The First of Shadows (The Riven Realm Book 1) by Deck Matthews

Author:Deck Matthews [Matthews, Deck]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Echo Enduring Media
Published: 2019-01-21T22:00:00+00:00

A Knife in the Heart

The night was dark, wet and miserable as Caleb led Tanner and Palawen along the Queensway. The rains made it difficult to see, forcing them to proceed slower than Caleb would have liked. Lightning flashed sporadically. Once, it crashed so close that Pacer nearly bolted in fright. Tanner walked along beside the pony, carrying his hammer in one hand. Palawen trailed several yards behind them—so distant that she was little more than a murky silhouette whenever Caleb glanced over his shoulder.

“Still with us, lad?” The suddenness of Tanner’s rough voice caused Caleb to jump. “You’re as skittish as a hare.”

“Sorry. It’s just been a strange day.”

“Never seen a fight before?”

“Not like that.”

Tanner chuckled. “Fair enough. Don’t think I’ve ever been in a fight quite like that, either.”

“But you have been in a lot of fights, haven’t you?”

“More than I care to count. Carried this hammer across most of this bloody Realm. How much further to this cottage of yours?”

“It should be just up ahead.” Caleb squinted through the darkness. “There. That should be it just through those trees.”

“I see it. Step to the left.” Tanner reached out and pulled the reins toward him, guiding Pacer around a patch of broken paving stones that Caleb had almost missed in the gloom.

“How did you see that?”

“Good eyes. You keeping up, Red?”

“Call me that one more time, and I’ll put an arrow through your skull.”

Tanner chuckled.

They arrived at the cottage minutes later. Caleb tied Pacer up in the small, single-stall stable along the back wall, brushing her down quickly and pouring out a fresh portion of oats. Then he limped past his mother’s garden toward the front door. His companions followed.

“Rainsbreath,” muttered Palawen.

“What’s that?”

“There’s rainsbreath in the garden. It’s not a flower I’d expect to see here.”

Caleb shrugged. “Mother's always been fond of it. She tends to those bushes carefully.”

They came around the corner to the front of the cottage. Light danced across the aged, greying fabric of the drawn curtains. Caleb could hear his mother’s voice, only slightly muffled by the thin wooden planking that was the front door. She was speaking too quietly for him to catch her words, but she sounded agitated.

He turned the handle and pushed into the cottage, ushering Tanner and Palawen in before closing the door and latching it against the storm.

“Caleb!” cried Tamara. “I was getting worried.”

“We ran into some trouble.”

“Kharl?”

“In a manner of speaking.” Questions filled his mother’s eyes, but Caleb turned to Shem and motioned toward Tanner. “Here he is.”

“My thanks.” Some of the colour had returned to the drifter’s face, but when he attempted to stand, it was clear that he was still weak and in a great deal of pain. He shuffled toward Tanner and pulled the big warrior into a feeble embrace. “It’s good to see you, my friend. I only wish it were under better circumstances.”

Tanner grunted. “If you were in better circumstances, you wouldn't need me. Still, it's good to see you. How's your mother?”

“Obstinate as always.

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