Read Online The Huntsman's Amulet by Duncan M. Hamilton - Free Book Online
Authors: Duncan M. Hamilton
Ads: Link
suppositions proved unfounded it would take far longer to search than he could remain on the island for. That was without even taking Ilora into consideration.
He made his way back around the bell to look to the south. He could see the gate through which he had come in, leading into the lower part of the city along the coast. He was now much higher, and in places the sloping hill looked as though it became sheer faces, often with buildings constructed up against them. Had he continued following that lower road, it would have led him to a castle built at the end of the far harbour wall that he had seen from the quayside. The castle looked far older than the other buildings around it, and considering how old they were it must have been very ancient indeed.
The campanile was on the plateau of a hill that extended to the south, while it sloped gently down to the strait in the north. The area he was looking for was spread out on that plateau. Gone were the tight and twisting streets lined with buildings, replaced by broad avenues, a central square and monuments, surrounded by majestic looking buildings. Imperial was an even more appropriate description.
He moved around the south-facing archway to try and take in as much of that part of the city as he could. The large buildings obscured much, and it was difficult to see anything but walls, roofs and towers. It didn’t matter though; he was certain this was where he needed to go and there was no time to be wasted. He scanned the city quickly as he was about to step back into the trapdoor. His eyes locked onto movement, distant but visible. Another drone.
He swore under his breath and debated what to do. Staying in the campanile and hiding was not an option. The drone was a long way off and moving slowly, so not of any immediate threat, but he had now seen first hand how quickly they could move when necessary. He would just have to go back out onto the street and take his chances. If he had to, he could take refuge in another building until he was more rested. The fact that the Gift had proved so elusive for the start of his fight bothered him. If it failed him again, or at least took as long to descend on him, the result of any confrontation would be far too heavily balanced against him for his taste.
The drones, the way he felt, and the way the Gift had behaved raised more questions. Perhaps the information he sought would answer these ones also.
He tried to summon up a little more will to push himself on faster. The truth of the matter was there were limits to what his body could do, and it desperately needed rest. Usually so long after experiencing the Gift, he would have begun to feel better. He’d still need to rest, but the initial impact and all it brought with it would have faded somewhat. That wasn’t the case this time, and Soren was concerned that he would not be able to keep going for much longer. The headache that had gone when the drone appeared was back with a vengeance. Another question to add to the growing list.
He exited the campanile and broke into a pace that was faster than a walk but not quite a jog. It was as much as he could sustain — and even then not for long. He headed along the street in what he took to be a southerly direction. It had been difficult to tell if the drone had been going anywhere with any purpose, but it was safest to assume that it had detected him and proceed on that basis.
He passed by the large building that had obscured his view from the top of the campanile and found himself in the square that he spotted when straining to peer around the building’s edges. The building was one of several magnificent constructions surrounding the square, each with beautiful and imposing façades of columns, decorated windows and arches.
The road passed beneath it, through an exquisitely decorated arch, before heading toward the strait. The other buildings were large and impressive, statements of power and wealth befitting the capital of
He made his way back around the bell to look to the south. He could see the gate through which he had come in, leading into the lower part of the city along the coast. He was now much higher, and in places the sloping hill looked as though it became sheer faces, often with buildings constructed up against them. Had he continued following that lower road, it would have led him to a castle built at the end of the far harbour wall that he had seen from the quayside. The castle looked far older than the other buildings around it, and considering how old they were it must have been very ancient indeed.
The campanile was on the plateau of a hill that extended to the south, while it sloped gently down to the strait in the north. The area he was looking for was spread out on that plateau. Gone were the tight and twisting streets lined with buildings, replaced by broad avenues, a central square and monuments, surrounded by majestic looking buildings. Imperial was an even more appropriate description.
He moved around the south-facing archway to try and take in as much of that part of the city as he could. The large buildings obscured much, and it was difficult to see anything but walls, roofs and towers. It didn’t matter though; he was certain this was where he needed to go and there was no time to be wasted. He scanned the city quickly as he was about to step back into the trapdoor. His eyes locked onto movement, distant but visible. Another drone.
He swore under his breath and debated what to do. Staying in the campanile and hiding was not an option. The drone was a long way off and moving slowly, so not of any immediate threat, but he had now seen first hand how quickly they could move when necessary. He would just have to go back out onto the street and take his chances. If he had to, he could take refuge in another building until he was more rested. The fact that the Gift had proved so elusive for the start of his fight bothered him. If it failed him again, or at least took as long to descend on him, the result of any confrontation would be far too heavily balanced against him for his taste.
The drones, the way he felt, and the way the Gift had behaved raised more questions. Perhaps the information he sought would answer these ones also.
He tried to summon up a little more will to push himself on faster. The truth of the matter was there were limits to what his body could do, and it desperately needed rest. Usually so long after experiencing the Gift, he would have begun to feel better. He’d still need to rest, but the initial impact and all it brought with it would have faded somewhat. That wasn’t the case this time, and Soren was concerned that he would not be able to keep going for much longer. The headache that had gone when the drone appeared was back with a vengeance. Another question to add to the growing list.
He exited the campanile and broke into a pace that was faster than a walk but not quite a jog. It was as much as he could sustain — and even then not for long. He headed along the street in what he took to be a southerly direction. It had been difficult to tell if the drone had been going anywhere with any purpose, but it was safest to assume that it had detected him and proceed on that basis.
He passed by the large building that had obscured his view from the top of the campanile and found himself in the square that he spotted when straining to peer around the building’s edges. The building was one of several magnificent constructions surrounding the square, each with beautiful and imposing façades of columns, decorated windows and arches.
The road passed beneath it, through an exquisitely decorated arch, before heading toward the strait. The other buildings were large and impressive, statements of power and wealth befitting the capital of
Similar Books
