three travelers had entered the swamp. And that following them would have been a waste of time. His power over the Wolfy was dismally weak. He had been able to slip into Dorian's thoughts during a moment of distraction and panic, but he couldn't keep his hold and had caused only a slight hesitation in Dorian's actions, nothing more.

He would need a new plan. Something stronger. Some sort of magic that could resist the Cat's Eye. Perhaps something that wasn't entirely magic at all.

There was only one spell like that he could think of. But it was a dark spell, black-blooded. Forbidden magic, or so his great-grandfather's journal said. But what other choice did he have? He faced an entire journey across the mountains, a year before he could catch his prey on the other side, if they didn't make it to the coast before he did. No, he would need something to track and catch them—something more powerful than fox-corpses or sleight-of-hand.

Which is why the footsteps in the underbrush attracted his attention.

Next, he heard people speaking.

"Twelve men, gone. Swept up by the river when the bridge broke. It's a shame. Too many rookies; they should've been better trained."

"They needed a Captain," a deeper voice grunted. "They had no one to give them orders. It was a mistake."

"Is that what the King's army has come to? Mindless imbeciles waiting for orders?" the first voice demanded.

"Well, that's how we train them."

There was a pause. The voices sounded familiar. Volcrian remembered the brief conversation in the guardhouse between Lord Seabourne and his commanding officers.

"What are we going to say in our report? That we abandoned our men to the swamp?" the first voice asked.

There was a brief, derisive snort. "Well, Lord Seabourne recommended that a few men die in the chase. He must be expecting this."

"Perhaps. But still it's our jobs on the line."

Volcrian slipped behind the three men, leaving his horse tethered to the bushes. It was easy to approach them, since they were making enough noise to drown out the crickets and evening owls. He followed the three captains a short distance until they came to a halt, bickering in the woods.

"Since you're the senior officer, you should file the report," one was saying.

"We should all file separate reports, as regulations dictate," the older one growled.

"Then we need to decide on a story!"

"Honesty, lads," the third man broke in. "Honesty is always best when dealing with the Crown."

"Says the Captain with the lowest salary," the first muttered.

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