Read Online Rise of the Serpent (Serpent's War Book 2) by Jason Halstead - Free Book Online

Namitus spied a tavern and guided his horse to it. A rail mounted on posts at the front of the tavern offered a place to tie their horses.
    “Not going to find a stable?” Amra asked after they dismounted.
    “I don’t intend to stay here tonight,” Namitus said.
    “Another night sleeping on the ground?”
    He lifted an eyebrow and smiled.
    “What about horses?” she asked. “For the others, I mean.”
    Namitus couldn’t stop himself from asking, “You don’t want to ride your own?”
    Amra looked away from his twinkling eyes and tried to hide her red face. “I...I’ve never ridden a horse before this.”
    “I can teach you.”
    She nodded. “Yes, you could, but...well, it seems like we might be riding into something dangerous, right? I don’t want to slow us down and risk the quest because I can’t ride fast enough. Or worse, I might fall off and break something. Then you’d have to stop too or I’d end up captured or killed. No thank you, I think I’ll ride with you!”
    “All right,” he said and finished tying up his horse.
    “Really?”
    He nodded. “I’ve learned many things in my life. One is not to argue with a woman who’s made up her mind.”
    Amra tilted her head and asked, “Oh really?”
    “Aye,” he said. “If she’s wrong, then don’t waste the breath arguing; just do what needs to be done and ask for forgiveness later.”
    She gasped as the rogue winked at her and walked into the tavern.
    Jillystria and Corian joined him before Amra walked in ahead of Allisandra and Gor. Namitus found an empty spot at the bar and nodded to an empty table for the others to assemble at. When they moved towards it, he turned back to speak with the barkeep.
    “Namitus,” Gor tried—and failed—to whisper.
    Namitus turned around and looked up at the large man. “Table not big enough for you?” he quipped.
    “What are you doing?” Gor asked, ignoring the friendly joke.
    “Asking about our friend who we haven’t had the pleasure of meeting,” he said.
    “No need,” Gor answered. “The Vultures are in the Wilderun Reaches. It benefits them and other companies of mercenaries to keep the tensions high.”
    Namitus considered the man for a moment before asking, “You’re sure?”
    Gor nodded. “I know.”
    The rogue continued studying him. “That’s all? Nothing else, just because you know?”
    Gor sighed. He glanced over his shoulder at Allisandra and shook his head. “You see that kid?”
    Namitus peered past him and nodded. “Determined and full of hope.”
    “Her old man saved me a lot of trouble,” Gor said. “Him and that uppity elf, Corian. They dragged me out of a tavern after I’d drunk more than I could pay and settled up for me. Gildor sobered me up enough to give me a chance to fight and kill some snakes.”
    “I can’t find fault with that,” Namitus said. “What have they done to you?”
    “The usual,” he grunted. “Killed my family, stole my home.”
    Namitus winced. “Sorry to hear that, friend.”
    “It was a long time ago,” Gor said. “Gildor gave me a reason to fight again. Then the fool went and got himself killed.”
    Namitus nodded. “I’ve lost friends that way too. Damned principles.”
    Gor snorted and went on. “He made me promise to keep her safe, or as safe as can be. I’m not very good at this sort of thing.”
    “More of a man of action, I take it?”
    He nodded. “Kind of hoped it would be me left behind, not Gildor. Would have worked better for everyone.”
    “Dark,” Namitus observed. “So tell me, unlikely protector, what makes you so sure about the Vultures being down in the Wilderrun? Maybe they took a contract that sent them elsewhere?”
    He shook his head. “They wouldn’t. Not unless it was for a crazy amount of gold.”
    “You seem to know them well. Why is that?”
    “I used to be one.”
    Namitus gaped at him a moment and then chuckled. “All right, I guess that makes you an expert then.”
    Gor glanced back at