Read Online A Skillful Warrior (SoulNecklace Stories Book 2) by R.L. Stedman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: R.L. Stedman
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a monster, opening its mouth, takes its prey.
I fell, twisting into black.
Spiraling to nothing.
Silence.
Chapter Seven
Learning to Fly
––––––––
T he river roared, soaking Will and Jed with spray. The air smelt clean and fresh. It should have been pleasant, but Jed’s horse was restless. Her eyes rolled, her ears pricked forward and she jerked her head at sudden noises. Will’s gelding was no better; he jumped at shadows or falling leaves or waving ferns. Will swayed sideways in his saddle and once, he nearly fell.
‘Something coming,’ said Jed
Will nodded. At the river, when he’d stopped to fill their water flasks, he’d seen dust-colored clouds like scratches on the sky. He had said nothing. No sense in worrying the others. But he’d seen such clouds before. They marked the passage of many men, or a fire. Maybe both. That’s how the Shield traveled; fast, without mercy, leaving naught but burnt villages, piles of skulls.
‘She said ‘ the land changes’ . What do you think she meant?’
‘Means it changes. I guess. Best be on our guard, young Will. Change ain’t never good.’
Finally, the track began to flatten. Sunlight glimmered, the gloom of the undergrowth eased. Was the forest coming to an end? The horses, feeling the ground level out, increased their speed.
‘Hold them back,’ Jed pulled at his mare’s reins.
Will dragged at his own horse, almost pulling him onto his hind legs. Slowly, inch by inch, the travelers made their way down the slope, out into the sunlight.
Jed whistled, long and low. The land changes, thought Will.
They stood at the top of a high cliff. Tumbling over the cliff edge, the river became a waterfall. Wind caught the water blowing it so it rainbowed into a veil of spray. Far below, birds circled.
Suddenly dizzy, Will backed his horse from the edge. ‘Now what?’
‘We fly?’
‘There’s a track.’
Jed eyed the narrow path that followed the top of the cliff like a muddy ribbon. He groaned. ‘Tell me you’re joking?’
‘Unless you’d rather turn around?’
Far away, fields rimmed with hedges lay quietly in the afternoon sun. And there, in the distance, was the line of blue that marked the sea. If only they had wings. Then they could step into space and let the air lift them up. The water rushed as it fell. The light breeze blew his hair into his eyes. Except for the enormous drop in front of them, the place felt strangely peaceful.
Jed peered cautiously over the edge. ‘It’s a long way to the bottom.’
‘You could do it fast,’ said Will.
Jed grinned. ‘Don’t know if I’d be in one piece at the end. Best we lead the horses, don’t you think?’
The route threaded along the cliff top until it reached a small gully that dropped abruptly downwards into a steeply sloping canyon. They passed behind rough stone, stepping around the roots of thick trees that leant over the abyss. What were N’tombe and Dana doing? Preparing something magical, no doubt. The Enchantress seemed to have a plan. Will sighed. Ah, Dana! She was so ... beautiful. Determined. How smooth her skin had felt, cool and wet from the water. If only N’tombe hadn’t come upon them.
The men spoke seldom, and then only to swear. It was hard going; steep, with a sheer drop to one side. Spread-eagled against warm stone, fingers splayed, he felt like a lizard on a wall. His fingers trembled so hard that he could barely hold the reins. His horse, shiny with sweat, hardly seemed to care, just shook his neck and, obedient as a dog, followed his rider. After that, Will worried less about the horse and thought more of his own feet.
It took only a few hours to reach the bottom, but it felt like a lifetime. Eventually, they neared the bottom. Rubbing his aching legs, Will stared up at the way they’d come. High above them red-gold cliffs arced against the evening sky. Far, far away, a speck moved. It seemed larger than most birds. Maybe it was an eagle. The spray
I fell, twisting into black.
Spiraling to nothing.
Silence.
Chapter Seven
Learning to Fly
––––––––
T he river roared, soaking Will and Jed with spray. The air smelt clean and fresh. It should have been pleasant, but Jed’s horse was restless. Her eyes rolled, her ears pricked forward and she jerked her head at sudden noises. Will’s gelding was no better; he jumped at shadows or falling leaves or waving ferns. Will swayed sideways in his saddle and once, he nearly fell.
‘Something coming,’ said Jed
Will nodded. At the river, when he’d stopped to fill their water flasks, he’d seen dust-colored clouds like scratches on the sky. He had said nothing. No sense in worrying the others. But he’d seen such clouds before. They marked the passage of many men, or a fire. Maybe both. That’s how the Shield traveled; fast, without mercy, leaving naught but burnt villages, piles of skulls.
‘She said ‘ the land changes’ . What do you think she meant?’
‘Means it changes. I guess. Best be on our guard, young Will. Change ain’t never good.’
Finally, the track began to flatten. Sunlight glimmered, the gloom of the undergrowth eased. Was the forest coming to an end? The horses, feeling the ground level out, increased their speed.
‘Hold them back,’ Jed pulled at his mare’s reins.
Will dragged at his own horse, almost pulling him onto his hind legs. Slowly, inch by inch, the travelers made their way down the slope, out into the sunlight.
Jed whistled, long and low. The land changes, thought Will.
They stood at the top of a high cliff. Tumbling over the cliff edge, the river became a waterfall. Wind caught the water blowing it so it rainbowed into a veil of spray. Far below, birds circled.
Suddenly dizzy, Will backed his horse from the edge. ‘Now what?’
‘We fly?’
‘There’s a track.’
Jed eyed the narrow path that followed the top of the cliff like a muddy ribbon. He groaned. ‘Tell me you’re joking?’
‘Unless you’d rather turn around?’
Far away, fields rimmed with hedges lay quietly in the afternoon sun. And there, in the distance, was the line of blue that marked the sea. If only they had wings. Then they could step into space and let the air lift them up. The water rushed as it fell. The light breeze blew his hair into his eyes. Except for the enormous drop in front of them, the place felt strangely peaceful.
Jed peered cautiously over the edge. ‘It’s a long way to the bottom.’
‘You could do it fast,’ said Will.
Jed grinned. ‘Don’t know if I’d be in one piece at the end. Best we lead the horses, don’t you think?’
The route threaded along the cliff top until it reached a small gully that dropped abruptly downwards into a steeply sloping canyon. They passed behind rough stone, stepping around the roots of thick trees that leant over the abyss. What were N’tombe and Dana doing? Preparing something magical, no doubt. The Enchantress seemed to have a plan. Will sighed. Ah, Dana! She was so ... beautiful. Determined. How smooth her skin had felt, cool and wet from the water. If only N’tombe hadn’t come upon them.
The men spoke seldom, and then only to swear. It was hard going; steep, with a sheer drop to one side. Spread-eagled against warm stone, fingers splayed, he felt like a lizard on a wall. His fingers trembled so hard that he could barely hold the reins. His horse, shiny with sweat, hardly seemed to care, just shook his neck and, obedient as a dog, followed his rider. After that, Will worried less about the horse and thought more of his own feet.
It took only a few hours to reach the bottom, but it felt like a lifetime. Eventually, they neared the bottom. Rubbing his aching legs, Will stared up at the way they’d come. High above them red-gold cliffs arced against the evening sky. Far, far away, a speck moved. It seemed larger than most birds. Maybe it was an eagle. The spray
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