Read Online Chronicles of Den'dra: A Land Torn: Ancient Powers Awaken by Spencer Johnson - Free Book Online

father’s house at sword point after being told that the lands had gone to the crown at the old man’s death. One of the peasants had recognized him walking back to town. The man had had worked in the house for several years and had taken home several crate of books the land master had tossed out on his arrival. Now they were all that Encer had left of his childhood home.
    Encer couldn’t afford new books even if he could manage to get out of the valley with his skin intact. Not only for the books but for any news of the world outside. For all he knew the rest of the continent could have fallen into the Silent Seas. The isolation was particularly frustrating to him.
    Inadar’s brisk discussion on the properties of the porridge that she had been served woke Encer from his contemplation. With a smile he had to admit that the girl was making a good case for her point. She contended that the mixture of ground corn was not fit for human consumption. Its color was a sickening yellow, the texture was nauseous and above all it tasted terrible.
    Mytera countered with the fact that a little sweetener and milk did wonders for the flavor and that despite Inadar’s observations and deep seated opinion it was edible because she said it was so. Inadar had not yet found an argument for such sound logic. Encer was sure that she would soon enough. The girl was bright as a polished brass button. Mytera caught him smiling and scowled at him. Hardly able to hide his smirk he sat down and spooned some of the aforementioned porridge into his bowl. Inadar was still trying to avoid ingesting the porridge but when it came to a battle of wills Encer would have always put money on Mytera’s. He was sure that she could browbeat a dragon if it offended her enough. That could also have been the reason why no one in Dragon’s Hamlet remarked on her living arrangements. One didn’t risk her undying ire over such a trivial issue.
    Breakfast was over soon and Inadar had been coaxed into eating a few spoonfuls of the porridge. Encer could have sworn that if she ate less she would blow away in a stiff breeze. Despite her meager appetite she was in the midst of a growth spurt that kept Mytera busy mending and lengthening the child’s wardrobe. After finishing to the exact spoonful required of her Inadar asked to be excused and slipped outside to play with her friends.
    Mytera cleaned up the table and chatted about the weather as Encer pulled out the block of wood he was working on. The table was soon strewn with the carving tools and Encer was engaged in carving out a new bowl. He only committed a part of his attention to the conversation and thus only nodded his head and agreed every now and then. Mytera knew his ways but still continued talking. He suspected that she was merely thinking aloud and wouldn’t have spoken if she knew he was paying attention.
    “ That addle brained girl is outside without her coat. The poor thing will catch her death.”
    “ What?” Encer noticed that Mytera had sat down near the fire and picked up her sewing. Beside her he saw Inadar’s coat hanging on a peg as his brain translated what he hadn’t been paying attention to.
    “ She went out in this cold without her coat.” Mytera sighed in exasperation and stood up.
    “ Don’t worry. I will take it to her.” Encer left his carving and put his own coat on. His fur lined boots were next. Suitably armored for the cold he accepted the coat and hat that Mytera gave him and slipped out. Inadar was probably across the village with Selene’s children. Trudging through the chilled air he made for her expected location. A drifting white flake caught his attention. Looking up he saw a smattering of the snowflakes falling silently to earth confirming his earlier prediction.
    Inadar was indeed coatless and frolicking joyously with the other children. She wasn’t the least bit cold. Encer held her hands to see for himself and found hers to be warmer than his. Oh to be a ten