Read Online Child Of A Guardian And Of The Free (Book 3) by Dan O'Sullivan - Free Book Online
Authors: Dan O'Sullivan
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looking that the money satchel had been taken. The remaining pieces of travel cake were still in the pocket of his vest and this gave him a small surge of hope. He felt for the water bag and was disappointed to find that it was empty. It had burst open when he hit the ground and it would not be usable again. Once again he tried to sit up and fiery pain flashed through his body. Gasping in agony, he managed to roll onto his knees where he remained for some time before staggering to his feet. A disappointed looking wedge tailed eagle took flight from a nearby tree and disappeared into the glare of the sun. Kalinya’s knees wobbled uncontrollably and he retched from the pain of his wounded shoulder as he stumbled back to the road.
It was dark by the time he reached the outskirts of Orapba and he was tired beyond anything he had ever felt before. The sickness in his stomach had grown intense and he held his arm hard against his body, so as not to move his injured shoulder. He stared hopefully towards the soft light coming from the window of a hut close to the road, but even as he stared an indignant face appeared and a voice rebuked him crossly. He continued on, looking around desperately for somewhere he could sleep where he wouldn’t be seen and eventually he found a narrow gap between two partially ruined stone buildings. He lay on the hard dirt, sobbing from pain and exhaustion. Eventually fatigue overcame him and he fell into an uncomfortable sleep.
Chapter 5
Charie
‘ Are you conscious Dale?’ asked Eibhear. Dale opened his eyes and glared in annoyance at the figure standing against his window.
‘ Do you mind standing in my sunshine?’ he said irritably. ‘Haven’t you got anything useful to do? Otious bastard! I’m sure Kelian could find you something to do if you could get off your lazy behind and ask! And what are you doing in my room anyway?’
‘ Typical! I wasn’t expecting you to say ‘Oh thank you Eibhear for feeding me pelgavik and water for days on end and keeping me alive’, but the least you could do is be civil!’ Eibhear frowned at Dale and folded his arms across his chest.
‘ Oh thank you Eibhear for feeding me pelgavik and water for days on end and keeping me alive, now get out of my sunshine or I’ll have someone defenestrate you!’ said Dale rudely. ‘Where’s the King?’
‘ He left for Tathra nearly a week ago,’ said Eibhear. He-’
‘ What! A week?’ gasped Dale trying to swing his legs over the side of the bed. He failed but managed to roll himself over and he hit the floor with a resounding thud. ‘Rrrrr,’ he growled as he tried vainly to drag himself up onto the bed. Eibhear watched impassively as Dale struggled until the Baron eventually flopped feebly to the floor.
‘ If you ask nicely, I’ll put you back on the bed,’ said Eibhear, not moving from where he leaned against the window sill.
‘ Don’t you dare to even touch me,’ Dale grunted, trying to force his weakened limbs into action.
‘ Fine, I won’t,’ said Eibhear with finality, turning away and looking through the window.
Eventually Dale stopped struggling and lay still. ‘Eibhear?’ he mumbled sadly, without raising his head.
‘ Yes?’ said Eibhear, unfolding his arms and turning towards Dale as he felt an entirely different emotion coming from the Baron. Dale didn’t respond, so Eibhear moved around the bed and knelt beside him. Dale managed to open his eyes briefly and look pleadingly at Eibhear. Eibhear picked him up and dropped him on the bed.
Two days later, Dale regained consciousness once again. He lay without opening his eyes wondering if Eibhear was in the room. With a sinking feeling he remembered what he’d said to the free warrior. He knew the pelgavik affected his temperament badly, as it did most humans, but since it was the only known treatment for a person touched by Nailmarni blood, there was nothing to do but take the remedy and cope with the effects. He felt a
It was dark by the time he reached the outskirts of Orapba and he was tired beyond anything he had ever felt before. The sickness in his stomach had grown intense and he held his arm hard against his body, so as not to move his injured shoulder. He stared hopefully towards the soft light coming from the window of a hut close to the road, but even as he stared an indignant face appeared and a voice rebuked him crossly. He continued on, looking around desperately for somewhere he could sleep where he wouldn’t be seen and eventually he found a narrow gap between two partially ruined stone buildings. He lay on the hard dirt, sobbing from pain and exhaustion. Eventually fatigue overcame him and he fell into an uncomfortable sleep.
Chapter 5
Charie
‘ Are you conscious Dale?’ asked Eibhear. Dale opened his eyes and glared in annoyance at the figure standing against his window.
‘ Do you mind standing in my sunshine?’ he said irritably. ‘Haven’t you got anything useful to do? Otious bastard! I’m sure Kelian could find you something to do if you could get off your lazy behind and ask! And what are you doing in my room anyway?’
‘ Typical! I wasn’t expecting you to say ‘Oh thank you Eibhear for feeding me pelgavik and water for days on end and keeping me alive’, but the least you could do is be civil!’ Eibhear frowned at Dale and folded his arms across his chest.
‘ Oh thank you Eibhear for feeding me pelgavik and water for days on end and keeping me alive, now get out of my sunshine or I’ll have someone defenestrate you!’ said Dale rudely. ‘Where’s the King?’
‘ He left for Tathra nearly a week ago,’ said Eibhear. He-’
‘ What! A week?’ gasped Dale trying to swing his legs over the side of the bed. He failed but managed to roll himself over and he hit the floor with a resounding thud. ‘Rrrrr,’ he growled as he tried vainly to drag himself up onto the bed. Eibhear watched impassively as Dale struggled until the Baron eventually flopped feebly to the floor.
‘ If you ask nicely, I’ll put you back on the bed,’ said Eibhear, not moving from where he leaned against the window sill.
‘ Don’t you dare to even touch me,’ Dale grunted, trying to force his weakened limbs into action.
‘ Fine, I won’t,’ said Eibhear with finality, turning away and looking through the window.
Eventually Dale stopped struggling and lay still. ‘Eibhear?’ he mumbled sadly, without raising his head.
‘ Yes?’ said Eibhear, unfolding his arms and turning towards Dale as he felt an entirely different emotion coming from the Baron. Dale didn’t respond, so Eibhear moved around the bed and knelt beside him. Dale managed to open his eyes briefly and look pleadingly at Eibhear. Eibhear picked him up and dropped him on the bed.
Two days later, Dale regained consciousness once again. He lay without opening his eyes wondering if Eibhear was in the room. With a sinking feeling he remembered what he’d said to the free warrior. He knew the pelgavik affected his temperament badly, as it did most humans, but since it was the only known treatment for a person touched by Nailmarni blood, there was nothing to do but take the remedy and cope with the effects. He felt a
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