The Reckoning by Vanessa Nelson

Author:Vanessa Nelson [Nelson, Vanessa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-13T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Even with the scribe’s blessing, it was a tense ride out of the town, along the narrow path that led around the fertile land of the basin, and on through the next gap in the hills, towards the Forbidden Lands.

Yvonne had a knot between her shoulder blades by the time they were out of range of the town, turning her head to each side to ease the tension, and seeing a few others doing the same.

With the immediate danger behind them, she allowed herself to relax, a little bubble of relief chasing away the last of the knot. They had what they needed. Enough to get them into, and out of, the Forbidden Lands, with plenty to spare. Another handful of days, perhaps a little more, and she could find out what the first Hunar wanted. Rather than have to double-back, and waste time finding another route into the Forbidden Lands. A delay which she was sure would make her too late.

“A Circle Mage?” Pieris hissed, catching her attention, bringing his horse alongside Baldur. “Here, of all places?”

“A very well connected one,” Yvonne said, drawing out one of the sheets of parchment Guise had purchased. “He sold this. Along with ink.”

Pieris took the parchment, brows lifting, and studied it a moment. “This is from a King’s Court,” Pieris said, handing the parchment to Firon, on his other side.

“He is far from home,” Firon commented, passing the parchment back to Pieris, who handed it, reluctantly, back to Yvonne. She tucked it away. She understood Pieris’ reluctance. Good writing materials were difficult to find. She would need to count the sheets she had, and see if there were enough for all three of them. Somehow, with the Circle Mage as provider, who had known she was Hunar, she suspected there would be more than enough.

“There have been mercenaries travelling through the town,” she told them, changing the subject. “Paying with golden crowns.”

Before anyone could ask more questions, the ground ahead of them fell away, a steep slope down strewn with rocks. A breeze stirred the air, carrying with it a faint trace of burning and sulphur.

“What is that?” Jesset’s voice cut through the group.

Yvonne had seen this place before. It still had the power to make her pause.

The group drew to a halt, spread out along the ridge, looking at the path ahead.

The sharp slope down led to a vast plain that looked like a great creature had writhed its death throes across it, the ground rippled and twisted in odd patterns that made no sense, bare earth scattered with odd tufts of low, dark green bushes and stands of tall, elegant grass that swayed in the slight breeze. The ridged landscape continued ahead to the horizon, rising and falling in ever-increasing heights and depths.

“It looks odd,” Jesset commented to her parents, “but not dangerous.”

“This is just the start,” Brea said, voice and face grim. “And there are things in this place that could kill us all. Stay close. Let the Hunar lead.

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