Read Online Ten Crescent Moons (Moonquest) by Marilyn Haddrill - Free Book Online
Authors: Marilyn Haddrill
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images, in relief, carved on the stone wall of a cave.
Placed there by the distant ancestors of the savages. And there are rumors of
artifacts found there. I — I hesitate to speak aloud of what I saw and heard,
but you dared to say the name of the sacred House earlier."
"Are
you saying some of those images are linked to the House of the Seventh Crescent
Moon?"
"One,
at least. I am not sure of the rest. You would have to see for yourself."
Kalos
grabbed her shoulders, unaware of the pain of his grip.
"You
must tell me now. Where exactly did you see this symbol?"
Realizing
that he was holding her in an unseemly way, he released his grip and backed off
a few steps. Still, the captain continued to regard her in an eager and almost
boyish manner.
And that's
when Adalginza knew she had real power over this man who was more scholar than
soldier. The House of the Seventh Crescent Moon was his weakness. Perhaps it
was even a way to his heart. And, ultimately, his trust.
"I
cannot tell you exactly enough where this cave is, for it is well hidden. But I
can show you."
"You
would do this?"
"For
you, sir? Of course."
Kalos
regarded her somberly.
"It is
very dangerous now at the Place of the Circles. Because of the rebellion. Is
that not why you and your clan left for Sola Re in the first place?"
"I
would be safe with you, a brave warrior."
"Yes,
but would I be safe with you?"
"Excuse
me?"
Kalos
laughed arrogantly, as though he had suddenly found himself again. Adopting his
old cavalier and superior manner, he took Adalginza's arm to escort her to the
stables.
"I see
I have offended you yet again. Please forgive me yet again. But be assured I am
most grateful to you for your offer. In fact, what you say is most fortuitous. Benfaaro
is rumored to still dwell at the Place of the Circles. Perhaps I would be lucky
enough to find him there. Or at least learn more about his homeland."
" Many savages still dwell there," Adalginza corrected him. "You would not
have enough Crescent knights at your disposal to fend off any attacks."
"True."
"So I
would suggest you wait until autumn's eve, when the savages will be gone. All
the tribes will be gathered at the Festival of Blood in the next province. Then
you could freely travel, as well as have access to the cave."
"An
excellent idea, Lady Adalginza."
Adalginza at
that moment felt the coldness of the mind, ahead of them on the path.
It was a
small brain, yet dangerous in its single-minded purpose. It had found prey,
much easier to squeeze into lifelessness than the sturmons that fought back
with blows of painful, sharp hooves.
"There
is danger!" Adalginza shouted. "A snake!"
Without
waiting for Kalos, she grabbed for a sharp metal pole left leaning against the
seedling to which it was meant to be bound for support.
She hurled
herself down the path, screaming for Zartos and Lady Redolo to take shelter.
But they were too far away to hear.
4
Adalginza's
moccasined feet pounded the trail so desperately fast that she had no awareness
of contact with the ground.
She could
hear Kalos racing behind her, trying to catch up as he shouted at her to
explain herself. She glanced behind her, seeing that he was out of sight behind
a grove of trees.
She had no
time to wait for his help.
She ducked
through a thicket, taking a short cut she knew of that bypassed the trail. Kalos
was too far behind to see her strategy, so he would be delayed even more. For
now, she was on her own.
As Adalginza
desperately thrashed her way through the brambles and thorns of the underbrush,
she pulled constantly at her long gown to untangle it.
Finally, she
emerged from the thicket to spot Lady Redolo and Zartos rounding a curve of the
main path. She stopped abruptly.
They had not
yet seen her, and she did not want to alarm them into any sudden move that
would attract the snake's first strike.
Adalginza knew
the creature was close, by the focused attention of its chilly mind. Its whole
being was
Placed there by the distant ancestors of the savages. And there are rumors of
artifacts found there. I — I hesitate to speak aloud of what I saw and heard,
but you dared to say the name of the sacred House earlier."
"Are
you saying some of those images are linked to the House of the Seventh Crescent
Moon?"
"One,
at least. I am not sure of the rest. You would have to see for yourself."
Kalos
grabbed her shoulders, unaware of the pain of his grip.
"You
must tell me now. Where exactly did you see this symbol?"
Realizing
that he was holding her in an unseemly way, he released his grip and backed off
a few steps. Still, the captain continued to regard her in an eager and almost
boyish manner.
And that's
when Adalginza knew she had real power over this man who was more scholar than
soldier. The House of the Seventh Crescent Moon was his weakness. Perhaps it
was even a way to his heart. And, ultimately, his trust.
"I
cannot tell you exactly enough where this cave is, for it is well hidden. But I
can show you."
"You
would do this?"
"For
you, sir? Of course."
Kalos
regarded her somberly.
"It is
very dangerous now at the Place of the Circles. Because of the rebellion. Is
that not why you and your clan left for Sola Re in the first place?"
"I
would be safe with you, a brave warrior."
"Yes,
but would I be safe with you?"
"Excuse
me?"
Kalos
laughed arrogantly, as though he had suddenly found himself again. Adopting his
old cavalier and superior manner, he took Adalginza's arm to escort her to the
stables.
"I see
I have offended you yet again. Please forgive me yet again. But be assured I am
most grateful to you for your offer. In fact, what you say is most fortuitous. Benfaaro
is rumored to still dwell at the Place of the Circles. Perhaps I would be lucky
enough to find him there. Or at least learn more about his homeland."
" Many savages still dwell there," Adalginza corrected him. "You would not
have enough Crescent knights at your disposal to fend off any attacks."
"True."
"So I
would suggest you wait until autumn's eve, when the savages will be gone. All
the tribes will be gathered at the Festival of Blood in the next province. Then
you could freely travel, as well as have access to the cave."
"An
excellent idea, Lady Adalginza."
Adalginza at
that moment felt the coldness of the mind, ahead of them on the path.
It was a
small brain, yet dangerous in its single-minded purpose. It had found prey,
much easier to squeeze into lifelessness than the sturmons that fought back
with blows of painful, sharp hooves.
"There
is danger!" Adalginza shouted. "A snake!"
Without
waiting for Kalos, she grabbed for a sharp metal pole left leaning against the
seedling to which it was meant to be bound for support.
She hurled
herself down the path, screaming for Zartos and Lady Redolo to take shelter.
But they were too far away to hear.
4
Adalginza's
moccasined feet pounded the trail so desperately fast that she had no awareness
of contact with the ground.
She could
hear Kalos racing behind her, trying to catch up as he shouted at her to
explain herself. She glanced behind her, seeing that he was out of sight behind
a grove of trees.
She had no
time to wait for his help.
She ducked
through a thicket, taking a short cut she knew of that bypassed the trail. Kalos
was too far behind to see her strategy, so he would be delayed even more. For
now, she was on her own.
As Adalginza
desperately thrashed her way through the brambles and thorns of the underbrush,
she pulled constantly at her long gown to untangle it.
Finally, she
emerged from the thicket to spot Lady Redolo and Zartos rounding a curve of the
main path. She stopped abruptly.
They had not
yet seen her, and she did not want to alarm them into any sudden move that
would attract the snake's first strike.
Adalginza knew
the creature was close, by the focused attention of its chilly mind. Its whole
being was
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