Portal Slayer by S.L. Dooley

Author:S.L. Dooley [S.L. Dooley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Torn Parchment
Published: 2022-05-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

“Kade! We made it!” Gabe galloped ahead to the snaking river in the distance with Avery’s horse close on his heels. The sun burned red as it sank ahead of them.

“Wait!” Othana dismounted and ran a few paces after them and then slowed, looking back at Kade with a frown.

“Let them be,” Kade said, giving her a tired smile. “Should Cosyn attack now, we would be at no more a disadvantage with a little joyous noise.”

Othana was clearly not convinced, but she nodded and led her horse to the river. Kade glanced over his shoulder to the other dispirited Shalhalan’s and then across the desert to the flourishing trees lining the Avihat.

Please let the scouts be here.

They came to a sharp bend in the river, which slowed the swift, often treacherous, current to little more than a brook gurgling past brush and trees. Here it had carved out a beach of smooth stones and a small, swirling pool before chattering merrily on. No one was there waiting. Gabe and Avery were wading ankle-deep in the crystal waters, towering evergreens flanking them. Kade looked north to the Borderland Mountains from which the mighty Avihat flowed, dividing the kingdom of Herlov in the east and the Barrens in the west where, in the furthest reaches, the Schade Catacombs lay in darkness.

Kade dismounted and turned his horse over to a young Shalhalan to look after with the rest of the steeds. He strode to the riverbank as camp was set.

Avery chucked a rock sideways. It skipped three times before plunking beneath the surface. Gabe chuckled and threw his rock, which promptly plopped into the water. The other Shalhalans milled about the water’s edge, some wading in, others sitting on the shore.

The river brought a refreshment and reprieve Kade had not anticipated. A calm permeated the air. He breathed deep and let the peace wash over him. A rushing wind blew across the waters, cleansing the air and cooling Kade’s face, as though Arkonai was breathing peace into his heart and mind. The trees stirred, then all was still. The sun, faded to a brilliant orange, was sinking low and turned the sky pink. Early crickets chirped of the coming evening. A crisp cold hung in the air.

“This is where we stop for the night?” Othana asked, walking up behind Kade.

“Aye, perhaps we linger here a bit longer.” Kade looked across the river.

“What is it, Kade?”

“Nothing. We have a long journey. One on which I feel we will have few stops.”

Othana nodded and began gathering wood for their next fire. Kade watched her go, then turned back to his charges. The time was fast approaching when he would need to make a decision. With Olmund gone, Kade was at no risk of leading anyone astray by departing for Endyle. But his path, as yet, was unclear.

He shed his cloak, pulled off his boots, and walked to the edge of the river.

“Kade!” Avery smiled. It seemed there was little that would discourage him on his route home.

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.