The Shattered Arch by M.H. Woodscourt

Author:M.H. Woodscourt
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Fantasy, General, Fiction
ISBN: 9781959619017
Publisher: True North Press
Published: 2023-05-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Fairy Song

The next morning, Jetekesh rode Hickory along the slushy mountain road near the back of the wagon. Lord Emerin still lay unmoving within, wrapped in a blanket. He hadn’t stirred at all during the night, but Kethalas had assured everyone that the lord was sleeping, nothing else.

Now, as the sun slid toward the tor of the sky, Lord Emerin moaned.

Jetekesh straightened in his saddle. “Stop! Stop the wagon, Harn.”

With a cluck of his tongue, Harn rolled the wagon to a halt. Jetekesh dismounted, flung his reins at his protector, and swung up into the wagon-bed.

Lord Emerin cracked his eyes open as Jetekesh leaned over him.

“How do you feel, my lord?” the prince asked, keeping his tones soft.

The man eyed him for a long moment, as though he didn’t recognize Jetekesh. Then he blinked several times and inhaled a long breath. “Ah.” His eyes took in the wagon interior, then he settled his gaze on the prince. “Your Highness, are you well?”

“Well enough.” Jetekesh smiled. “And you?”

“Well enough,” was the lord’s murmuring echo. “How long was I asleep?”

“Through the night and longer. It’s nearly noon now.”

Lord Emerin pushed upright on one elbow and squinted out at the broad light of day. “So it is. Quite the fire trick Kethalas used, wasn’t it?”

Jetekesh held still. He doesn’t want me to know he summoned the bright flame. Very well, I’ll leave it be for now. “So it was,” he said aloud. “It appeared to rob you of most of your strength.”

The lord grunted, then ran a hand through his blond tresses. “And left me with a ravenous appetite. Nearly noon, hm? Time for a quick respite then, wouldn’t you say, Your Highness?”

“Definitely.” Jetekesh heaved himself out of the wagon and sprinted to Kethalas and Dakarai who were waiting at the head of the column. “He wants food.”

Dakarai chuckled. “What man doesn’t? I will cook.” He swung from his horse and clicked a few words at Anenyasha, who nodded. “It will not take us long.”

“Thank you.” Jetekesh raced back to the wagon and poked his head inside. “Won’t be long before your appetite is sated. Have patience, Lord Emerin.”

The man flexed the hand he’d held the torch with. “I can wait. I’m not wilting away.”

Jetekesh grinned, then let his smile fall. “Quite a blessing, that fire trick. Without it, we’d all likely have died.”

“Possibly,” Emerin replied, not meeting Jetekesh’s eyes. “We’ll need to confirm it, of course, but I doubt the good dragon will be able to conjure up such a trick again any time soon. We must be careful until we reach the lowlands.” Lines etched around his eyes. “And even then…”

Yes, even then. So close to Shing and headed for the Clanslands, what enemies might strike?

We’ll be exposed on the grasslands.

Aloud, Jetekesh said, “We’ll make do. What other choice do we have?”

Lord Emerin shifted to meet his eyes. A smile shaded his lips. “You really have grown, my prince. You give me new hope for Amantier.” He caught Jetekesh’s wrist and brought it up until the prince’s ring flashed in a ray of sunlight.

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