The Questmaster's Trap: Champion's Quest Series, Book 2 by Frank L. Cole

Author:Frank L. Cole
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Published: 2022-10-05T20:05:19+00:00

Chapter 17

Overrun

For the first time since I could remember, it started raining in the Lower Etchlands—and it wasn’t a light rain either. After making camp outside Gilner’s Fortress of the Fiend, we began trudging along through farmland for most the following day until the sky decided to dump on us. When the rain showed no signs of letting up, we took shelter in an abandoned barn that smelled of moldy straw and manure. Jasmine suggested we hide in the loft, so we might have an advantage over any sneaky enemies passing by, but there wasn’t much of a roof to speak of—only a few broken slats opening to the dark, cloud-covered sky.

After trying to find enough cover to keep us dry, Miles eventually turned his Gadget into a shield to block the rain, and Jasmine and I crowded together beside him to warm ourselves with the Torch of the Revealer’s Flame. The rainwater hissed, trying to douse the fire, but so long as I held the torch, it refused to go out. Aside from being a decent clothes dryer, I hadn’t figured out what else Gilner’s gift was supposed to do. We hadn’t talked much since defeating the gargoyle, but everyone was in a rotten mood. I was the Gamekeeper, Miles was the Artisan, and Jasmine was the Luminary. We were all mixed up. Had the swap occurred at the beginning of our Quest, we maybe could have taken some time to work through the hiccups. Instead, we were cold and wet and trying to prepare ourselves for a showdown with Raspaard without a clue about how to use our weapons properly.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Sierra seemed to be doing just fine with her new Spade. Sitting off by herself in the corner, she shivered beneath a broken board, trying to stay dry. It wasn’t like we were trying to punish her on purpose. Or at least I wasn’t. Miles’s shield wasn’t big enough for all us to fit under at the same time, and Sierra had turned us down when we’d suggested she take her turn. After Jasmine’s explosion back at Gilner’s, I couldn’t blame Sierra for wanting to keep her distance.

While Jasmine played her Spark, twisting and tightening the strings and holding her ear next to the bowl-shaped drum, Miles stared longingly at Goon perched upon my shoulder.

“Do you want to come over and sit on my shoulder?” Miles offered. “Just for old time’s sake?”

Goon chittered in annoyance and then crawled back into his hiding place beneath my robe.

“It’s okay, Miles,” I said. “Goon misses you.”

Miles’s eyes lit up. “He does?”

“Of course he does.” That was a horrible lie.

After all they had been through together, I would’ve expected Goon to act a little sad for having to say goodbye to Miles. As far as I could tell, however, as soon as the Tether had turned its allegiance to me, Goon had wanted nothing more to do with his former master.

“Just give him some time,” I said. “This is all very weird for everyone, including Goon.

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