Read Online The Coastal Kingdoms of Olvion: Book Two of The Chronicles of Olvion by Larry Robbins - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Larry Robbins
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heard. The cheering began again, and their leader rubbed Bonn’s bald head good naturedly. Among the pirate crew, other similar exchanges were taking place.
When the noise died down again, Tallun nodded in the direction of the main mast. Kal tensed, expecting that his good friend was about to be mutilated. Instead the ropes that were binding him were untied.
Gann rubbed his wrists, massaging the feeling back into them. He pulled the gag from his mouth and spit several times. He seemed as puzzled as Kal was.
Tallun walked over, and put his arm around Gann’s shoulders. “I told you I liked this man,” he said. Then he directed his comments to Kal. “Sorry to have so much fun at your expense but, you see, we were able to trick some of your crewmen into giving us the location of your kingdom on the first day. I’m afraid the bravery of your crew is far greater than their wisdom.” That comment set off another round of laughter. Kal reflected that this crew of outlaws seemed to be easily and frequently amused. “The cheers you heard were from the crew members who wagered you would not reveal your kingdom’s location. The curses were from those who thought you would.”
Tallun walked over to Kal, bringing Gann with him. He stepped back so that he could look at both of them comfortably. “In all seriousness, I really am impressed by the bravery of your crew. I pray you are not overly judgmental of the poor souls whom we tricked. We found several possible points of origin already drawn in on your chart table. We then brought up your crew one at a time, and confronted them with the charts. None of them actually revealed the correct location, we were able to discern that simply by watching their eyes when they were asked the location of their home. The three men that we had determined to be your navigators all glanced at the same chart then quickly looked away. It is a cheap trick, I’m afraid, but it seldom fails.”
Kal gritted his teeth. Tallun feigned concern. “Have we upset you Lord Engineer?”
“If you knew the location as you claim, why were my crewmen murdered?”
Tallun stepped close to the Aspellian. When he spoke it was in a light tone as if he were discussing trivial matters. “To impress upon them the importance of obedience.”
CHAPTER SIX
Taggart watched the young woman as she walked…no, pranced…, down the lightly-worn trail. He knew her to be seventeen summers, but, she sometimes acted much younger. She had a spirit about her which reminded him of Dwan. He found himself smiling at her many antics along the trail. She would sneak up to insects and scare them into flight, then run along behind them chasing and laughing. She constantly practiced her knife skills as she walked, and enjoyed stalking small saplings and larger tree trunks, inflicting numerous slashes upon them. She would act as if she were silently sneaking up on the objects, then explode into a windmill of slashes and strikes. Even though Taggart was amused by her actions he took note of the very serious damage she could inflict with her knives. Her skill was impressive, and it went beyond the inevitable result of being the offspring of a warrior. The youngster had a natural quickness that Taggart had never before seen among the people of Olvion. That fact was impressive when one considered the fact that Taggart had trained with some of the best warriors in the walled kingdom. He would examine the marks she left on her imaginary victims as he passed. They were deep, and they were plentiful. Indeed, he was at a loss as to how she had been able to strike so many times in such a brief interval.
He also couldn’t help but notice that she was a very beautiful young woman. Not that he had any designs on her, Taggart’s heart was owned truly and totally by Dwan. It was she that he was seeking and would continue to seek no matter the
When the noise died down again, Tallun nodded in the direction of the main mast. Kal tensed, expecting that his good friend was about to be mutilated. Instead the ropes that were binding him were untied.
Gann rubbed his wrists, massaging the feeling back into them. He pulled the gag from his mouth and spit several times. He seemed as puzzled as Kal was.
Tallun walked over, and put his arm around Gann’s shoulders. “I told you I liked this man,” he said. Then he directed his comments to Kal. “Sorry to have so much fun at your expense but, you see, we were able to trick some of your crewmen into giving us the location of your kingdom on the first day. I’m afraid the bravery of your crew is far greater than their wisdom.” That comment set off another round of laughter. Kal reflected that this crew of outlaws seemed to be easily and frequently amused. “The cheers you heard were from the crew members who wagered you would not reveal your kingdom’s location. The curses were from those who thought you would.”
Tallun walked over to Kal, bringing Gann with him. He stepped back so that he could look at both of them comfortably. “In all seriousness, I really am impressed by the bravery of your crew. I pray you are not overly judgmental of the poor souls whom we tricked. We found several possible points of origin already drawn in on your chart table. We then brought up your crew one at a time, and confronted them with the charts. None of them actually revealed the correct location, we were able to discern that simply by watching their eyes when they were asked the location of their home. The three men that we had determined to be your navigators all glanced at the same chart then quickly looked away. It is a cheap trick, I’m afraid, but it seldom fails.”
Kal gritted his teeth. Tallun feigned concern. “Have we upset you Lord Engineer?”
“If you knew the location as you claim, why were my crewmen murdered?”
Tallun stepped close to the Aspellian. When he spoke it was in a light tone as if he were discussing trivial matters. “To impress upon them the importance of obedience.”
CHAPTER SIX
Taggart watched the young woman as she walked…no, pranced…, down the lightly-worn trail. He knew her to be seventeen summers, but, she sometimes acted much younger. She had a spirit about her which reminded him of Dwan. He found himself smiling at her many antics along the trail. She would sneak up to insects and scare them into flight, then run along behind them chasing and laughing. She constantly practiced her knife skills as she walked, and enjoyed stalking small saplings and larger tree trunks, inflicting numerous slashes upon them. She would act as if she were silently sneaking up on the objects, then explode into a windmill of slashes and strikes. Even though Taggart was amused by her actions he took note of the very serious damage she could inflict with her knives. Her skill was impressive, and it went beyond the inevitable result of being the offspring of a warrior. The youngster had a natural quickness that Taggart had never before seen among the people of Olvion. That fact was impressive when one considered the fact that Taggart had trained with some of the best warriors in the walled kingdom. He would examine the marks she left on her imaginary victims as he passed. They were deep, and they were plentiful. Indeed, he was at a loss as to how she had been able to strike so many times in such a brief interval.
He also couldn’t help but notice that she was a very beautiful young woman. Not that he had any designs on her, Taggart’s heart was owned truly and totally by Dwan. It was she that he was seeking and would continue to seek no matter the
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