Read Online The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) by Nicole MacDonald - Free Book Online
Authors: Nicole MacDonald
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hungry any time soon. As they placed the parcels on the table, the door to the Inn opened and two middle aged men stepped through, their eyes uncertain until they spotted Henja.
She waved them over and gestured at us, 'Mentan, Lenol, these are the four women the town is buzzing about. Sian, Catherine, Laura, and Kassandra. They would like to know how to reach the castle.'
Mentan sat on the spare seat at the table and Lenol dragged another over.
'Right,' began Mentan. 'It’s an easy trail from the village to the forest, and I recommend you don’t deviate from it.' His face was serious.
Lenol cleared his throat.
'The forest can be a little misleading, as there are often animal tracks which look similar to trails, do you know what I mean?'
'Yes I’ve seen that before,' I said.
Loi relaxed when Cat spoke up. She would know what they’re talking about. Cat frequently stayed at her family’s cabin back home. Loi continued to listen as the men described the track out of the forest and questioned Cat on her river crossing abilities.
'Well, I certainly know when not to cross,' I said to Lenol who nodded in approval. 'And, of course, keeping your feet close to the river bottom, not crossing in the deep bits, and linking arms when necessary.'
Both men looked pleased and Mentan continued.
'You should pass a total of seven villages before you reach the castle. They should all be welcoming, though I don’t recommend bringing the elgrids this time.'
Lenol sniggered.
'We’ll be more careful,' Sian promised.
The men described several landmarks we should watch for, and they recommended a few camping spots. After about thirty minutes of intense conversation with them we were done.
'You girls should be fine,' Lenol reassured us. 'Your kind always is.'
They stood, bowed, and walked out of the Inn.
'Our kind?' Kassie said blankly. 'What does he mean?'
'He means people from the North,' Henja said knowingly. 'After hearing so many legends about your kind, most people here are excited to be able to say they have seen and met some of you in the flesh.'
We stared at her for a moment and Loi said, 'Well, being from the North we wouldn't have heard them.'
Henja laughed, 'No, I guess not.'
We each took a parcel and after thanking Henja, headed out of the Inn.
Walking through the village gates, we paused to look back at the sound of them clanging shut and the bolt being slid across. I shivered, it sounded so ominous.
Sian met my eyes and smiled.
'Don’t worry, Cat; you know we’ll be fine. They did say practically nothing was in the forest at the moment, so even if we do meet something, we’ll be able to deal with it. No sweat.'
I sighed.
'Ten years Jujitsu counts for something, right?'
'Exactly. Let's get going. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can practice.'
Loi winked at me.
'And apparently our kind will be fine no matter what.'
I rolled my eyes.
'I’m glad to hear it. Now I won’t panic.'
Kassie picked up the pace, relieved to leave all the staring—albeit very polite—villagers behind and pulled Lucky out of the bag, draping the compliant cat around her shoulders.
We enjoyed the scenery as we walked the track,. It was strange it nearly looked Earth-like, just the occasional thing was odd. Fantastic blue flowers grew in sporadic bunches along the way and seemed to quiver as we passed them.
Ooo-oo they’re pretty. I stopped to have a closer look, the others stopping too. The flowers were trumpet shaped with beautiful gold and pink markings on the inside of their ‘mouths’. I leaned closer, sniffing.
No scent, how disappointing . As I straightened, about to turn back, an insect rather like a bee came bumbling along, flying lazy loops in the air. Its brilliant orange stripes were gorgeous, and in sharp contrast to the delicate black wings and antennae. The bee flitted just out of reach of one flower then buzzed toward it.
Suddenly the flower jerked forward and snapped the bee up. We jolted
She waved them over and gestured at us, 'Mentan, Lenol, these are the four women the town is buzzing about. Sian, Catherine, Laura, and Kassandra. They would like to know how to reach the castle.'
Mentan sat on the spare seat at the table and Lenol dragged another over.
'Right,' began Mentan. 'It’s an easy trail from the village to the forest, and I recommend you don’t deviate from it.' His face was serious.
Lenol cleared his throat.
'The forest can be a little misleading, as there are often animal tracks which look similar to trails, do you know what I mean?'
'Yes I’ve seen that before,' I said.
Loi relaxed when Cat spoke up. She would know what they’re talking about. Cat frequently stayed at her family’s cabin back home. Loi continued to listen as the men described the track out of the forest and questioned Cat on her river crossing abilities.
'Well, I certainly know when not to cross,' I said to Lenol who nodded in approval. 'And, of course, keeping your feet close to the river bottom, not crossing in the deep bits, and linking arms when necessary.'
Both men looked pleased and Mentan continued.
'You should pass a total of seven villages before you reach the castle. They should all be welcoming, though I don’t recommend bringing the elgrids this time.'
Lenol sniggered.
'We’ll be more careful,' Sian promised.
The men described several landmarks we should watch for, and they recommended a few camping spots. After about thirty minutes of intense conversation with them we were done.
'You girls should be fine,' Lenol reassured us. 'Your kind always is.'
They stood, bowed, and walked out of the Inn.
'Our kind?' Kassie said blankly. 'What does he mean?'
'He means people from the North,' Henja said knowingly. 'After hearing so many legends about your kind, most people here are excited to be able to say they have seen and met some of you in the flesh.'
We stared at her for a moment and Loi said, 'Well, being from the North we wouldn't have heard them.'
Henja laughed, 'No, I guess not.'
We each took a parcel and after thanking Henja, headed out of the Inn.
Walking through the village gates, we paused to look back at the sound of them clanging shut and the bolt being slid across. I shivered, it sounded so ominous.
Sian met my eyes and smiled.
'Don’t worry, Cat; you know we’ll be fine. They did say practically nothing was in the forest at the moment, so even if we do meet something, we’ll be able to deal with it. No sweat.'
I sighed.
'Ten years Jujitsu counts for something, right?'
'Exactly. Let's get going. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can practice.'
Loi winked at me.
'And apparently our kind will be fine no matter what.'
I rolled my eyes.
'I’m glad to hear it. Now I won’t panic.'
Kassie picked up the pace, relieved to leave all the staring—albeit very polite—villagers behind and pulled Lucky out of the bag, draping the compliant cat around her shoulders.
We enjoyed the scenery as we walked the track,. It was strange it nearly looked Earth-like, just the occasional thing was odd. Fantastic blue flowers grew in sporadic bunches along the way and seemed to quiver as we passed them.
Ooo-oo they’re pretty. I stopped to have a closer look, the others stopping too. The flowers were trumpet shaped with beautiful gold and pink markings on the inside of their ‘mouths’. I leaned closer, sniffing.
No scent, how disappointing . As I straightened, about to turn back, an insect rather like a bee came bumbling along, flying lazy loops in the air. Its brilliant orange stripes were gorgeous, and in sharp contrast to the delicate black wings and antennae. The bee flitted just out of reach of one flower then buzzed toward it.
Suddenly the flower jerked forward and snapped the bee up. We jolted
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