The Story Raider by Lindsay A. Franklin

Author:Lindsay A. Franklin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy
ISBN: 9781683702047
Publisher: Enclave Publishing
Published: 2019-04-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

TANWEN

I had no idea what the Pakan village mother was saying. I just knew it would be unwise to interfere with her. She reminded me of Karlith, but fiercer. The two of them together, guarding Gryfelle’s limp body, were more frightening than the hundred Haribian warriors had been.

Zel and I sat on a flat rock with one young warrior. He didn’t speak a word of Tirian, and of course Zel and I couldn’t understand anything he said, but he showed off the designs on his skin with a big grin and obvious pride.

“Tattoos,” Dylun said as he glanced over top of his map.

“What?”

“Those are white tattoos.”

“What’s a tattoo?”

That flicker of annoyance crossed Dylun’s face—the one that always showed up when the rest of the world proved itself less educated than he. “Permanent art markings on skin. Common practice in much of the world.” Then he wandered away from the other men, eyes on his map.

I looked closer at the designs. “Beautiful, of course. But . . .”

The young warrior said something to the Haribian men standing nearby, then laughed.

“He says they would not show on you,” Askari translated.

I looked down at my pale skin and grinned at the warrior. “True enough.”

“I am sorry you will not see our great cities,” Askari said suddenly.

My eyebrows rose. “Great cities?”

“Haki. We have great cities in Haribi.”

“I believe you.” I frowned. He seemed defensive. Like I had attacked him.

“Tirians believe we are uncivilized,” he explained, even though I hadn’t voiced my question.

Oh. I fought the urge to avert my eyes. “Not us,” I said at last, pointing to myself and Zel. “Zel and I come from small farming towns. I only saw my first great city this year. We grew up under thatched roofs.”

Askari tilted his head toward the south. “That way is Jila. Filled with sandstone temples and statues of great beauty.”

“You have stoneshapers,” I mused. “Seems Tir is the only place in the world that doesn’t.”

“We have many mwama.”

“Weavers?” I asked.

“Haki. Weavers.”

“I wish we could stay to see your cities.” I thought of Gryfelle lying in a hut with Karlith and the village mother, barely clinging to life. “But our friend is very sick.”

Just then, Dylun interrupted.

“I have a course plotted,” he said. “It’s not far, if I’ve done this properly. Tanwen, I’ll just need you and Mor.”

“What?” A note of panic crept into my voice.

“Just you two. You’ll do for this one. Again, if I’ve read it right . . .” He wandered off again, still staring at his map.

I found Mor a few paces away. He was looking at me intently. Then he turned away and gave his full attention to my father, who was saying something important, it seemed.

Aye. Just me and Mor for this one. I sighed.

Perfect.

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.