Read Online Land of Shadows (The Legend of the Gate Keeper Book 1) by Jeff Gunzel - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jeff Gunzel
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world rested in their hands.
Deciding it would be best to just clean up for Sanctas and try not to think about anything else, he stripped down and bent over his washbowl, splashing about. After disappearing into his closet for a few minutes, he returned wearing his favorite black pants with a white collared shirt and red vest. Black leather boots completed the outfit. He admired himself in the mirror one last time, flipping his curly hair out of his eyes before heading back downstairs.
Taking a last look towards his dad, who seemed to be frozen in time, still sitting in his chair with his head in his hands, Eric just shook his head as he walked past him.
Loud music and the sounds of celebration could be heard through the house long before he got to the door. Stepping onto the walkway was like entering another world entirely. Folk were dancing in the streets, waving brightly colored ribbons and banners.
Folk kept running up to Eric and shoving food items into his arms. Old Lady Smithies ran up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek as she shoved a large apple into his hand. Before he could say anything, she had already run off, but her presence was quickly replaced by the butcher, Mr. Humpry, who shoved a fresh sausage with bun into his free hand while hugging him with the other. Not a single word was exchanged other than a warm smile, and he was off as quickly as he came.
As much as Eric loved the warm exchanges, he needed to get to the other side of town, where the tournaments were taking place. He lightly pushed his way through the crowded streets, staying towards the center of the road, where it was the least congested.
The sides of the road were packed with folk set up in mini shops and wagons with the tarps pulled back. They were giving away food and tiny trinkets for the children. Horns were blowing and drums were being beaten—sometimes to an actual song. Others just tried to make as much joyous noise as they could. Jugglers created small patches of space here and there, the crowd giving them just enough room to perform their craft. The ones juggling lit torches were given a bit more.
Eric could see he would have to adjust his route when he saw what appeared to be a parade of some kind coming right at him. It was hard to tell exactly what the commotion was, given how dense the crowd had become and how limited his forward sight was now. As he slowly shoved his way to the side of the street, the source of the commotion became much more apparent. A long, lizard-type puppet was dancing along as it slowly made its way down the street. The giant yellow head seemed completely animated, with a mouth that kept opening and closing as eyes with black eyelashes gazed around, blinking repeatedly. Various sections of the long green body danced up and down in no particular pattern as people pointed and cheered. It was hard to tell how many folk were controlling the dance under the giant puppet, but it seemed it had to be twenty or so.
After letting the spectacle pass by, Eric continued to push through the dense crowd, constantly bumping into people but getting nothing but a smile in return for his trouble. It was about this time that it really hit him how many strangers were here. He knew almost everyone in town, but there were so many faces he didn’t recognize. Even considering the local farmers that had come for the festival, it still seemed a large number of people he couldn’t place. They must have traveled from Denark and maybe even as far as Athsmin. Very dangerous to travel that far just for Sanctas , he thought.
The local farmers lived in relative safety because of the militia Lord Pike sent out just to patrol the local area regularly. They were instructed to change their route every day just in case it was being monitored by someone or something. But anyone traveling from another town was really on their own. Eric could not see risking life and limb for a local festival.
Before he knew it, he could see the
Deciding it would be best to just clean up for Sanctas and try not to think about anything else, he stripped down and bent over his washbowl, splashing about. After disappearing into his closet for a few minutes, he returned wearing his favorite black pants with a white collared shirt and red vest. Black leather boots completed the outfit. He admired himself in the mirror one last time, flipping his curly hair out of his eyes before heading back downstairs.
Taking a last look towards his dad, who seemed to be frozen in time, still sitting in his chair with his head in his hands, Eric just shook his head as he walked past him.
Loud music and the sounds of celebration could be heard through the house long before he got to the door. Stepping onto the walkway was like entering another world entirely. Folk were dancing in the streets, waving brightly colored ribbons and banners.
Folk kept running up to Eric and shoving food items into his arms. Old Lady Smithies ran up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek as she shoved a large apple into his hand. Before he could say anything, she had already run off, but her presence was quickly replaced by the butcher, Mr. Humpry, who shoved a fresh sausage with bun into his free hand while hugging him with the other. Not a single word was exchanged other than a warm smile, and he was off as quickly as he came.
As much as Eric loved the warm exchanges, he needed to get to the other side of town, where the tournaments were taking place. He lightly pushed his way through the crowded streets, staying towards the center of the road, where it was the least congested.
The sides of the road were packed with folk set up in mini shops and wagons with the tarps pulled back. They were giving away food and tiny trinkets for the children. Horns were blowing and drums were being beaten—sometimes to an actual song. Others just tried to make as much joyous noise as they could. Jugglers created small patches of space here and there, the crowd giving them just enough room to perform their craft. The ones juggling lit torches were given a bit more.
Eric could see he would have to adjust his route when he saw what appeared to be a parade of some kind coming right at him. It was hard to tell exactly what the commotion was, given how dense the crowd had become and how limited his forward sight was now. As he slowly shoved his way to the side of the street, the source of the commotion became much more apparent. A long, lizard-type puppet was dancing along as it slowly made its way down the street. The giant yellow head seemed completely animated, with a mouth that kept opening and closing as eyes with black eyelashes gazed around, blinking repeatedly. Various sections of the long green body danced up and down in no particular pattern as people pointed and cheered. It was hard to tell how many folk were controlling the dance under the giant puppet, but it seemed it had to be twenty or so.
After letting the spectacle pass by, Eric continued to push through the dense crowd, constantly bumping into people but getting nothing but a smile in return for his trouble. It was about this time that it really hit him how many strangers were here. He knew almost everyone in town, but there were so many faces he didn’t recognize. Even considering the local farmers that had come for the festival, it still seemed a large number of people he couldn’t place. They must have traveled from Denark and maybe even as far as Athsmin. Very dangerous to travel that far just for Sanctas , he thought.
The local farmers lived in relative safety because of the militia Lord Pike sent out just to patrol the local area regularly. They were instructed to change their route every day just in case it was being monitored by someone or something. But anyone traveling from another town was really on their own. Eric could not see risking life and limb for a local festival.
Before he knew it, he could see the
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