Read Online Defenders of The Sacred Land: Book One of The Sacred Land Saga by Mark Tyson - Free Book Online Page B

knows, women are always mysterious.” He flicked the reins to spur along the horses. “I want to know what happened to Fadral.”
    “Aye, me too. Did you see Fadral in Brookhaven too?”
    “I didn’t see him. I was in Sanmir’s shop,” Rennon answered.
    “I tell you, Fadral was as real as you are sitting next to me now.” As an afterthought, Dorenn reached out and pinched Rennon smartly on the shoulder.
    “ OUCH ! Are you crazy? I almost pulled on the reins,” Rennon yelped.
    “Sorry, I was just making sure.”
    “Well, go make sure with someone else,” Rennon chided.
    Dorenn laughed. “I said I was sorry.”
    Rennon glared at him and then turned back to watching the road.
    Trendan had found a place to camp for the night and was directing them toward it when Rodraq was seen riding up from the road ahead. By Trendan’s estimation, they were only half a day from Cedar Falls, but Lady Shey insisted on stopping for the night instead of traveling a few hours after sunset. Dorenn was confused since she had seemed so intent on reaching the village earlier, but he decided to say nothing. Trendan argued that the road was clear and only a few more hours travel in the dark would not matter, but Lady Shey would not hear it. After she talked briefly with Rodraq, she absolutely insisted on camping for the night. Dorenn vowed to find out why she was so adamant on making camp. He thought it would be more dangerous to make camp than to continue to travel. After supper, he would take her aside for a talk.
    The camp was set up in much the same way as the night before; Trendan had again found a small group of trees to conceal the camp. The only difference was Lady Shey had the guards patrol the surrounding area just outside the perimeter of the camp, and she had them guard longer than the night before. It was obvious to Dorenn that the story of Fadral’s death had spooked her. Dorenn approached Lady Shey after a supper of dried beef with thick gravy and biscuits to talk to her. She was preparing a large glass jar with tealeaves and water to put on top of the wagon to brew in the sun while they traveled the following day.
    “My lady, may I ask you a few questions?” Dorenn began.
    Lady Shey stopped what she was doing, and as if she had read his mind, she stated, “I sent Rodraq out front to search for signs of this ‘animal’ Rof described. I do have suspicions that it is no animal, and yes, Rodraq did find signs to collaborate my suspicions. Any other questions you wish to ask of me or is that the whole of it?”
    Dorenn was stunned but he hid it well. “Only one more. Why all the mystery?”
    Lady Shey resumed her task and set the jar on the back of the wagon. “I am not in the habit of exposing my suspicions until I have evidence to back them up. Morgoran always said to be sure or hold your tongue.”
    “Morgoran,” he said, looking around nervously. He did not expect her to talk about him so openly.
    Lady Shey looked at him with a gaze so intense, he could not look at her and shifted his eyes away. She scowled. “Why is it so difficult for you Symborians to accept? The world existed before you outlawed magic you know.”
    Dorenn pursed his lips angrily but remained wisely silent.
    Lady Shey again looked at him with her sapphire blue eyes, and her gaze melted into a combination of hurt and anger. “Morgoran was one of the greatest wielders that ever lived, and one day he will be again.”
    “I meant no offense, my lady, but to speak about wielders in the way you are is grounds for death in Symboria. I tried once to read about Morgoran and wielders in the village archive, but most of the stories of magic and wielders are outlawed too.”
    Lady Shey smiled. “I know. I am sorry. Morgoran is just a sore subject with me. I never really had a chance to get to know him well before his curse, and I hate to see him the way he is now. It is a complicated affair.”
    “What is wrong with him?” Dorenn asked.
    “Ask me