Read Online Nature Mage by Duncan Pile - Free Book Online Page B

permission or tell you what they’re going to do. This is your first lesson. Always guard your hands. An experienced opponent will go for them every time. Okay - let’s try again.” Taurnil took his position more warily this time, not taking his eyes off Jonn, a look of mild resentment still smouldering in his eyes. Jonn sprang into motion, going for the wrist again, and Taurnil managed to get one clumsy block in before another painful tap sent his staff to the floor, and left Taurnil nursing his (now bruised) wrist.
    Jonn smiled tightly. “Okay, Taurn, I’ll leave your wrist alone for a bit. Let’s work on a few basic blocks.” Gaspi and Emea watched as Jonn taught Taurnil the movement and contours of basic staff technique, showing him how to use his weapon to turn blades away from the body, to open the enemy’s torso to a blow, and to keep an attacker off-balance. Taurnil seemed to be learning pretty well and, as Jonn was leaving his wrists alone, the two watchers became bored and wondered off a little way into the copse.
    The sun had almost completely set now, but the light of the fire filtered through the branches enough to colour Emea’s face in warm tones. Gaspi wanted to kiss her again as he had the night of the dance, but what if she didn’t want him to? Neither of them said a word, and the silence threatened to stretch into awkwardness. She was certainly looking at him as if she wanted him to kiss her. She looked sweet and vulnerable and passionate all at the same time, and she kept looking at his mouth.
    Just do it , Gaspi thought to himself, and made himself lean towards her. When she didn‘t pull back he kissed her gently and withdrew, searching her eyes for any sign of alarm. Her eyes were wide, and for a moment he wondered if he‘d done the wrong thing, but then she put a soft hand against his face and returned a longer kiss. Gaspi stopped worrying and let himself thrill in the moment, his right hand tingling painfully with happiness.
    Since they’d first kissed at the Feast-Day dance they’d not had time to talk about what had happened, and Gaspi realised he had been a bit uncertain about Emea‘s feelings; that is, until now. The moment felt like it would last forever, but far too soon the sounds of Taurnil’s practice bout stopped and they could hear Jonn calling their names. Releasing Emmy’s hand, Gaspi walked by her side back to the clearing, where Jonn was plucking the bird Gaspi had downed earlier. Looking up at them he caught Gaspi’s eye and smiled ever so slightly, perhaps a little wistfully, before carrying on with what he was doing.
    As Jonn cooked the bird, the smell of roasting meat set Gaspi’s taste-buds tingling. The plump creature yielded a surprising amount of meat, and combined with hunks of soft bread it made a filling meal. They settled back as darkness fell, and talked comfortably in the flickering firelight. Gaspi found himself holding hands with Emea as Jonn told them stories of soldiering and travel. Unlike Taurnil, he was barely aware of the details of the stories, revelling in the simple pleasure of Emea’s touch. After a while his palm became sweaty, and self-consciousness made him pull his hand back. Emea looked at him uncertainly until he flashed his warmest smile at her, and she relaxed again. 
    They slept early that night, and woke even earlier in the morning, getting a good start on the day’s travel. Jonn set a strong pace for them, and the morning hours passed quickly as they journeyed onwards through the forest. Towards the end of the morning the trees began to thin out, beyond which Jonn said they would meet the Great South Road.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 6
     
    Well before they saw the highway, Gaspi could hear the low rumbling of wagon wheels on hard stone, the cracking of whips and occasional shouts of the wagon drivers jostling against each other in a bid to make good time on the route to Helioport. For the