[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
are always learning. She sighed and her sapphire eyes faded into shadow. To let you know
something, I married a human. He perished, long ago.
Old age? Der asked.
She shook her head. Her voice sounded much older. No, he d found a way to be young
for a very long time. We were married in secret, since the elves couldn t know. I actually met
him whilst cooking for an army, just like I am now. That was a long time ago, it s just that we
were fighting the chemmen then too. She looked back up, her eyes bright again. However,
that is past. Now, I am entrusting Thalon s safety to you. As you know, most of the elves do not
approve of his heritage.
It s not my fault! he protested, and then bit his lower lip.
Of course not. You re a gods-sent gift, and now you have new friends to help you
through this troubling time.
Der held up her hands. Oh, no, I don t know a thing about children!
Eve lifted one regal eyebrow. This is your reward for being willing to fight on his behalf.
What?
I cannot care for him at this time. Do you trust any of the elves here? They won t allow
him back into the care of his father.
Well, Jakkobb.
Has other duties at this time as well.
Der pointed. Kelin.
Hey! He glared.
Good, he is your charge to the both of you. If there is a traitor among us, I know he ll be
safe with you.
Thalon snuggled up close to Der, who nearly pushed him away in reflex.
Do you think that there is? Kelin asked.
All Things Impossible Crown of the Realm Dalton 125
Eve shrugged. It may just be a lie to sow discord and doubt in our ranks a remarkable
ruse, and as you can see, it s working. Or perhaps a less insidious bluff to purchase another
day.
Der stared evenly. You didn t answer the question.
The elf matched her stare without blinking. Der felt her eyes water against those multi-
faceted gems. The elf said, No, I do not think the chemman is lying, but I also do not think that
he can be trusted not to lie. She left, leaving only the lingering scent of spring flowers.
Der frowned, sitting straight backed, holding her bowl, looking both miffed and
perplexed.
Kelin sighed and tossed a pebble through the small crack in the tent flap. So, who
wants to tell a story?
I just want to hear the story where my mother s alive and my dad s not tied up, Thalon
muttered.
And we were never caught by the elves, the big man replied. We ran away from the
chemmen and lived out our lives in the palace of Pallens.
Kelin. Der swatted him on the back of the head.
He shrugged.
On the whole, she pulled her knees up under her chin, I think I like being the elves
prisoner better.
Outside the thin canvas walls, sudden thunder reverberated around the nearby peaks.
None of them had ever heard thunder echo like that. They heard the first raindrop crash into
the roof of their tent. Der peeked through the door and saw the rain leaving tiny craters in the
dirt. The waning sunlight caught the fat drops and thousands of individual rainbows glistened
before they kissed the ground.
All Things Impossible Crown of the Realm Dalton 126
Chapter Fourteen
Quiet Sentries
Quietly, several canoes slipped through the rain and onto the swift river. They were
almost invisible in the un-navigable maze of millions of raindrops. They disappeared
completely in less than the time of a heartbeat.
Only several paces further up the river s edge, but a world away in the blanketing rain,
Thistle dodged as nimbly as a dancer. The knife slammed down, whistling through the air and
rain, never finding its target. The masked attacker was tall, but armed only with a knife.
The ceaseless rain made both their feet sink into the mud. The thunderstorm roared
away, only a few hundred yards above them. But, it sounded like it was ten feet overhead.
The chemman almost smiled through his scowl. His hands were still bound in front of
him, but against a knife he had time. Time enough for his guards to arrive with those bright,
shiny swords. Winning a knife fight against someone who has survived knife fights before was
usually never as fast as that one fatal strike. An attacker would leave himself open for
counterattack while diving for that fatal thrust, something a veteran opponent would take as an
advantage and possibly even disarm the attacker. So, for now, the attacker played it as safely
as he could. After all, he had the only weapon.
Thistle held up his hands to block a facial strike, and the blade licked down his
forearms.
Real knife combat was dozens of small cuts along the arms, hands and sides that
bled out an opponent s strength. The attacker would never have to expose himself. Thistle
could only keep his attacker away for the moment.
He glanced briefly over the assailant s shoulder. Where in the corners of hell were his
guards? Then, the thought stole over him like the icy, rising waters in the river. What if it was a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl akte20.pev.pl
are always learning. She sighed and her sapphire eyes faded into shadow. To let you know
something, I married a human. He perished, long ago.
