The Sage Knight (The Kingshield Series Book 3) by Robert Ryan

Author:Robert Ryan [Ryan, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Trotting Fox Press
Published: 2020-08-14T16:00:00+00:00

16. Down the Mountain

The next day the weather had cleared. The sky was deep blue, without a single cloud, and it seemed as though it would stay that way.

Faran loved it, and he loved more that he and Ferla were heading on a journey with Kubodin. Several times a year the little man took his mule down the mountain and to a small village to buy supplies. Mostly, the garden atop the mountain was enough, but they could not grow everything they needed there, especially flour and grains. This was a good time to go, the little man had announced at dawn that morning, and he had invited them.

Asana did not object, and he said a break from training would do them good. It would help their bodies to heal from strains and allow overused muscles and ligaments a rest.

So it was that they walked beside Kubodin’s mule as the sun rose and a cool, but not cold breeze blew. Kubodin rode, and he whistled and even sang little snatches of song in his native tongue as they went. It seemed that he was happy for the change of routine as well.

Faran and Ferla did not wear their armor, but had their swords of course. They went nowhere unprepared. The swords would make them stand out more, but that could not be helped. The danger was slight though, for warriors were common enough.

Kubodin had his axe, as usual. But his cheerful attitude was not normal. It seemed rather strange, but the little man was always unpredictable. Strange or otherwise though, Faran had grown to like him. Even his rough way of speaking. He was the opposite of Asana in nearly every way, but not the ways that mattered.

Winter was beginning to close in, and even at the thought of it Faran’s heart went back to the valley of the lake and the good times they had enjoyed there. Winter had brought them all closer together, and though the cabin had been small they never grew tired of each other’s company.

He had grown closer to Ferla there, too. But if the cabin was no more, and though they might never see the valley again, that closeness remained. And had strengthened.

There was something between them. But what? He was not so sure. She loved him, he knew. And he loved her. But did she still look upon him as a younger brother? He had seen no suggestion otherwise.

“What’s the name of this village we’re going to?” Ferla asked, interrupting Kubodin in the middle of him whistling a raspy tune.

“Hey? What was that?”

“What village are we going to?”

“Oh, that. I never pay much heed to names. Useless things for the most part. Why, even this mule, can you guess his name?”

They could not, and Kubodin told them. “His name is Mule,” he said with a laugh as though it were a great joke. “See what I mean? Names don’t do much. Unless they’re elven names, of course. Those folks see to the heart of things, and they give names that stick because they’re true.

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