Read Online The Journey Home: The Ingenairii Series: Beyond the Twenty Cities by Jeffrey Quyle - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jeffrey Quyle
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them, at least not in Birnam woods,” she replied.
“Nine days ago, ten days ago, eleven days ago,” Alec muttered , restless to arise . He swung his legs over the side of his bed, feeling their weakness. “Which way did my companions go? Did they pursue the kidnappers, or did they return to their homes?”
“Two of them, a man and a women, went on in apparent pursuit of their quarry, while the others went back the way they came . We did not stop them or interfere with them in any way,” she added the last part quickly.
Andi had gone on. And if Andi had gone on, then Amane had gone with her. As long as they didn’t catch the ingenairii, it would be a wonderful trip for the Old One, spending all his time mooning after the Black Crag guard. If they were to catch up with the kidnappers though, it would end in death for the hapless Amane, who Alec knew had no talent for battle .
And Alec now was going to chase after both g roups, the ingenairii and Andi , in a race against a prophecy of Andi’s own spirit, a warning that he had to recover his lost memories somehow and reunite with Andi within three months, or she would suffer death.
“Can you restore my lost memories?” Alec asked intently.
“We will provide you with the means. Tomorrow morning we will give you what you need. We will give you supplies for your journey, and we will set you on your path. Rest now for the evening, and save your strength,” Kendra replied.
“I can’t rest,” Alec answered. “I can’t wait. I have been chasing after Kriste for three months now. And now there’s this warning from Andi’s spirit that I will have to save her.
“If you can help me, do it now,” he insisted.
“I could explain to you how to restore your memories, but the sisters have not yet gathered together supplies and goods for you to travel with,” the girl replied.
“I don’t need supplies. I’ll take care of myself on the road,” Alec told her.
“You are weak and injured; you fought that horrible monster, and you’ve lain here for ten nights – you’re body isn’t ready to go out on a quest. Won’t you stay at least through the morning to rest?” she maintained her reluctance to let him go.
“Because your hospitality has been so warm so far?” Alec asked sarcastically. He stood up and began to pace.
“My lord, you must understand our village. We are a haven for women from throughout the Twenty Cities. Women who are destitute, or beaten, or enslaved – they come to us as a refuge from life’s brutality. Most of them only stay for a few months, and then go out to pursue a new life,” she told him. “And a few settle here permanently, either because they have been so bruised and harmed by the world that they cannot ever return to its stresses, or because they decide to devote their lives to support and ensure the maintenance of this village for others to enjoy.
“Most of our residents – almost all of our residents – blame men for their woes. That is why it has become our way to assume the worst of men and to see them, and treat them, all as enemies. We’ve never had someone like you show up to prove our assumptions wrong.
“Why are you, a hidden king, roaming through the land like this on such an ill-prepared quest?” she turned her answer to him into a question.
“Kendra, I am happier to not sit on a throne than to sit on one. I’ve lived many roles in my life, including monarch, and being king is not my first choice,” Alec said simply. “Before I started out on the road a few months ago, I lived happily for many years, creating a place not unlike your village, a clinic and a peaceful haven in the mountains, where the caravans could stop, and the mountain residents could be safe, where we healed the sick and chased away the bandits. That is a better role for me than being a monarch.”
“I would make a deal with you,” Kendra told him. “I will give you items and
“Nine days ago, ten days ago, eleven days ago,” Alec muttered , restless to arise . He swung his legs over the side of his bed, feeling their weakness. “Which way did my companions go? Did they pursue the kidnappers, or did they return to their homes?”
“Two of them, a man and a women, went on in apparent pursuit of their quarry, while the others went back the way they came . We did not stop them or interfere with them in any way,” she added the last part quickly.
Andi had gone on. And if Andi had gone on, then Amane had gone with her. As long as they didn’t catch the ingenairii, it would be a wonderful trip for the Old One, spending all his time mooning after the Black Crag guard. If they were to catch up with the kidnappers though, it would end in death for the hapless Amane, who Alec knew had no talent for battle .
And Alec now was going to chase after both g roups, the ingenairii and Andi , in a race against a prophecy of Andi’s own spirit, a warning that he had to recover his lost memories somehow and reunite with Andi within three months, or she would suffer death.
“Can you restore my lost memories?” Alec asked intently.
“We will provide you with the means. Tomorrow morning we will give you what you need. We will give you supplies for your journey, and we will set you on your path. Rest now for the evening, and save your strength,” Kendra replied.
“I can’t rest,” Alec answered. “I can’t wait. I have been chasing after Kriste for three months now. And now there’s this warning from Andi’s spirit that I will have to save her.
“If you can help me, do it now,” he insisted.
“I could explain to you how to restore your memories, but the sisters have not yet gathered together supplies and goods for you to travel with,” the girl replied.
“I don’t need supplies. I’ll take care of myself on the road,” Alec told her.
“You are weak and injured; you fought that horrible monster, and you’ve lain here for ten nights – you’re body isn’t ready to go out on a quest. Won’t you stay at least through the morning to rest?” she maintained her reluctance to let him go.
“Because your hospitality has been so warm so far?” Alec asked sarcastically. He stood up and began to pace.
“My lord, you must understand our village. We are a haven for women from throughout the Twenty Cities. Women who are destitute, or beaten, or enslaved – they come to us as a refuge from life’s brutality. Most of them only stay for a few months, and then go out to pursue a new life,” she told him. “And a few settle here permanently, either because they have been so bruised and harmed by the world that they cannot ever return to its stresses, or because they decide to devote their lives to support and ensure the maintenance of this village for others to enjoy.
“Most of our residents – almost all of our residents – blame men for their woes. That is why it has become our way to assume the worst of men and to see them, and treat them, all as enemies. We’ve never had someone like you show up to prove our assumptions wrong.
“Why are you, a hidden king, roaming through the land like this on such an ill-prepared quest?” she turned her answer to him into a question.
“Kendra, I am happier to not sit on a throne than to sit on one. I’ve lived many roles in my life, including monarch, and being king is not my first choice,” Alec said simply. “Before I started out on the road a few months ago, I lived happily for many years, creating a place not unlike your village, a clinic and a peaceful haven in the mountains, where the caravans could stop, and the mountain residents could be safe, where we healed the sick and chased away the bandits. That is a better role for me than being a monarch.”
“I would make a deal with you,” Kendra told him. “I will give you items and
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