Sorceress (Book 2) by Jim Bernheimer

Author:Jim Bernheimer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Gryphonwood Press
Published: 2014-01-13T00:00:00+00:00

Over the next two weeks, Majherri was again reminded of how insular humans were. By the fifth day of riding, they were able to take to the main roads without fear of being questioned. By the tenth, they stopped and resupplied in a village. The two inns had just enough rooms for the men to spend a night indoors. For the unicorn, it meant a night inside a leaking barn, locked in a stall alongside primitive creatures.

“Oh, you’ve come from the west? I heard there was trouble out there. Is there anything to that?”

“I think I saw two columns of infantry marching toward Halus. There must be some parade or festival going on. Wish I could go. Instead, I’m stuck here fixing shoes on horses.”

“Sorry, I’ve had to raise the price of my goods. The trading houses in Halus are getting nervous and stockpiling. Can’t really complain though…they’re paying top coin! Personal bodyguards to the lady there, eh? She must be something special.”

Maybe it was the utter contempt Danella radiated bleeding through their bond, but the unicorn found himself wishing these fools would get what was coming to them. Humans were so self-centered and most could barely see beyond where their towns ended. In contrast, unicorns tried to be very in tune with their surroundings.

All the signs are there, but they delude themselves. They will keep finding ways to deny it until they see the smoke on the horizon.

The false story they told would need to change soon. Talcosa would be to the south soon and they would then become a group of riders taking a noblewoman to inspect the lands she had been gifted by her family at the edges of the Northlands. Eventually, the humans would need to acquire cold weather clothing. At the moment, it would look too suspicious to buy more than a few heavy blankets.

Having seen their destination many seasons ago, Majherri guessed that few people would want the land where they were headed. It was a destination almost as undesirable as the desert. The forests were thick pines and the growing season was almost nonexistent.

In the morning, he waited his turn outside the blacksmith’s shop. Thinking back to his limited progress in using his own magic, Majherri took some pride in his accomplishments. It hadn’t been easy. Trying to channel his magic was painful and he was sore everywhere. He could do almost a minute of heatsight, and set his horn and hooves alight. The fireburst that killed the snake proved to be elusive, but he remained hopeful that it might be usable in a fight. Danella allowed him to practice each evening, challenged him, and even gave encouragement.

“I lost you once,” she said. “That will not happen again.”

Strangely enough, it was a way in which they could bond and feel almost like they were truly a team again.

It was a lie, of course, but one that he was able to partake in his own form of delusions. Every time Danella climbed into the saddle, he could feel the madness bubbling below the surface.

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