Thy Father's Shadow (Book 4.5) by Robert J. Crane

Author:Robert J. Crane [Crane, Robert J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Midian Press
Published: 2014-06-14T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 30

Terian stood at the fore of the ship. He could almost feel his body shivering in the chill of the cave air. It wasn’t as cold as Reikonos in winter, but he’d grown used to the fires burning in the grates, the heavy blankets when he slept. Sanctuary. I’m thinking about Sanctuary again. He cursed quietly and heard the words echo softly over the black water of the Great Sea.

The sea air was different down here. Musty, with a curious odor to it that reminded him of the smell of his laundered smallclothes when they were drying on the line. The lapping of the waters at the bow of the boat was quiet compared to the grunting of Grinnd, Verret, Sareea and Xem manning the oars. Grinnd was outpacing them all, having taken the whole of the left side to himself and powering the boat with swift, sure strokes.

“All this labor is warming me,” Xem said, mopping his brow with a vek’tag silk handkerchief. He had removed his fine shirt, as had Verret and Grinnd. Sareea sat behind them both, eyes fixed on a point directly ahead, seemingly empty of any interest. She, too, had removed her shirt, which he thought curious. It didn’t feel warm in here to him. But I’ve been gone from this place for so many years that I’ve grown used to the out-of-doors.

Terian tried not to stare at Sareea. None of the others seemed to be giving her much of a look. A bare chest on a woman was an unusual thing in common company. It’s not modest, Terian thought. But a bare chest on a soldier is quite common, and I suspect she’s aiming to play to that angle. His eyes danced over her once and then returned to safer ground. She’s not all that remarkable or different from the men, anyhow, I suppose. Certainly not like the ladies of the brothels with their pushed-up breasts. Probably helps her fit in with the soldiers during training—though I wouldn’t want to cross her.

“Anyone need a break?” Terian asked, looking over them. Dahveed and Bowe waited at the back of the boat, next to the till. Dahveed had his hand on it, steering, a peaceful expression on his face. Bowe had resumed his meditation, eyes closed. “Sareea?” Terian’s eyes found her again as she continued to pull on the heavy oar, working it as her shoulder muscles showed with the effort she put in. “Do you need me to take over for a spell?”

“I’m quite fine, thank you,” she replied, her voice as placid as if he’d asked her if the caves were still cold and dank. Her eyes were unmoving, still on a flat line in front of her, gazing past Xem and Verret in front of her along a straight line.

“I could use a break, now that you mention it,” Xem said, pulling his oar one last time before dragging it back in with a sigh. “Light of the sky, that’s exhausting.”

“I’ll spell

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