Read Online Greyrawk (Book 2) by Jim Greenfield - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jim Greenfield
Ads: Link
He will want to defeat your threat there. The symbolism is too great to pass up. He will provoke you in the hope you will engage him with your sword so he can kill you in self-defense."
"He cannot kill me," said Greyrawk. "I make my living with a sword. Or I used to."
"Perhaps he cannot gain victory in a fair fight, but he will guarantee his victory nonetheless. My men will be following and we will take him when he makes his move. Brandalay will accompany you. You need someone you can trust with you, and he is very handy with his sword. I have no fear the two of you cannot handle any situation. Leave at first light. Your saddlebags are prepared. Good night, gentlemen, and good luck."
Arenna left them.
"Is she always so abrupt?"
"Abrupt?" said Brandalay. "I've never heard her speak so long at one time. You should feel honored."
"I always thought an honor should not feel like I'm riding into my enemy's territory."
"Greyrawk Mountain is your territory."
"Perhaps, yet there are many miles to reach it. A lot may happen."
"You are correct, there. Here, you can sleep in this room. I will wake you at dawn."
"Have you known Arenna long?" asked Greyrawk.
"Yes, nearly all my life."
"You knew her as a child, before she was injured?"
"Yes. Your unspoken question - yes it changed her. She was a sweet girl fond of exploring. She went into the depths of the castle by herself often, but one time something happened. Belderag was enraged, yelling at her and dragging her behind him. I never heard what happened to her other than what Arenna told me."
"Was it the truth?"
"She believes it to be true. Belderag is a hard man, but he is not known to hurt children. I will not argue the point with Arenna. She employs me when no one else would dare. Good night, Ian."
Greyrawk lay awake reviewing the day's events. Much had been put in motion but he wasn't convinced that it had been a good day. Did he still have the opportunity to ride away from all this? Or was it already too late?
He did not contemplate for too long; his body relaxed and Greyrawk fell easily into slumber. He dreamt of copper eyes and blue hair. But the dawn came quickly.
"Greyrawk? Do you hear me? Wake up!" said Brandalay. He shook Greyrawk's shoulder several times.
"Eh? I'm awake, I'm awake."
"Was she good?"
"Huh?"
"Your dream. You didn't want to wake up." Brandalay grinned at Greyrawk's confused look. "Could only have been about a woman."
"Ah, I guess. Don't remember much of it."
Brandalay watched him and smiled. "Well, get dressed and grab some food before it's gone. We need to be on the road within the hour."
Greyrawk stretched, vividly remembering his dream and feeling his face flush. He didn't think he talked in his sleep. Jaele never mentioned that he ever did. He dressed quickly and ran across the compound to the common room where many people were eating. There was very little sound as low voices made up the conversation but he couldn't catch the words. The weathered figures all looked like fighting men and they minded their own business. No one looked up as he entered and he helped himself to the stale bread and day-old stew. He heard Brandalay bring out their horses and watched the man tie supplies to each. Brandalay finished and mounted his horse, turning to meet Greyrawk's eyes. Greyrawk finished his stew in three hot gulps and trotted out to join his companion.
"Ready? We'll ride steady for a while, and then push for a few miles to see if anyone's following."
"What about Arenna? She said she'd have men to help us."
"And she will. They will be waiting ahead of us. We must appear as if we are alone and that will help convince those following us. We will flee from a larger number, as they would expect us to do and draw them into the trap. We cannot behave as if we believe we are not in danger for that will warn them off."
"You want us to run from them?" asked Greyrawk.
"Ha, Ian, yes. Run. They might be fifty of them."
"Or there might be
"He cannot kill me," said Greyrawk. "I make my living with a sword. Or I used to."
"Perhaps he cannot gain victory in a fair fight, but he will guarantee his victory nonetheless. My men will be following and we will take him when he makes his move. Brandalay will accompany you. You need someone you can trust with you, and he is very handy with his sword. I have no fear the two of you cannot handle any situation. Leave at first light. Your saddlebags are prepared. Good night, gentlemen, and good luck."
Arenna left them.
"Is she always so abrupt?"
"Abrupt?" said Brandalay. "I've never heard her speak so long at one time. You should feel honored."
"I always thought an honor should not feel like I'm riding into my enemy's territory."
"Greyrawk Mountain is your territory."
"Perhaps, yet there are many miles to reach it. A lot may happen."
"You are correct, there. Here, you can sleep in this room. I will wake you at dawn."
"Have you known Arenna long?" asked Greyrawk.
"Yes, nearly all my life."
"You knew her as a child, before she was injured?"
"Yes. Your unspoken question - yes it changed her. She was a sweet girl fond of exploring. She went into the depths of the castle by herself often, but one time something happened. Belderag was enraged, yelling at her and dragging her behind him. I never heard what happened to her other than what Arenna told me."
"Was it the truth?"
"She believes it to be true. Belderag is a hard man, but he is not known to hurt children. I will not argue the point with Arenna. She employs me when no one else would dare. Good night, Ian."
Greyrawk lay awake reviewing the day's events. Much had been put in motion but he wasn't convinced that it had been a good day. Did he still have the opportunity to ride away from all this? Or was it already too late?
He did not contemplate for too long; his body relaxed and Greyrawk fell easily into slumber. He dreamt of copper eyes and blue hair. But the dawn came quickly.
"Greyrawk? Do you hear me? Wake up!" said Brandalay. He shook Greyrawk's shoulder several times.
"Eh? I'm awake, I'm awake."
"Was she good?"
"Huh?"
"Your dream. You didn't want to wake up." Brandalay grinned at Greyrawk's confused look. "Could only have been about a woman."
"Ah, I guess. Don't remember much of it."
Brandalay watched him and smiled. "Well, get dressed and grab some food before it's gone. We need to be on the road within the hour."
Greyrawk stretched, vividly remembering his dream and feeling his face flush. He didn't think he talked in his sleep. Jaele never mentioned that he ever did. He dressed quickly and ran across the compound to the common room where many people were eating. There was very little sound as low voices made up the conversation but he couldn't catch the words. The weathered figures all looked like fighting men and they minded their own business. No one looked up as he entered and he helped himself to the stale bread and day-old stew. He heard Brandalay bring out their horses and watched the man tie supplies to each. Brandalay finished and mounted his horse, turning to meet Greyrawk's eyes. Greyrawk finished his stew in three hot gulps and trotted out to join his companion.
"Ready? We'll ride steady for a while, and then push for a few miles to see if anyone's following."
"What about Arenna? She said she'd have men to help us."
"And she will. They will be waiting ahead of us. We must appear as if we are alone and that will help convince those following us. We will flee from a larger number, as they would expect us to do and draw them into the trap. We cannot behave as if we believe we are not in danger for that will warn them off."
"You want us to run from them?" asked Greyrawk.
"Ha, Ian, yes. Run. They might be fifty of them."
"Or there might be
Similar Books
