The Call of the Crown by T.J. Garrett

Author:T.J. Garrett
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2014-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

Ealian’s Plan

The evening fell over Illeas’den, and with it, a grey shroud of mist rolled over from the eastern ridge. The moon was not yet up, nor did the full veil of darkness lie across the land. It was the still time, the quiet time, when the creatures of the sun went home to roost and the creatures of the moon were not yet awake. Little sound, if any, disturbed the peace, and the mist kept rolling in like a silent avalanche.

Ealian was down by the lake. He said he was going for walk, wanted some time to himself. Standing by the grasping rocks that encircled the waters, he looked east towards the white ridge of the Am’ilean and beyond to the marshland at the horizon. The last flecks of dusky light clung to the tops of the darkened trees, but he could still see them, hiding. The mind he now shared with whatever was inside him knew they would be there, somewhere. All he need do was keep an eye out and be patient, and sure enough…

Stupid fools, he thought. Do they not know the wolves will find them if they stay there? He walked around the bottom of the lake and up through an edge of thicket towards their position. With just a small clearing between them, he looked, listened, and waited for events to play in his favour. A quarter hour passed; the group split. Half went north; the others stayed where they were. Ealian shuffled across the clearing, bent low with hands almost at the ground. He came up on their left flank. Carefully, he eased in under the branches behind where they lay, watching. He sat for a moment, looking down the small rise at where they crouched behind bushes and laid themselves in shadow. They must think themselves clever, getting this close. They truly were fools. “Thought you people were supposed to be hunters?” he said.

Startled, the Salrians turned around quickly. Clearly not knowing quite what to expect, Si’eth drew his sword and settled into a defensive stance. The four other Salrians tripped over their feet in a hurried attempt to gain position. The smile on Ealian’s face grew wider as he watched them fumble for their weapons.

* * *

Si’eth stared at the bow. Even in this light, he knew exactly who it was. “You! You’ve got some nerve sitting there like that.” He waved two of his men forward. The boy didn’t struggle when they grabbed him and pulled him forward. “Where is it?” Si’eth growled.

“Where is what?” the boy asked, picking at his fingernails, apparently oblivious to the two soldiers flanking him, pointing their swords at his throat.

“Are we going to play this game? One of you took the scroll. If you value your life, then I suggest you stop this childishness and start talking to me.” Si’eth brought his face up close to the boy, but he didn’t flinch. He looked calm, of all things.

“Talking. Yes. That is precisely what I had in mind, Salrian,” the boy said in a manner and confidence beyond his ken.

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