Read Online Keeper of the Realms: Crow's Revenge (Book 1) by Marcus Alexander - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marcus Alexander
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pine and lily, she let out a big sigh. Kelko was right: if she wanted to be any good she would have to work hard, perhaps harder than she had ever done before.
She staggered after Kelko as he went to check on the breakfast pot. ‘I really appreciate you teaching me K’Changa,’ she told him, remembering her manners. ‘I hope that one day I can repay your kindness.’
Kelko blinked, shocked but pleased by her respectful tone. ‘Well, blossom, it was a pleasure teaching ya. Yer a good student, maybe something of a natural. Who knows, keep dis up and ya might go somewhere with it. Anyway, enough compliments … we’ve got a lot more walking ta do. I’ve got a sneaky feeling yer muscles are gonna be a whole lot stiffer by the end of the day! Now, let’s have some of dis breakfast. All that hard work has given me a crazy appetite!’
After a good meal, they packed up camp and started walking. Kelko was right. Within a few hours Charlie’s body was stiffening up again. She wished more than anything to be back home and in her own bed, preferably with a hot chocolate and a plate of cookies. But thinking of home only caused her grief. She wished she knew how her gran was. The more she thought about it, the more agitated she became. Was there any way she could have warned her gran about the Shades and Bane? Would Bane and Mr Crow really leave her alone? Would she be safe? So many questions meant so many doubts crossing through Charlie’s mind. She began to falter in her step. Was she doing the right thing? Maybe the Jade Circle wouldn’t tell her anything about her parents and this would all be a waste of time.
‘C’mon, Charlie,’ she half snarled to herself. ‘Keep it together. It’s too late to turn back now.’
Tidying her hair and straightening her back, she marched forward, a determined frown on her face. She would go to Sylvaris, she would speak to the Jade Circle and she would sort out her gran’s welfare and her parents’ whereabouts, because it was the right thing to do.
‘Well, lass,’ said Jensen, wandering up beside her, ‘we should be at Sylvaris by noon tomorrow.’
‘And the Jade Circle, will I see them tomorrow?’ Charlie asked.
‘I’m sure ya will, me little Hippotomi, I’m sure ya will.’
Charlie couldn’t wait. As they walked along, she overheard some of the Tremen joking and laughing about all the good times they were going to have once they returned to Sylvaris and their families. But she noticed that Jensen wasn’t as relaxed.
‘Jensen,’ said Charlie, ‘why the frown?’
‘Nothing bad, me little Hippotomi. It’s just that I’m wondering where our escort is. Do ya remember when I sent Stodel on ahead?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well, I sent him ahead as a fast runner specifically ta inform the Jade Circle that we was coming and ta send an escort. But they’re still not here,’ said Jensen with a scowl. ‘I’d have expected them by now.’
‘Escort?’ asked Charlie. ‘Why would we need an escort?’
‘Well, mainly just as a precaution. But Bane knows yer here with yer pendant, and I wouldn’t put it past him ta try something sneaky. Still, he couldn’t have come through the Treman door at yer house and it would take him weeks ta get here from the Western Mountains. But ya never know – it pays ta be prepared.’
‘Ha! Don’t worry, blossom!’ said Stotch. ‘We’re a long way from Stoman lands and just a day and a half’s walk from Sylvaris. Bane is no threat ta us here. Don’t take any heed of Jensen. He might be a worrier, but he’s a cunningfox and that’s wot makes him a good boss. And ta be honest I’d rather have his precautions than none. His foresight has often led our party outta trouble and right ta the profit!’
As the Tremen set up camp again a few hours later, Kelko persuaded Charlie to practise her K’Changa. Although her muscles protested to begin with, after a while they warmed up and she started to enjoy it again. She could already
She staggered after Kelko as he went to check on the breakfast pot. ‘I really appreciate you teaching me K’Changa,’ she told him, remembering her manners. ‘I hope that one day I can repay your kindness.’
Kelko blinked, shocked but pleased by her respectful tone. ‘Well, blossom, it was a pleasure teaching ya. Yer a good student, maybe something of a natural. Who knows, keep dis up and ya might go somewhere with it. Anyway, enough compliments … we’ve got a lot more walking ta do. I’ve got a sneaky feeling yer muscles are gonna be a whole lot stiffer by the end of the day! Now, let’s have some of dis breakfast. All that hard work has given me a crazy appetite!’
After a good meal, they packed up camp and started walking. Kelko was right. Within a few hours Charlie’s body was stiffening up again. She wished more than anything to be back home and in her own bed, preferably with a hot chocolate and a plate of cookies. But thinking of home only caused her grief. She wished she knew how her gran was. The more she thought about it, the more agitated she became. Was there any way she could have warned her gran about the Shades and Bane? Would Bane and Mr Crow really leave her alone? Would she be safe? So many questions meant so many doubts crossing through Charlie’s mind. She began to falter in her step. Was she doing the right thing? Maybe the Jade Circle wouldn’t tell her anything about her parents and this would all be a waste of time.
‘C’mon, Charlie,’ she half snarled to herself. ‘Keep it together. It’s too late to turn back now.’
Tidying her hair and straightening her back, she marched forward, a determined frown on her face. She would go to Sylvaris, she would speak to the Jade Circle and she would sort out her gran’s welfare and her parents’ whereabouts, because it was the right thing to do.
‘Well, lass,’ said Jensen, wandering up beside her, ‘we should be at Sylvaris by noon tomorrow.’
‘And the Jade Circle, will I see them tomorrow?’ Charlie asked.
‘I’m sure ya will, me little Hippotomi, I’m sure ya will.’
Charlie couldn’t wait. As they walked along, she overheard some of the Tremen joking and laughing about all the good times they were going to have once they returned to Sylvaris and their families. But she noticed that Jensen wasn’t as relaxed.
‘Jensen,’ said Charlie, ‘why the frown?’
‘Nothing bad, me little Hippotomi. It’s just that I’m wondering where our escort is. Do ya remember when I sent Stodel on ahead?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well, I sent him ahead as a fast runner specifically ta inform the Jade Circle that we was coming and ta send an escort. But they’re still not here,’ said Jensen with a scowl. ‘I’d have expected them by now.’
‘Escort?’ asked Charlie. ‘Why would we need an escort?’
‘Well, mainly just as a precaution. But Bane knows yer here with yer pendant, and I wouldn’t put it past him ta try something sneaky. Still, he couldn’t have come through the Treman door at yer house and it would take him weeks ta get here from the Western Mountains. But ya never know – it pays ta be prepared.’
‘Ha! Don’t worry, blossom!’ said Stotch. ‘We’re a long way from Stoman lands and just a day and a half’s walk from Sylvaris. Bane is no threat ta us here. Don’t take any heed of Jensen. He might be a worrier, but he’s a cunningfox and that’s wot makes him a good boss. And ta be honest I’d rather have his precautions than none. His foresight has often led our party outta trouble and right ta the profit!’
As the Tremen set up camp again a few hours later, Kelko persuaded Charlie to practise her K’Changa. Although her muscles protested to begin with, after a while they warmed up and she started to enjoy it again. She could already
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