Read Online The Trees And The Night (Book 3) by Daniel McHugh - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Daniel McHugh
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Tarader’s back and joined the Elf.
“How bad is it?” asked Kael.
Eidyn shook his head.
“I cannot be sure,” said the Elf. “The wounds are deep and there is quite a bit of blood.”
“He will survive,” said a light voice from behind the young men.
The pair turned to see an Eru rider sitting atop a beautiful black stallion similar to Manfir’s mount. Dark brown and black robes clothed the rider and veils covered all the horsemen’s faces.
“His flank is built for punishment,” continued the Eru. “It is the place most creatures of the wild attack a grazing animal. The muscles are thick and tough. The wound already begins to close.”
Eidyn bowed in acknowledgment and Kael glanced nervously to Ader. The Seraph sat hunched forward on the back of Tarader with a look of both relief and exhaustion on his face. The Eru rider followed Kael’s gaze and nodded toward the Seraph.
“Well met, Ader Peacemaker,” said the rider. “It has been a few seasons since the presence of the Giftgiver blessed the Eru.”
“Well met, Hai,” replied the Seraph. “Your arrival was most fortuitous.”
The Eru swung his left leg over the back of his black stallion and dropped to the ground. Slowly he approached Ader and his mount. As he did so, his hand rose and he drew the veil from his face. Kael was stunned to see the face of a boy close to his own age.
Hai halted a stride from Tarader. The huge gray stood stock-still. Already the animal regained its proud bearing. The stallion held its head high and beads of sweat rolled across the five-pointed blazing white mark he bore on his brow. Hai dropped to one knee and bowed before the horse.
“Well met, fair Finepion, Father of all Horses. Gift of the Seraph,” said the boy.
The gray released a soft whinny followed by a rumble from deep within his throat. He tossed his head lightly and Hai rose and softly stroked the white marking on the horse’s head.
“He has been sorely tested,” stated Hai.
Ader nodded and slowly slid down from the stallion’s back.
“He has run for nearly four days with little rest,” replied the Seraph, “often carrying two.”
Hai stared at the gray with pride.
“There is none like him,” returned the boy stroking the animal.
“Only one perhaps,” smiled Ader in reply, “but he does not bear the honorable disposition of his father.”
A grin danced across the boy’s face.
“And how does Lord Manfir and my prize fair?” laughed the boy. “If I were not so sure of the Zodrian prince’s character, I would swear he stayed clear of the Eru to avoid a challenge from me.”
“When last I saw the prince, all was well,” answered Ader, “and as for the Black, he remains as willful and angry as always. Few men have the ability to handle him.”
Hai smiled at the news and his eyes drifted into memory.
“He is an animal worthy of but a few men,” whispered the boy.
An Eru rider approached, breaking the conversation.
“My lord,” called the rider.
Hai turned to face the veiled rider.
“What is it Tyrs?” asked the young man.
“No priest lies amongst the Ulrog dead,” stated the rider. “Either the pack ran leaderless, or he escaped.”
“There is no such thing as a leaderless pack,” replied Hai quickly. “He may have slipped away before we rode onto the riverbed. Quickly, fan riders out north of the ravine. He will be thinking of nothing but escape. If we are diligent, we may be able to ...”
“There is no need,” interrupted the weary voice of Ader.
All eyes turned back to the Seraph. Kael was saddened by what he saw. Ader had always been an old man in the boy’s eyes, but never feeble. In fact, Kael’s impression was often quite the opposite. Ader usually appeared full of life. Ready for anything. Now the Seraph stood hunched over and weak. Ready for sleep.
“He has already been taken care of,” continued the old man as he stared past Hai to the northern edge of the ravine.
Kael noted Ader’s
“How bad is it?” asked Kael.
Eidyn shook his head.
“I cannot be sure,” said the Elf. “The wounds are deep and there is quite a bit of blood.”
“He will survive,” said a light voice from behind the young men.
The pair turned to see an Eru rider sitting atop a beautiful black stallion similar to Manfir’s mount. Dark brown and black robes clothed the rider and veils covered all the horsemen’s faces.
“His flank is built for punishment,” continued the Eru. “It is the place most creatures of the wild attack a grazing animal. The muscles are thick and tough. The wound already begins to close.”
Eidyn bowed in acknowledgment and Kael glanced nervously to Ader. The Seraph sat hunched forward on the back of Tarader with a look of both relief and exhaustion on his face. The Eru rider followed Kael’s gaze and nodded toward the Seraph.
“Well met, Ader Peacemaker,” said the rider. “It has been a few seasons since the presence of the Giftgiver blessed the Eru.”
“Well met, Hai,” replied the Seraph. “Your arrival was most fortuitous.”
The Eru swung his left leg over the back of his black stallion and dropped to the ground. Slowly he approached Ader and his mount. As he did so, his hand rose and he drew the veil from his face. Kael was stunned to see the face of a boy close to his own age.
Hai halted a stride from Tarader. The huge gray stood stock-still. Already the animal regained its proud bearing. The stallion held its head high and beads of sweat rolled across the five-pointed blazing white mark he bore on his brow. Hai dropped to one knee and bowed before the horse.
“Well met, fair Finepion, Father of all Horses. Gift of the Seraph,” said the boy.
The gray released a soft whinny followed by a rumble from deep within his throat. He tossed his head lightly and Hai rose and softly stroked the white marking on the horse’s head.
“He has been sorely tested,” stated Hai.
Ader nodded and slowly slid down from the stallion’s back.
“He has run for nearly four days with little rest,” replied the Seraph, “often carrying two.”
Hai stared at the gray with pride.
“There is none like him,” returned the boy stroking the animal.
“Only one perhaps,” smiled Ader in reply, “but he does not bear the honorable disposition of his father.”
A grin danced across the boy’s face.
“And how does Lord Manfir and my prize fair?” laughed the boy. “If I were not so sure of the Zodrian prince’s character, I would swear he stayed clear of the Eru to avoid a challenge from me.”
“When last I saw the prince, all was well,” answered Ader, “and as for the Black, he remains as willful and angry as always. Few men have the ability to handle him.”
Hai smiled at the news and his eyes drifted into memory.
“He is an animal worthy of but a few men,” whispered the boy.
An Eru rider approached, breaking the conversation.
“My lord,” called the rider.
Hai turned to face the veiled rider.
“What is it Tyrs?” asked the young man.
“No priest lies amongst the Ulrog dead,” stated the rider. “Either the pack ran leaderless, or he escaped.”
“There is no such thing as a leaderless pack,” replied Hai quickly. “He may have slipped away before we rode onto the riverbed. Quickly, fan riders out north of the ravine. He will be thinking of nothing but escape. If we are diligent, we may be able to ...”
“There is no need,” interrupted the weary voice of Ader.
All eyes turned back to the Seraph. Kael was saddened by what he saw. Ader had always been an old man in the boy’s eyes, but never feeble. In fact, Kael’s impression was often quite the opposite. Ader usually appeared full of life. Ready for anything. Now the Seraph stood hunched over and weak. Ready for sleep.
“He has already been taken care of,” continued the old man as he stared past Hai to the northern edge of the ravine.
Kael noted Ader’s
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