Read Online The Last Protector by Daniel C. Starr - Free Book Online
Authors: Daniel C. Starr
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every bend in the Western Road, along with a half-dozen purple spots, each with a straight line passing through it. He planted a finger on the point where the lines converged, south of their present location. “That's our destination,” he said, “so this must be our turnoff."
The forest trail was neither brick nor dirt but smooth, short grass that was perfect for walking. “Look at this,” Jape said, pointing to the trail's edge. “The grass grows on the path, there's this row of yellow flowers, then the forest begins. No trees on the path, no grass under the trees. How'd they do it?” He waved his hands over the grass and flowers, watching the flickering jewels of his rings. “There. I'll try to figure it out tonight.” He smiled, anticipating an interesting puzzle.
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Chapter Four
"Just a Fancy Name for Magic"
"This looks like a good place to spend the night,” Scrornuck said, pointing to a pleasant clearing about a hundred feet from the path. It was just big enough for sunlight to reach the forest floor, creating an oasis of soft green grass. A small stream flowed through the clearing, and a spring bubbled from a rocky place on the stream's bank.
Jape consulted his map. “We're only an hour or two away. We can get there before dark."
Scrornuck shook his head and strode toward the clearing in a way that left Jape and Nalia little choice but to follow. “We stay here tonight. We'll have plenty of time to get there and back before dark tomorrow.” He looked at Jape with a mixture of affection and mild annoyance. “Somebody's got to keep you out of trouble."
"I'm a Ranger,” Jape said. “Getting in trouble is my job."
"And getting you out of it is mine. I don't need you getting eaten by wolves ‘cause you were in a hurry."
"What kind of job gets you in trouble all the time?” Nalia asked.
"Saving the world.” Jape spoke in a most matter-of-fact manner.
She looked up at the beautiful sky, blue turning to indigo with just a few puffy clouds for variety. “Hardly looks like the world needs saving."
"You'd be surprised."
"Yeah, right. And just what do you save the world from?"
"Mistakes,” Jape said. “Mistakes that will cause pain and suffering and death and destruction.” A touch of bitterness crept into his voice. “Stupid, arrogant mistakes that people made when they played with forces they didn't understand."
"You're serious, aren't you?” she said, a bit of fear creeping into her voice.
"Deadly serious."
She shivered slightly. “Is the place we're visiting one of these ‘mistakes'?"
"We won't know until we get there,” he replied. “I hope it is, because we can't fix the mistake until we find it."
"And we'll worry about that tomorrow,” Scrornuck said firmly. “For now, let's have some dinner and a good night's sleep.” He pulled a silvery device with a plunger handle from the pack and went over to the spring. “Might as well get some water going."
Jape dipped a finger in the spring and let a drop of water fall on one of his rings. “Don't bother; it's safe."
"What's all that about?” Nalia asked.
"Some of the places we go, the water's not safe to drink. It can be bad for the digestion, shall we say..."
"Gives you the screaming squirts,” Scrornuck clarified.
"Thank you, Mister Saughblade. Anyway, this device purifies the water so it's drinkable, no matter how nasty it was."
Scrornuck put the device away. “If you really want to be safe, you can just stick with beer. Want one?"
"Umm, no thanks,” she said. “I don't think I can drink anything right now.” Her face reddened slightly. “I sort of have the opposite problem."
"Oops,” Scrornuck said, embarrassed. “I forgot you can't just use the side of the trail.” He grabbed the folding shovel that was strapped to the outside of the pack, picked a spot among the bushes that offered some degree of privacy, and quickly dug the necessary pit. “There you go—all the comforts of
The forest trail was neither brick nor dirt but smooth, short grass that was perfect for walking. “Look at this,” Jape said, pointing to the trail's edge. “The grass grows on the path, there's this row of yellow flowers, then the forest begins. No trees on the path, no grass under the trees. How'd they do it?” He waved his hands over the grass and flowers, watching the flickering jewels of his rings. “There. I'll try to figure it out tonight.” He smiled, anticipating an interesting puzzle.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Four
"Just a Fancy Name for Magic"
"This looks like a good place to spend the night,” Scrornuck said, pointing to a pleasant clearing about a hundred feet from the path. It was just big enough for sunlight to reach the forest floor, creating an oasis of soft green grass. A small stream flowed through the clearing, and a spring bubbled from a rocky place on the stream's bank.
Jape consulted his map. “We're only an hour or two away. We can get there before dark."
Scrornuck shook his head and strode toward the clearing in a way that left Jape and Nalia little choice but to follow. “We stay here tonight. We'll have plenty of time to get there and back before dark tomorrow.” He looked at Jape with a mixture of affection and mild annoyance. “Somebody's got to keep you out of trouble."
"I'm a Ranger,” Jape said. “Getting in trouble is my job."
"And getting you out of it is mine. I don't need you getting eaten by wolves ‘cause you were in a hurry."
"What kind of job gets you in trouble all the time?” Nalia asked.
"Saving the world.” Jape spoke in a most matter-of-fact manner.
She looked up at the beautiful sky, blue turning to indigo with just a few puffy clouds for variety. “Hardly looks like the world needs saving."
"You'd be surprised."
"Yeah, right. And just what do you save the world from?"
"Mistakes,” Jape said. “Mistakes that will cause pain and suffering and death and destruction.” A touch of bitterness crept into his voice. “Stupid, arrogant mistakes that people made when they played with forces they didn't understand."
"You're serious, aren't you?” she said, a bit of fear creeping into her voice.
"Deadly serious."
She shivered slightly. “Is the place we're visiting one of these ‘mistakes'?"
"We won't know until we get there,” he replied. “I hope it is, because we can't fix the mistake until we find it."
"And we'll worry about that tomorrow,” Scrornuck said firmly. “For now, let's have some dinner and a good night's sleep.” He pulled a silvery device with a plunger handle from the pack and went over to the spring. “Might as well get some water going."
Jape dipped a finger in the spring and let a drop of water fall on one of his rings. “Don't bother; it's safe."
"What's all that about?” Nalia asked.
"Some of the places we go, the water's not safe to drink. It can be bad for the digestion, shall we say..."
"Gives you the screaming squirts,” Scrornuck clarified.
"Thank you, Mister Saughblade. Anyway, this device purifies the water so it's drinkable, no matter how nasty it was."
Scrornuck put the device away. “If you really want to be safe, you can just stick with beer. Want one?"
"Umm, no thanks,” she said. “I don't think I can drink anything right now.” Her face reddened slightly. “I sort of have the opposite problem."
"Oops,” Scrornuck said, embarrassed. “I forgot you can't just use the side of the trail.” He grabbed the folding shovel that was strapped to the outside of the pack, picked a spot among the bushes that offered some degree of privacy, and quickly dug the necessary pit. “There you go—all the comforts of
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