Read Online Moonstone, Magic That Binds (Book 1) by Guy Antibes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Guy Antibes
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as he said it. The road turned into a mire and the column ahead disappeared into the rain.
The storm had stopped before sunset, when Captain Shortwell ordered the column to stop. He nodded to Restella when he examined the supply wagons as soon as they caught up to the rest of the soldiers.
“Lieutenant Beecher. Good job with the covers. The men will be happy to sleep in dry tents.” The Captain nodded and rode back along the line. The quartermasters placed the wagons around the camp and she silently thanked Silver for his help.
She looked back up the road and looked back at the runnels of mud when Silver had tugged on her elbow.
“Lieutenant. Your tent is up. You can get a few minutes of rest before the cooks have something ready to eat. Officers dine with the captain.”
Restella walked into her tent. The hard cot looked like a featherbed and felt like one when she laid her weary frame on the taut canvas.
A shake woke Restella up.
“Time for supper with the captain, ma’am,” Silver said.
“How many times a day do you save me from getting kicked out of this expedition?”
“As many as it takes, ma’am. You’ve been given a raw deal coming out here without any proper training. I’m here to make sure you learn as you go. You are learning, aren’t you ma’am?”
“I am indebted to your being my nursemaid. Please continue to do so. What can I do for you?”
Silver gave her a smile that probably crossed the line to insubordination. “Just listen to me, Lieutenant. Just listen to me.”
Restella knew sage advice when she heard it. In the past she might not act on another’s suggestions, but the column was like being in enemy territory. She never had even thought about an army needing supplies before. If she wanted to be the warrior-leader she dreamed about, Restella would definitely lean on Silver as much as she could.
~~~
CHAPTER EIGHT
~
T HE STAIRS SEEMED TO NEVER END , but Lotto clumped right behind Mander. The castle astounded Lotto. He thought he had gotten used to Beckondale, but the castle seemed to go on and on and up and up. Guards in crisp uniforms and men and women attired in fine clothes. He did notice that the men had short haircuts, making both Mander and him stand out.
Fessano let both men in. His baldhead frizzed out, matching the disarray of his wild white beard. He looked like a little elf, or what Lotto thought of when he thought of elves.
“Mander, I’m surprised you returned after leaving us in that dreadful rain.”
The shopkeeper shrugged his shoulders. “Let me sit in your most comfortable chair. My back is killing me from trudging up all of those steps. Rain dampens business as well as coats and hats, so I closed the shop and thought I would introduce Lotto. He’s the other end of the Moonstone story.”
“Sit, sit!” the wizard said with his eyes bulging. “I even built a fire on a summer’s day. Imagine that.” He shivered. “So you held the Moonstone when Restella took it from your grasp? You are bound to her, you know.”
“That’s why we came!” Lotto said. How did this man know so much? Was it because Fessano had magical power? It seemed that Lotto had few secrets, in fact, Mander knew more about Lotto than he did.
Mander leaned forward and twisted his torso one way, and then another as he sat. He winced a bit and them sighed. “That’s better. Lotto, here, told me about the vision he had of his parents dying. I think you should hear him out and test him to see if he has Affinity.”
“Oh, I don’t need to test him. He already proved that when he activated the stone.” Fessano turned to Lotto. “Restella talked about a flash of light when she took it from you.”
Lotto held up his fist. “It happened as soon as she touched it.”
“Ah, you speak the truth,” Fessano said, “and I sense power in you.”
Power. The word frightened Lotto. He didn’t want any power, especially after he saw how his parents had died in
The storm had stopped before sunset, when Captain Shortwell ordered the column to stop. He nodded to Restella when he examined the supply wagons as soon as they caught up to the rest of the soldiers.
“Lieutenant Beecher. Good job with the covers. The men will be happy to sleep in dry tents.” The Captain nodded and rode back along the line. The quartermasters placed the wagons around the camp and she silently thanked Silver for his help.
She looked back up the road and looked back at the runnels of mud when Silver had tugged on her elbow.
“Lieutenant. Your tent is up. You can get a few minutes of rest before the cooks have something ready to eat. Officers dine with the captain.”
Restella walked into her tent. The hard cot looked like a featherbed and felt like one when she laid her weary frame on the taut canvas.
A shake woke Restella up.
“Time for supper with the captain, ma’am,” Silver said.
“How many times a day do you save me from getting kicked out of this expedition?”
“As many as it takes, ma’am. You’ve been given a raw deal coming out here without any proper training. I’m here to make sure you learn as you go. You are learning, aren’t you ma’am?”
“I am indebted to your being my nursemaid. Please continue to do so. What can I do for you?”
Silver gave her a smile that probably crossed the line to insubordination. “Just listen to me, Lieutenant. Just listen to me.”
Restella knew sage advice when she heard it. In the past she might not act on another’s suggestions, but the column was like being in enemy territory. She never had even thought about an army needing supplies before. If she wanted to be the warrior-leader she dreamed about, Restella would definitely lean on Silver as much as she could.
~~~
CHAPTER EIGHT
~
T HE STAIRS SEEMED TO NEVER END , but Lotto clumped right behind Mander. The castle astounded Lotto. He thought he had gotten used to Beckondale, but the castle seemed to go on and on and up and up. Guards in crisp uniforms and men and women attired in fine clothes. He did notice that the men had short haircuts, making both Mander and him stand out.
Fessano let both men in. His baldhead frizzed out, matching the disarray of his wild white beard. He looked like a little elf, or what Lotto thought of when he thought of elves.
“Mander, I’m surprised you returned after leaving us in that dreadful rain.”
The shopkeeper shrugged his shoulders. “Let me sit in your most comfortable chair. My back is killing me from trudging up all of those steps. Rain dampens business as well as coats and hats, so I closed the shop and thought I would introduce Lotto. He’s the other end of the Moonstone story.”
“Sit, sit!” the wizard said with his eyes bulging. “I even built a fire on a summer’s day. Imagine that.” He shivered. “So you held the Moonstone when Restella took it from your grasp? You are bound to her, you know.”
“That’s why we came!” Lotto said. How did this man know so much? Was it because Fessano had magical power? It seemed that Lotto had few secrets, in fact, Mander knew more about Lotto than he did.
Mander leaned forward and twisted his torso one way, and then another as he sat. He winced a bit and them sighed. “That’s better. Lotto, here, told me about the vision he had of his parents dying. I think you should hear him out and test him to see if he has Affinity.”
“Oh, I don’t need to test him. He already proved that when he activated the stone.” Fessano turned to Lotto. “Restella talked about a flash of light when she took it from you.”
Lotto held up his fist. “It happened as soon as she touched it.”
“Ah, you speak the truth,” Fessano said, “and I sense power in you.”
Power. The word frightened Lotto. He didn’t want any power, especially after he saw how his parents had died in
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