Old age? Der asked.
She shook her head. Her voice sounded much older. No, he d found a way to be young
for a very long time. We were married in secret, since the elves couldn t know. I actually met
him whilst cooking for an army, just like I am now. That was a long time ago, it s just that we
were fighting the chemmen then too. She looked back up, her eyes bright again. However,
that is past. Now, I am entrusting Thalon s safety to you. As you know, most of the elves do not
approve of his heritage.
It s not my fault! he protested, and then bit his lower lip.
Of course not. You re a gods-sent gift, and now you have new friends to help you
through this troubling time.
Der held up her hands. Oh, no, I don t know a thing about children!
Eve lifted one regal eyebrow. This is your reward for being willing to fight on his behalf.
What?
I cannot care for him at this time. Do you trust any of the elves here? They won t allow
him back into the care of his father.
Well, Jakkobb.
Has other duties at this time as well.
Der pointed. Kelin.
Hey! He glared.
Good, he is your charge to the both of you. If there is a traitor among us, I know he ll be
safe with you.
Thalon snuggled up close to Der, who nearly pushed him away in reflex.
Do you think that there is? Kelin asked.
All Things Impossible Crown of the Realm Dalton 125
Eve shrugged. It may just be a lie to sow discord and doubt in our ranks a remarkable
ruse, and as you can see, it s working. Or perhaps a less insidious bluff to purchase another
day.
Der stared evenly. You didn t answer the question.
The elf matched her stare without blinking. Der felt her eyes water against those multi-
faceted gems. The elf said, No, I do not think the chemman is lying, but I also do not think that
he can be trusted not to lie. She left, leaving only the lingering scent of spring flowers.
Der frowned, sitting straight backed, holding her bowl, looking both miffed and
perplexed.
Kelin sighed and tossed a pebble through the small crack in the tent flap. So, who
wants to tell a story?
I just want to hear the story where my mother s alive and my dad s not tied up, Thalon
muttered.
And we were never caught by the elves, the big man replied. We ran away from the
chemmen and lived out our lives in the palace of Pallens.
Kelin. Der swatted him on the back of the head.
He shrugged.
On the whole, she pulled her knees up under her chin, I think I like being the elves
prisoner better.
Outside the thin canvas walls, sudden thunder reverberated around the nearby peaks.
None of them had ever heard thunder echo like that. They heard the first raindrop crash into
the roof of their tent. Der peeked through the door and saw the rain leaving tiny craters in the
dirt. The waning sunlight caught the fat drops and thousands of individual rainbows glistened
before they kissed the ground.
All Things Impossible Crown of the Realm Dalton 126
Chapter Fourteen
Quiet Sentries
Quietly, several canoes slipped through the rain and onto the swift river. They were
almost invisible in the un-navigable maze of millions of raindrops. They disappeared
completely in less than the time of a heartbeat.
Only several paces further up the river s edge, but a world away in the blanketing rain,
Thistle dodged as nimbly as a dancer. The knife slammed down, whistling through the air and
rain, never finding its target. The masked attacker was tall, but armed only with a knife.
The ceaseless rain made both their feet sink into the mud. The thunderstorm roared
away, only a few hundred yards above them. But, it sounded like it was ten feet overhead.
The chemman almost smiled through his scowl. His hands were still bound in front of
him, but against a knife he had time. Time enough for his guards to arrive with those bright,
shiny swords. Winning a knife fight against someone who has survived knife fights before was
usually never as fast as that one fatal strike. An attacker would leave himself open for
counterattack while diving for that fatal thrust, something a veteran opponent would take as an
advantage and possibly even disarm the attacker. So, for now, the attacker played it as safely
as he could. After all, he had the only weapon.
Thistle held up his hands to block a facial strike, and the blade licked down his
forearms.
Real knife combat was dozens of small cuts along the arms, hands and sides that
bled out an opponent s strength. The attacker would never have to expose himself. Thistle
could only keep his attacker away for the moment.
He glanced briefly over the assailant s shoulder. Where in the corners of hell were his
guards? Then, the thought stole over him like the icy, rising waters in the river. What if it was a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]