The Stranger's Quest (Lost Tales of the Realms) by J.T. Williams

Author:J.T. Williams [Williams, J.T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2017-10-09T04:00:00+00:00

Part Four Sacred Grove of Etha

"A very strange place for torches. Do you know of any people who might be hiding here?” Andoc asked the old man. “You said you knew these woods."

“I do not, not with any certainty. There are many caves and cave systems. Unlawful types, maybe? I do not normally go into the caves,” he said.

They proceeded cautiously. Andoc and Badur spread out, taking flanking positions to the old man. Andoc switched to his bow, drawing back halfway with an arrow, just waiting for an enemy to show itself. These were not ruins like the place they were in a day ago. This was not a camp or a place of temporary refuge. They walked past large cauldrons of fire, and stone bookcases with books that were unlike any the two Rangers had yet to see. A pungent smell rolled over them. The sudden draft in the air was like a door had opened some distance away. Andoc looked at Badur, and then they looked back to the old man, who now was holding his position near the center of the cavernous room they were in.

"We cannot escape them," he said.

At that moment, three figures appeared in the hallway. Andoc released his arrow, flinging it straight into the chest of one of the creatures that approached.

It did nothing.

Of the trio, a central figure stepped forward. He lifted up both of his arms and then bowed.

"Welcome to my humble home. I assume you are fleeing the ones above, the ones so fresh upon your trail?" the figure asked. "Why, then, did you come here? For my brothers and sisters of the night and I disagree about many things. Vampires tend to have their . . . disagreements. To bring such an object so close to my hands and not expect to hand it over and not expect my coven to drink from your plump vessels is lunacy."

They had wandered into a coven of vampires. An irony, considering what they were running from. But Andoc and Badur couldn't decide if these were the vampires pursuing them or actually another group, or clan, as they were called.

Andoc drew his sword and stood next to Badur.

"You two are eager for a fight. But what of your friend, the one holding something so valuable and so precious that I can't just simply let it slip through my fingers?" he said, moving his fingers in the air in a slow wave.

"We wish to pass through here," Badur stated. "We do not want any trouble with your coven. You seem to be a smart man, no doubt of many thousand years, I would assume? Simply let us pass through and your secret place will remain that."

"It will remain that," the vampire said. "But what you said is not possible. You see, these two lowly vampires are quite famished for fresh blood. And," he said, motioning behind the two Rangers and the old man, "the rest of my coven. We'll take what we desire and deal with the others when they come.

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