Read Online My Royal Pain Quest (The Lakeland Knight series, #2) by Laura Lond - Free Book Online Page A

do.”
    “Why?”
    “Never mind. So what are you up to?”
    “We are patrolling the valley, checking whether everything is all right. If something needs to be done or fixed, we’ll tell other Swirgs, they’ll come out at night and do it. I am Frederick , this is Baltazar, and this,” he gestured at the little one, “this is Reginald.”
    I couldn’t help smiling. These fellows seemed to favor big, impressive names.
    “Today is Reggie’s first time out of the caves,” Frederick went on. “We’re showing him what it’s like out here, and teaching him how to use saveberries.”
    “We are trying out your berries as well.”
    “Yes, I see that…” the Swirg shot an uneasy glance at Cassandra. “With respect, Mr. Arkus, you shouldn’t be sharing the saveberries’ secret with other humans. The young lady that was with you already knows, and now this man.”
    “Don’t tell anyone,” I said, lowering my voice, “but the young lady that was with me and this man are one and the same.”
    The Swirgs stared.
    “Really?!” Little Reggie stepped closer. “So humans can turn from women into men?!”
    “No, no!” laughed Cassandra. “I’m just dressed up as a guy, because I need to hide from someone.” She turned to Frederick . “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with us. We understand how important it is to the Swirgs.”
    He gave a slight bow. “Thank you. Well, we’d better get going. We still need to check the northern part of the valley, and then go back and watch those humans down the creek. A rather suspicious bunch, I don’t like them.”
    “Happy patrolling. I didn’t realize Swirgs were so busy.”
    “Busier than usual when Frederick is in charge,” said Baltazar. “He thinks it his duty to spy on everyone who comes here.”
    “Not on everyone, only on strangers, especially if they look like trouble. It’s only wise to…” Frederick suddenly stopped and listened. “Shh! Someone’s coming.”
    I heard footsteps as well. Reggie wanted to hide, but Baltazar reminded him that there was no need since we were invisible. We waited in silence. In a few moments a low hanging tree branch moved aside, and none other than the fake Triar showed up. He passed us, looking straight ahead and walking briskly as someone who knows exactly where they are going.
    “All kinds of strangers roaming about today,” grumbled Frederick , frowning.
    “If I were you, I’d watch this one,” I said.
    “You know him?”
    “Enough to warn you that he is bad news.”
    Little Reggie nudged Frederick . “He must be going to those other humans! See, he is heading that way! And they seemed to be waiting for someone.”
    “You’re probably right. We’d better follow him and check it out.” Frederick turned to me. “Mr. Arkus, would you please come with us?”
    I figured it wouldn’t hurt to see what the crook was up to.
    “All right.”
    We went after the old man, trying not to make noise. He kept walking along the creek for a few minutes, then turned to the right, to a thin string of smoke rising from behind sourberry bushes.
    “There you are at last!” someone greeted him as he walked around the shrubs.
    We followed. A group of rough-looking men sat around a campfire, finishing a meal. They appeared to have been through some kind of an ordeal, sporting numerous cuts and bruises.
    “These look familiar…” Cassandra whispered.
    Now I recognized them as well. They were the thugs from the tavern.
    “We were about to leave,” the same fellow went on, a short dark-haired guy with a split eyebrow. “It’s been several hours.”
    “I said I would come, didn’t I?” the old man replied. “What I’m bringing you takes some time to prepare.”
    “And what would that be?”
    The fake Triar reached into his bag and took out a clay bottle.
    “Here. When you find them, don’t fight; they proved to be better at it than you are. Just splash some of this on each one.”
    The ruffians rose from the ground and