The Coming Storm by Douglas Valerie

Author:Douglas, Valerie [Douglas, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-04-13T05:00:00+00:00

The trolls and goblins had the advantage, since they had only to follow their trail through the rift. Ailith knew the way but it was a game of memory. Wisely, Colath stayed silent, allowing her to concentrate. Otherwise, he stayed on her tail and kept his bow strung and ready. Each time he saw a glimpse of goblins or trolls and he had a good shot, he took it.

Above them the sun had begun its downward arc but the rift widened and he had hope. The towering cliffs above them opened and spread. He saw the split of the exit ahead and glanced behind. A mass of trolls and goblins pursued them now in earnest.

He looked ahead.

There was something about this. Suddenly, it clicked. He’d simply never viewed this place from this direction.

“I know this place. Lothliann isn’t far.” Colath looked at her. “Our Hunters and the Woodsmen will come. Some of our people might as well.”

“To help Men?” Ailith asked.

“For Elon’s sake and Jalila’s and because I ask it. Some may come to fight goblins and trolls. Those creatures are known for treating our people less kindly even than men, those rare times when they’ve been able catch us. Lothliann has had much trouble with such, so close to the border.”

Exhaustion barely covered describing how Ailith felt, she quivered inside, her muscles twitched randomly. She glanced behind her. It seemed as if the goblins and trolls exploded out of the mouth of the Rift.

“Go then. I’ll lead them away.”

He gave her a look.

“You don’t want to lead them to Lothliann but if they follow me to the garrison it will go far toward substantiating my demand for help.”

Another glance behind him. “No more arrows, Ailith?”

She smiled. “Not if I can help it. Go. Elon and Raven’s Nest need all the help we can bring.”

Leaning into Chai, he urged her to more speed.

Ailith cast about for the garrison, the stars in her head a guide. A large number of people in a small location. She hadn’t been there before, there’d been no need. They used to run the Rift for the challenge, she, Aranoc, Evin and one of the cousins, when she was younger and Aranoc a Guard officer, before the relationship between their Kingdoms had cooled. Behind her the goblins let out a blood-curdling cry. There, one set of stars grouped outside another. A town, with the garrison outside it.

Now the goblins were in full cry. Smoke needed no urging, stretching out with open fields before him. It would seem they were following Colath for a short time until he disappeared behind the trees ahead. She they could see. With luck, they would follow only her.

She pulled her bow just in case, held an arrow loosely in place, uncertain whether she could keep her hands steady enough for a good shot.

A rolling hill, at the crest of it was the garrison, a small walled fort.

Smoke seemed to know where they needed to go, he never broke stride just turned in that direction.

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