Read Online Hunter and Fox by Philippa Ballantine - Free Book Online

perhaps made everything a little easier. He had, unlike the majority of his people, only felt the pull of suicide once in all the Harrowed Time. That moment still burned in his memory—but it had not been despair that had driven him there, only a desire to see his kin again.
    â€œYou're the quietest Vaerli I've ever had in my wagon,” the driver said and spat the last of his magra leaf out onto the road, “and that's saying something!”
    Motivated by curiosity, Byre slipped over the seat and sat next to him. “So you've seen a few, then?”
    â€œMore than you, I would say.” Ungro shot him a glance out of the corner of his eye as if afraid how his humor would be taken.
    Byre grinned in response. “And what are they like?’
    â€œWell,” the driver replied with a shrug, reached into his coat pocket, pulled out more magra and stuffed a wad against his gum, “they say the Vaerli used to keep to themselves. Course, they can't do that no more, so if folks are fair to them they'll talk well enough. Not much choice now, I guess.”
    â€œI suppose.” Byre stared at his hands for a minute, not quite knowing what to ask but still desperate for information.
    â€œOne thing a lot of them mention is that Talyn the Dark. You know, the Caisah's Hunter?”
    That hurt. Byre could feel the steel of longing run through him. He hadn't heard her name in a very long time, yet he missed her like the sun. “What do they say?”
    â€œThe usual. How she's outcast and not one of them anymore. They get this funny look on their face as well, sort of like they've eaten something nasty.” The driver flicked his reins. “Not that I'm blaming them, with her working for him that made the Harrowing.”
    â€œYou seem to know a lot about my people. Most in Conhaero no longer care.”
    â€œThey're good company mainly, and they tell a lot of stories. I've heard that there is even some talespinner that travels around collecting them. Course, he probably wants to save them before the Vaerli are all gone.”
    â€œHe'd best hurry, then,” Byre whispered.
    Conversation ran out after that. They both sat still, listening to the relentless hammer of hooves on the road and watching the sun set. It was a peaceful and companionable silence, until the first riders came at them from the shelter of those golden trees.
    Another Vaerli might have frozen, paralyzed by the loss of Gifts, but Byre had never known them. He had always had to rely on his own skill and strength. Quickly sliding his stick out from under the seat, he glanced at Ungro. “Can we outrun them?”
    The driver shook his head, pulling out his blunderbuss and laying it across his knees. “Old Clopper can run for sure, but the rest are tired. We won't be able to for long.”
    Byre's sharp eyes picked out a section of cliff only a mile or so ahead. “Can we at least make it to that outcrop?”
    The driver squinted against the horizon. “Can't see what you mean, but if you say it's there, I believe you!” Ungro flicked the reins, and with a snort the carthorses broke into a thundering gallop. Stoutly built as the cart was, it began to heave alarmingly. Still, this would not be the first time it needed to outrun bandits.
    The five riders let out a whoop. Byre ran down the length of the rocking wagon and peered out the back. It was hard to tell yet who they were, but certainly they wanted something badly enough to risk a Waggoner's blunderbuss.
    Byre could only wish for some arrows, but it was as illegal to sell those to Vaerli as to sell a sword. He would have to rely on his stick and whatever natural abilities still remained.
    With a crunch the wagon lurched off the road and onto the rocky path he had pointed out.
    â€œIt'd be good to see you use some of that Vaerli magic,” Ungro yelled over his shoulder.
    It didn't matter how much people knew that the Gifts were gone, they still