The Grave Robber's Apprentice by Allan Stratton

Author:Allan Stratton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins

ACT III

Peter the Hermit

Chapter 25

The Frozen Tomb

True to his word, Tomas Bundt got Hans and Angela to the hermit’s mountain by sunrise. The snow-capped peak towered without end, the hermitage appearing no bigger than a speck of pepper on a pillowcase.

Hans and Angela shared a hearty breakfast with the outlaws: dried sausage and drier bread, washed down with river water fed from the mountain’s springs. Siegfried bounded up with a stick, laid it at Hans’ feet, and wagged his tail. Hans grinned and tossed it. The beast fetched and bounded back.

“You’ve found a new friend,” Tomas smiled.

Hans scratched the great wolf’s ears. “Angela and I have to go now, Siegfried. We have a good day’s climb if we’re to reach the hermitage by nightfall.” Siegfried raised a paw as if to shake good-bye.

The outlaws gathered round. Tomas presented Hans with a pair of boots. “You’ll need these to keep your feet from freezing on the upper slope. I stole them from a cruel magistrate to make him walk in the steps of the barefoot poor.”

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Hans said. “These are the first boots I’ve ever had. The first shoes, even.”

“May they keep your feet as warm as your heart,” Tomas said.

Angela shook his hand. “Fair thee well, Tomas Bundt, Esquire, Poet and Wolf King Extraordinaire.” She removed the three remaining jewels from her treasure bag. “Take these for your help and kindness. They’re all that I have, though less than you deserve.”

Tomas was overwhelmed. “In truth, I deserve nothing. Despite my airs, I’m neither Wolf King nor Poet, but a storybook of lies.”

Angela shook her head. “Truth is made of such stories. Without your Wolf King, we’d have perished at the Necromancer’s hands. Yet here we stand, alive and well. What truer tale is there than that?”

“Thank you,” Tomas said. His Adam’s apple bobbled up his throat.

“I, too, would like to show my thanks,” said Hans, “but I have nothing with which to repay you.”

Tomas looked into the bright eyes of the young apprentice. “Remember me,” Tomas said. “There is no greater gift than that.”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.