Read Online Epic Of Palins 01 - Dagger Star by Elizabeth Vaughan - Free Book Online
Authors: Elizabeth Vaughan
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mused.
Josiah sucked in a breath.
Red ignored him, and turned to her sword-sister. “He seems to be resting easier, Bethral. I know you would follow the ways of your mother in this, but wait a bit.”
Bethral gave her a narrow look, and Red puffed out a breath impatiently. “He’s breathed this long, hasn’t he? What’s an hour more?”
JOSIAH stood and watched as Red headed back to where she’d left the horses. Once Bethral had agreed to wait for aid, they’d left her with the slave in the hut. Red would finish her tasks and fetch water. Josiah was going to send for Evie.
Had that been a glimpse of compassion he’d seen in Red as she’d looked at Bethral? For a moment he’d have sworn she’d been grateful for his offer of assistance. Odd to think a hardened mercenary would be so concerned.
Of course, once they’d stepped outside, she’d asked where she could find a spade.
Josiah shook his head, and headed toward the ruins of the old chapel. He’d taken the lantern, since his path wove through the trees where the darkness still clung. If he was lucky, he’d catch Evie before she started to prepare for the Dawn Greeting.
There was soft bleating behind him, and then the goats ran up around him, scampering to keep pace. He reached down to scratch Snowdrops’s ears. She rubbed against his leg, then danced away, her white coat glowing in the soft light of the lantern.
He took the path as quickly as he dared, and entered the ruined shrine. Not much left, except the back wall. It stood with its stylized sun design, a silent witness to the destruction all around.
The goats pressed through with him, their hooves clattering on the rough stone floor. He kept it swept clean, except for the rough pile of stones in the center. He knelt, set down the lantern, and piled the stones in the pattern that meant he needed aid. Evie usually checked on him before the Dawn Greeting. With any luck…
Josiah left the lantern and retreated back up the path until the doorway was just visible in the moonlight. Far enough that it wouldn’t cause Evie a problem, yet close enough that he’d see her when she stepped out.
The goats explored around him, sniffing at the plants. He seated himself on the ground, leaned back against a tree, and looked up at the night sky. It would be no bad thing if Red were indebted to him. Maybe he could get her to understand what that birthmark meant, who she really was.
He’d despaired when he’d found them gone, and cursed himself for a fool. There’d been other ways to convince her, maybe, but he’d fumbled it badly. The empty foaling room had brought his hopes crashing down around him. But they’d returned, thank the Lord of Light and the Lady of Laughter. Bethral’s impulse had brought Red back to him; he’d not lose this chance again.
How bad things must be, outside. What was happening, that slaves were abused so? He’d known that people were being bought and sold—Evie had told him—but this? Josiah frowned, curious.
He’d ask Evie, later. Maybe she was hiding the truth from him.
Dapple bleated, and trotted toward the shrine. The others followed, and Josiah stood, brushing off his pants.
“Josiah?” A soft voice called, and the light of his lantern moved toward the doorway. He smiled as Evie stepped out, reaching to pet the goats. She was dressed in all her finery, with a white robe edged in gold, a heavy cloak with a large hood, and white gloves. The perfect portrait of a Lady High Priestess of the Lord of Light and Lady of Laughter.
“Josiah,” she called again, lifting the lantern. Not that it helped all that much, with her being a head shorter than himself. Josiah stifled a chuckle. Evie was a bit sensitive about her height.
“Here,” he answered, and started to walk toward her.
“What aid do you need, cousin?” Evie asked, worried. “Are you hurt?”
“It’s not for me,” he explained as he swept her into a quick hug. “Can you come?”
“I’ve an
Josiah sucked in a breath.
Red ignored him, and turned to her sword-sister. “He seems to be resting easier, Bethral. I know you would follow the ways of your mother in this, but wait a bit.”
Bethral gave her a narrow look, and Red puffed out a breath impatiently. “He’s breathed this long, hasn’t he? What’s an hour more?”
JOSIAH stood and watched as Red headed back to where she’d left the horses. Once Bethral had agreed to wait for aid, they’d left her with the slave in the hut. Red would finish her tasks and fetch water. Josiah was going to send for Evie.
Had that been a glimpse of compassion he’d seen in Red as she’d looked at Bethral? For a moment he’d have sworn she’d been grateful for his offer of assistance. Odd to think a hardened mercenary would be so concerned.
Of course, once they’d stepped outside, she’d asked where she could find a spade.
Josiah shook his head, and headed toward the ruins of the old chapel. He’d taken the lantern, since his path wove through the trees where the darkness still clung. If he was lucky, he’d catch Evie before she started to prepare for the Dawn Greeting.
There was soft bleating behind him, and then the goats ran up around him, scampering to keep pace. He reached down to scratch Snowdrops’s ears. She rubbed against his leg, then danced away, her white coat glowing in the soft light of the lantern.
He took the path as quickly as he dared, and entered the ruined shrine. Not much left, except the back wall. It stood with its stylized sun design, a silent witness to the destruction all around.
The goats pressed through with him, their hooves clattering on the rough stone floor. He kept it swept clean, except for the rough pile of stones in the center. He knelt, set down the lantern, and piled the stones in the pattern that meant he needed aid. Evie usually checked on him before the Dawn Greeting. With any luck…
Josiah left the lantern and retreated back up the path until the doorway was just visible in the moonlight. Far enough that it wouldn’t cause Evie a problem, yet close enough that he’d see her when she stepped out.
The goats explored around him, sniffing at the plants. He seated himself on the ground, leaned back against a tree, and looked up at the night sky. It would be no bad thing if Red were indebted to him. Maybe he could get her to understand what that birthmark meant, who she really was.
He’d despaired when he’d found them gone, and cursed himself for a fool. There’d been other ways to convince her, maybe, but he’d fumbled it badly. The empty foaling room had brought his hopes crashing down around him. But they’d returned, thank the Lord of Light and the Lady of Laughter. Bethral’s impulse had brought Red back to him; he’d not lose this chance again.
How bad things must be, outside. What was happening, that slaves were abused so? He’d known that people were being bought and sold—Evie had told him—but this? Josiah frowned, curious.
He’d ask Evie, later. Maybe she was hiding the truth from him.
Dapple bleated, and trotted toward the shrine. The others followed, and Josiah stood, brushing off his pants.
“Josiah?” A soft voice called, and the light of his lantern moved toward the doorway. He smiled as Evie stepped out, reaching to pet the goats. She was dressed in all her finery, with a white robe edged in gold, a heavy cloak with a large hood, and white gloves. The perfect portrait of a Lady High Priestess of the Lord of Light and Lady of Laughter.
“Josiah,” she called again, lifting the lantern. Not that it helped all that much, with her being a head shorter than himself. Josiah stifled a chuckle. Evie was a bit sensitive about her height.
“Here,” he answered, and started to walk toward her.
“What aid do you need, cousin?” Evie asked, worried. “Are you hurt?”
“It’s not for me,” he explained as he swept her into a quick hug. “Can you come?”
“I’ve an
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