Read Online Dusk Falling (Book 1) by Keri L. Salyers - Free Book Online
Authors: Keri L. Salyers
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Agemeer let the Wulf’s senses take control as he ran swiftly through the untrekked terrain.
When his gray tail disappeared from sight, Aya stood and took hold of Trinket’s reins. At a much slower pace, the two began to follow.
As Serrtin had specified, she would always lead the main party for if they should ever happen upon an enemy, she did not want the small mage to be the first target they laid eyes on. Serrtin, with all her battle experience, could react the fastest plus the towering saurian always had the element of surprise on her side for few would expect a Yarcka to suddenly appear in their midst. Any pause an enemy gave would be one less moment she would give them to live.
Aya followed ten paces behind with Trinket in tow on a long lead. The bay followed obediently, well used to traveling as such in shaded forests. Unfortunately, teaching a horse to step quietly was beyond Aya, even with her mage training- which goaded the girl into remembering that if she had remained in Bren, that she would have learned the spell for Silent Walking.
Serrtin and Aya continued on through the forest as it gradually became darker as the trees began to grow denser. A thick ropey moss became prevalent, looping around boughs and connecting branches till the treetops looked like a giant spiderweb. The floor ceased being soft and spongy the further they got from the inlet. Grass grew in sparse patches and a thin long-leaved plant seemed to usurp all the ground within three feet of a tree. Not stepping on them was impossible.
Serrtin did not like the little plants nor did she like the proximity of the trees. It did not make for good battleground. All she could think to be thankful for was that the close-knit surroundings would hinder a would-be attacker as much as herself. And no plant matter would hinder her sword for long.
She took it as an ill sign that there were no birds, no singing or squawking in the heights above them. No rabbits or small rodents scurried under the brush, darting into sight only momentarily before again seeking out the sanctuary of the shadows. A forest such as the one they traveled should have been teeming with life. Serrtin glanced briefly back to see if Aya had drawn the same conclusions but the young mage appeared lost in thought. Taking that as a sign of some sort of mage-work she didn’t understand, Serrtin turned back to surveying the terrain ahead of them.
The path they forged did not reveal any clues that pointed to recent passage. There were no footprints or broken low-growing branches. They passed a gurgling brook, pausing briefly to let Trinket take advantage of the cool clean water. Heading past, Serrtin was pleased to see the trees give way, thinning to reveal grassy turf lit by patches of sun. Small round-petaled flowers sprouted in the middle of the clover that laced the tree roots. Some of the saurian’s tension bled off into the sweet-smelling air, still she remained alert.
“Aya, Agemeer.” Serrtin called back as she spied the large gray Wulf making his way toward them. Head low, he made no effort to hide his presence.
Agemeer trotted up to Serrtin, tail down and eyes wary. “I’m glad I found you. I don’t know if I am simply being foolish but… I sense something notright about the forest here.”
“Did you see anything?”
“No but that’s just it.” Agemeer reported, looking up at Aya as she approached. “There is nothing. There’s no one here I can detect yet… I feel like there is. Someone or something. I cannot explain. It’s just a feeling I have, or should I say, the Wulf has.”
Anxiously, they all glanced about, the woods beginning to feel all the more constraining. To them, almost instantly after Agemeer gave forth his thoughts, unseen eyes seemed to lurk in the smallest of shadows and those shadows rapidly seemed to be closing in. Agemeer’s hackles rose in apprehension. Aya turned a full circle, looking for their unseen threat, she and the Yarcka both
When his gray tail disappeared from sight, Aya stood and took hold of Trinket’s reins. At a much slower pace, the two began to follow.
As Serrtin had specified, she would always lead the main party for if they should ever happen upon an enemy, she did not want the small mage to be the first target they laid eyes on. Serrtin, with all her battle experience, could react the fastest plus the towering saurian always had the element of surprise on her side for few would expect a Yarcka to suddenly appear in their midst. Any pause an enemy gave would be one less moment she would give them to live.
Aya followed ten paces behind with Trinket in tow on a long lead. The bay followed obediently, well used to traveling as such in shaded forests. Unfortunately, teaching a horse to step quietly was beyond Aya, even with her mage training- which goaded the girl into remembering that if she had remained in Bren, that she would have learned the spell for Silent Walking.
Serrtin and Aya continued on through the forest as it gradually became darker as the trees began to grow denser. A thick ropey moss became prevalent, looping around boughs and connecting branches till the treetops looked like a giant spiderweb. The floor ceased being soft and spongy the further they got from the inlet. Grass grew in sparse patches and a thin long-leaved plant seemed to usurp all the ground within three feet of a tree. Not stepping on them was impossible.
Serrtin did not like the little plants nor did she like the proximity of the trees. It did not make for good battleground. All she could think to be thankful for was that the close-knit surroundings would hinder a would-be attacker as much as herself. And no plant matter would hinder her sword for long.
She took it as an ill sign that there were no birds, no singing or squawking in the heights above them. No rabbits or small rodents scurried under the brush, darting into sight only momentarily before again seeking out the sanctuary of the shadows. A forest such as the one they traveled should have been teeming with life. Serrtin glanced briefly back to see if Aya had drawn the same conclusions but the young mage appeared lost in thought. Taking that as a sign of some sort of mage-work she didn’t understand, Serrtin turned back to surveying the terrain ahead of them.
The path they forged did not reveal any clues that pointed to recent passage. There were no footprints or broken low-growing branches. They passed a gurgling brook, pausing briefly to let Trinket take advantage of the cool clean water. Heading past, Serrtin was pleased to see the trees give way, thinning to reveal grassy turf lit by patches of sun. Small round-petaled flowers sprouted in the middle of the clover that laced the tree roots. Some of the saurian’s tension bled off into the sweet-smelling air, still she remained alert.
“Aya, Agemeer.” Serrtin called back as she spied the large gray Wulf making his way toward them. Head low, he made no effort to hide his presence.
Agemeer trotted up to Serrtin, tail down and eyes wary. “I’m glad I found you. I don’t know if I am simply being foolish but… I sense something notright about the forest here.”
“Did you see anything?”
“No but that’s just it.” Agemeer reported, looking up at Aya as she approached. “There is nothing. There’s no one here I can detect yet… I feel like there is. Someone or something. I cannot explain. It’s just a feeling I have, or should I say, the Wulf has.”
Anxiously, they all glanced about, the woods beginning to feel all the more constraining. To them, almost instantly after Agemeer gave forth his thoughts, unseen eyes seemed to lurk in the smallest of shadows and those shadows rapidly seemed to be closing in. Agemeer’s hackles rose in apprehension. Aya turned a full circle, looking for their unseen threat, she and the Yarcka both
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