Read Online Lusam: The Dragon Mage Wars Book Two by Dean Cadman - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Dean Cadman
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he slowly hid it again.
“How?” he asked in a whisper, shaking his head as if he still didn't believe it was possible, even after seeing it with his own eyes.
“I don't know how. I just did it one day when I was a child. My grandmother asked me to show her how I did it, but she was never able to do it herself. And I know you're going to say that she wasn't my grandmother, and that she was only my mother's Hermingild , but she will always be my grandmother to me, no matter what,” Lusam replied, maybe a little too defensively.
“I'm sorry. I can understand that you would feel that way. She raised you and protected you after all. I can see now that she did an amazing job of keeping you safe too, making you promise to always hide your aura was a stroke of genius. I have no doubt you wouldn't have survived if she hadn't,” Renn said. Chuckling to himself he added, “I can also see now why it was so hard for me to find you in Helveel.”
Lusam smiled at him then said, “Sorry, I didn't know you were looking for me.” They both laughed and finished eating their fish, chatting about much more trivial matters while they did so.
After they finished their food Lusam decided to try out his idea and attempt to locate Neala's position. Knowing how far from Stelgad she was may settle his nerves a little, on the other hand, if she was already too far ahead of them it would no doubt make him feel even worse than he did right now. He knew either way that he needed to find out, if he could.
“Renn, have you ever travelled the road from Helveel to Stelgad before?” Lusam asked hopefully.
Renn looked up at him and replied, “Aye. Many times lad. Why do you ask?”
“Do you think you could draw a simple map of the road on the ground here?” Lusam asked pointing to a flat clear area of ground to the side of them.
“Hmm, I suppose so. Why, what are you thinking?” Renn enquired suspiciously.
“I have an idea of how I may be able to track Neala. If it works it would give us a rough idea of the speed they are travelling, and whether or not we have a chance to beat them to Stelgad,” Lusam replied. Renn nodded and after clearing a few leaves and twigs from the patch of ground started to score lines into the dirt with his knife. After several minutes Lusam could make out the clear lines of a road, mountains to one side, and marks representing trees to the other side.
When Renn was finished he took a step back and assessed his work. From what Lusam could see the road formed almost a perfect arc around the forest with only a few minor deviations.
“How accurate would you say that was?” Lusam asked.
“Well, I'm no cartographer, but I would say it's pretty accurate. The marks along the road I've made are the usual approximate travelling distances travelled each day on horseback. Obviously it depends on the speed of the riders. If they have a wagon it would be slower, but if they were in a rush they could maybe travel double that distance in a single day,” Renn replied thoughtfully.
“Okay, I understand. I take it this is the forest we're now in?” Lusam asked pointing to the marks representing the trees.
“Yes, that's right,” Renn agreed.
“Can you estimate where we would be now in relation to Helveel and the road on your map?” Lusam asked pointing at the area he expected would be the general location.
Renn studied his map for a few moments then indicated a spot on the map. “We should be somewhere in this area, but of course it's only an estimation,” he replied, marking the location on his map with a small round pebble. “If you don't mind me asking, how do you intend to locate Neala using a map scratched into the dirt?”
Lusam removed Neala's throwing knife from his belt and held it up for Renn to see. “This knife is Neala's. It's one of six I enchanted for her back in Helveel. I'm pretty sure that I can track the other knives using this one. If her captor is still in possession of any of the
“How?” he asked in a whisper, shaking his head as if he still didn't believe it was possible, even after seeing it with his own eyes.
“I don't know how. I just did it one day when I was a child. My grandmother asked me to show her how I did it, but she was never able to do it herself. And I know you're going to say that she wasn't my grandmother, and that she was only my mother's Hermingild , but she will always be my grandmother to me, no matter what,” Lusam replied, maybe a little too defensively.
“I'm sorry. I can understand that you would feel that way. She raised you and protected you after all. I can see now that she did an amazing job of keeping you safe too, making you promise to always hide your aura was a stroke of genius. I have no doubt you wouldn't have survived if she hadn't,” Renn said. Chuckling to himself he added, “I can also see now why it was so hard for me to find you in Helveel.”
Lusam smiled at him then said, “Sorry, I didn't know you were looking for me.” They both laughed and finished eating their fish, chatting about much more trivial matters while they did so.
After they finished their food Lusam decided to try out his idea and attempt to locate Neala's position. Knowing how far from Stelgad she was may settle his nerves a little, on the other hand, if she was already too far ahead of them it would no doubt make him feel even worse than he did right now. He knew either way that he needed to find out, if he could.
“Renn, have you ever travelled the road from Helveel to Stelgad before?” Lusam asked hopefully.
Renn looked up at him and replied, “Aye. Many times lad. Why do you ask?”
“Do you think you could draw a simple map of the road on the ground here?” Lusam asked pointing to a flat clear area of ground to the side of them.
“Hmm, I suppose so. Why, what are you thinking?” Renn enquired suspiciously.
“I have an idea of how I may be able to track Neala. If it works it would give us a rough idea of the speed they are travelling, and whether or not we have a chance to beat them to Stelgad,” Lusam replied. Renn nodded and after clearing a few leaves and twigs from the patch of ground started to score lines into the dirt with his knife. After several minutes Lusam could make out the clear lines of a road, mountains to one side, and marks representing trees to the other side.
When Renn was finished he took a step back and assessed his work. From what Lusam could see the road formed almost a perfect arc around the forest with only a few minor deviations.
“How accurate would you say that was?” Lusam asked.
“Well, I'm no cartographer, but I would say it's pretty accurate. The marks along the road I've made are the usual approximate travelling distances travelled each day on horseback. Obviously it depends on the speed of the riders. If they have a wagon it would be slower, but if they were in a rush they could maybe travel double that distance in a single day,” Renn replied thoughtfully.
“Okay, I understand. I take it this is the forest we're now in?” Lusam asked pointing to the marks representing the trees.
“Yes, that's right,” Renn agreed.
“Can you estimate where we would be now in relation to Helveel and the road on your map?” Lusam asked pointing at the area he expected would be the general location.
Renn studied his map for a few moments then indicated a spot on the map. “We should be somewhere in this area, but of course it's only an estimation,” he replied, marking the location on his map with a small round pebble. “If you don't mind me asking, how do you intend to locate Neala using a map scratched into the dirt?”
Lusam removed Neala's throwing knife from his belt and held it up for Renn to see. “This knife is Neala's. It's one of six I enchanted for her back in Helveel. I'm pretty sure that I can track the other knives using this one. If her captor is still in possession of any of the
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