Read Online A Rage in the Heavens (The Paladin Trilogy Book 1) by James A. Hillebrecht - Free Book Online Page B

have thought you were just breathing fire last night when you talked about following your father. But I knew better. I knew you were just crazy enough to do it.”
    “That’s right. I’m crazed. A total loon. So you’d better take your feet out of here before I go forest-wild on you.”
    “My feet are ready,” he answered with that same infuriating grin. “I’m coming with you.”
    “The devil you are!”
    “Such language from Lord Darius’ daughter,” he said mildly, having heard considerably worse from her in his time. “You’re clearly in need of a mentor. I’m telling you you’ve found him.”
    “And I’m telling you to mind your own wares,” Shannon snapped, turning back to the road. “This is no business of yours.”
    “Of course it is,” he said. “We’ve grown up together. We’re a team. If I were running off into the woods on some wild adventure, wouldn’t you insist on coming along?”
    That made her pause. She glanced back down the road where Andros’ would come rushing out of the morning mist any minute now, indecision a luxury she simply couldn’t afford.
    “Besides,” Jhan continued, “I can help get us some distance from the village.”
    Shannon frowned. “How?”
    “I’m supposed to go up to the timber camp today with my brothers,” he explained. “They’ll be cutting wood for the next three days, but they’ve promised to say nothing. I left a letter at home telling Father you were coming with us, just to get away for awhile. He’ll think that’s a fine idea.”
    Shannon’s frown lessened slightly as she realized Jhan had bought them a considerable start on any search parties. She had run to the cottage of Jhan’s family after Darius had refused her permission to accompany him, and she had poured her heart out to Jhan who was her closest friend. Jhan had tried to calm her, to dissuade her, to help her see reason, and now, failing that, he had done what he could to help her get away. Looking at him, she had to admit that Jhan’s broad shoulders and good humor would make the miles ahead of her much easier to bear.
    She suddenly realized that Jhan must have set out immediately after she had left him in order to get here ahead of her.
    But just as she was about to reluctantly agree, the youth said, “Come on, Shannon. You can’t make this journey on your own. You need someone to look out for you.”
    She instantly bristled. “And who’s going to look out for you?”
    “I didn’t mean it that way,” the boy answered. “We can look out for each other. A journey is much safer for two that for one.”
    Her lips and eyes compressed in a characteristic squint of intensity, and she said fiercely, “I don’t need you!”
    Jhan, far from being intimidated, mimicked her expression and replied, “I’m coming anyway! So just tie that to your belt.”
    Shannon bristled at this mocking and turned resolutely away, vowing to ignore the boy, to just freeze him out. But she broke her vow a moment later.
    “You’re going to carry all that?” she asked incredulously, staring at the half-dozen bundles Jhan was picking up.
    “Sure,” he answered, slinging the parcels over his shoulder. “We have to eat, don’t we?”
    “This is all food?”
    “Most of it,” he admitted, glancing at his burden. “Dried meats and fruits, some salted pig, and unleavened bread for later in the journey. And I brought a few treats to get us started, tidbits I gathered from the feast yesterday.”
    “We have to move quickly!” she snapped angrily. “This isn’t a spring picnic! We can’t be slowed down carrying your dinners with us!”
    “We have to eat,” he repeated. “Or do you want to waste time hunting for food? Believe me, the packs will get lighter all too soon.”
    She frowned, annoyed both by the burden and the reply.
    “What kind of tidbits did you bring?” she asked, trying to find some way to lessen the load.
    “Some fresh breads and jams,” he grinned, holding up one of