The emerald scepter by Thomas M. Reid

Author:Thomas M. Reid
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Epic, Fantasy Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, Fiction, Fantasy, American, Fantasy fiction, General, Forgotten realms (Imaginary place)
ISBN: 9780786937547
Publisher: Random House, Inc.
Published: 2005-08-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

"This way!" Pilos gasped, turning and sprinting through a gap in a thick hedge. Behind him, Quill, the three mercenaries, and the druid Edilus scurried after him. Pilos's lungs burned and he thought he would collapse soon from exhaustion. The other five men didn't seem badly winded, though the dwarf Grolo was huffing pretty hard as he charged along on his stumpy shorter legs.

I'm soft, Pilos realized. Temple life is too cushy.

When he could run no further, the young priest dropped in a heap among some ferns and plantain trees that created a dense tangle, shielding the world from view. Beside him, the others gathered around, and Pilos was at least thankful to see the men breathing hard, hands on hips or knees. They stood without speaking. Aside from a few distant and muffled shouts, no one seemed to be getting closer to their hidden location.

"I think we lost them," Adyan drawled in a quiet voice, twisting his head to look back through the foliage the way they had come. "I don't hear anyone anymore."

"Good," Pilos muttered, flopping onto his back. "Because if they were still back there, I'd have to surrender."

Don't you dare, Hetta said, displeasure radiating from the ring. Emriana needs you.

I know, Pilos answered. I wouldn't really. But I'm worn out.

"City folk don't know how to run," Edilus said, his scorn obvious. Pilos looked over at the druid and noted with displeasure that the woodsman was breathing easily, looking at the rest of them as though impatient for them to get moving.

"You're right," Horial said, speaking between hard breaths. "We're more civilized, and we've figured out how to use things like wheels."

That elicited a soft chuckle from some of the others, which only made the druid scowl more. Since he had met the strange woodsman, Pilos had not seen him smile. He wondered if Edilus was capable of it.

"We can't stay here," Horial said, rising to his full height. "They will find us. We have to get over the wall and out into the city."

Pilos groaned and sat up. "I can barely lift my feet, much less climb a wall. It has to be twenty feet high!"

"Maybe you have some trick up your sleeve that will get us over it," Horial suggested, looking askance at the young priest.

Pilos shrugged and shook his head. "I'm not a battle priest," he said, climbing slowly to his feet. "I served Mikolos personally before-" he stopped, feeling bitter. He took a deep breath. "The Grand Syndar rarely had a need to climb over palace walls," he finished, eliciting another chuckle from the mercenaries.

"There are trees," Quill said. "We might be able to climb one."

Grolo snorted. "Have you ever seen a dwarf climb a tree?" he asked gruffly, to which Quill shook his head. "There's a reason for that," the dwarf finished, giving the man a pointed stare.

Even Edilus cracked a hint of a smile. Then the druid said, "I have rope. If we can get to this wall and there are trees close by, I will get to the top and pull the rest of you over.

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