Read Online The Black Sword Trilogy: The Four Nations by Jeffery VanMeter - Free Book Online Page B

potion.”
    He slowly opened his eyes again and the blur he saw before sharpened into a clear image.  Terri was seated across from him and several other figures in cloaks lined a wooden structure that seemed to barely contain all of them.
                  “Where am I?” He asked.
                  “To be specific, you’re in a boat” Terri answered smiling.
                  “A boat?” He said and almost jumped up.  As he did, he felt it rock underneath him.  Two hands from people he couldn’t see steadied him.  “Why am I in a boat?”
                  “We’re going to see the Lady.” Terri said grinning.
                  His head still hurt and he carefully rose to a seated position.  He could only see Terri and the cloaked people around him.
                  “Where’s Shela?” He asked in an irritated voice.
                  “Two boats behind us.” Terri answered.
    Kenner sighed and rubbed his, still hurting head.
                  “How long was I asleep?”
                  “Three days.” Terri said simply.
                  “Three days?” He almost shouted.  Again he moved too quickly and the boat rocked.  The hands steadied him once more.
                  “Like I said,” Terri added.  “It was a mild sleeping potion.”
                  “You have a strange concept of the word ‘mild’.”
                  “If you makes you feel any better, I had to take the same potion.  I always do when I visit.”
                  “I swear to the Lady, if I ever get the chance, I’m going to piss in your ale.”
    Terri stopped him speaking anymore by putting her hand on his shoulder.
                  “Look up.” She told him.
    Kenner looked above him and was awed by what he saw.
                  Soaring above him were huge, black trees, their branches reaching to the sky barely visible above him.  He raised himself more and saw that the trunks of the trees were as large as houses.  His breath was taking away by the massive trees and branches soaring into the sky.  Staring with wide eyes, he found himself giggling like a little boy and then laughing.  Nothing he’d ever experienced or even imagined prepared him for the awesome power of what he saw around and above him.
                  The boat passed next to a tree rooted on the river bank and it seemed so alive and mighty, he felt small and helpless like a child.  He wanted to cry out in joy and terror at the same time, but he had no breath in his chest.  He could also feel the life within the trees.  They were looking down on him and watching.  He felt it.  He knew it.  He heard whispering voices as if trying to speak to him and greet him as a welcome guest.
                  He also saw creatures of the forest running to the banks of the river.  Some peeked curiously from behind the massive black trunks.  Squirrels ran down the trunks.  Rabbits, raccoons and deer flooded the river banks and all seemed to want to look at him in as much wonder as he felt at that moment.  One of these, a mighty stag bigger than any he’d ever seen before appeared on the river’s edge as if presenting himself; showing himself off.
                  Suddenly some of the huge branches of the trees began to reach down to him.  They creaked and moaned in voices that sounded like greetings.  He fell back onto the floor of the craft fearful, but still feeling a sense of wonder.  His face began to hurt from the smile on his face.  He felt like squealing like a baby laughing.  Several of the smaller branches at the end of the colossal arms reaching down reached down into the boat and then one, with tiny, fresh new leaves reached out and touched him.  He felt a sensation like lightning coursing through him and now thought himself more