Journey Of Fate by Brian D. Anderson

Author:Brian D. Anderson [Anderson, Brian D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Longfire Press
Published: 2018-03-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Once settled into his blanket in a dry corner of the cargo hold, Linis ran a hand over the cover of the book Sayia had passed onto him. Her instructions had been not to open it until they were at least two days away. An odd request, he thought. She had said simply that it contained sketches dating back to the Great War and was an interesting piece of history. However, the dire expression on her face as she handed it over suggested that it contained something of great importance.

“Do not show this to Penelope and Maybell until their mother is safe,” she had instructed. “I cannot have them chasing after us.”

“If there’s something I need to know –”

“If there were, you have my word I would tell you. For now, I can only beg your trust. Please do as I ask.”

They had been at sea for two days and were due to arrive at the port of Zinia by the morning. From there they would purchase mounts and head northwest until reaching the Goodbranch. A roundabout way to go home to be sure, but it ensured that any pursuers would have great difficulty in following. The rest of the temple residents were to be then transported on to Althetas, where King Jacob would give them sanctuary.

While reaching over and turning up the lantern, a mild sense of dread came over him. Yet again he recalled the troubling way in which Sayia had looked at the book before handing it over. This alone had made the temptation to view it prematurely hard to resist. But seeing as how there had been no ill intent in Sayia’s voice, and the fact that both Penelope and Maybell seemed to trust her, he had waited for the instructed time. Now all would be revealed.

He opened it to the first page. Visions of Life and Death by Nor Byrathisen.

Linis had never cared for human art. The themes were too common and the perspectives narrow. Not that he had ever been particularly enthusiastic about elf art, either – with the exception of that created by the elves of the Steppes.

The first few sketches were of various animals and flora found mostly in the west. He guessed this was likely where the artist had originated from. Then his eye was drawn to the top of a red ribbon poking invitingly out midway through the book. It had to be there for a reason. With curiosity now peaking, rather than wait until reaching it page by page, he took a deep breath and jumped ahead. He was immediately struck by what he saw. Reaching over, he brightened the lantern.

For the next twenty minutes he could do nothing but stare in shocked disbelief. Several more pages had been marked out, each one of them further verifying his suspicions. But it was impossible. Even though it was here before his very eyes, he still could not force himself to truly believe what he was seeing.

Hearing footsteps approaching, he quickly closed the book and shoved it under his blanket.

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