Read Online The Unwilling Accomplice (Book 5) by Heidi Willard - Free Book Online
Authors: Heidi Willard
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intelligent," Telana added.
The captain smiled at her and nodded his head. "Yes. When attacking a foe they work together as a group, and they won't stop attacking until their target stops moving."
"Why bring these into the city?" Ruth wondered.
"Nothing in the world makes the best honey, and the cream from their honey is an age-old recipe to rejuvenate the skin," he explained.
"Has Lord Ransan allowed this shipment into the city?" Telana asked him.
"Yes, but only because it won't be here for long. These hives are set to go by cart to Kite in a day or two," he told her.
"And you carry how many of these hives aboard your ship?" Percy wondered.
The captain chuckled. "Enough to cause quite a mess if they were to get out, but no fear. My men are clumsy, but-" He was interrupted when one of his men dropped the end of a heavy box on the deck. "You there, be careful!" the captain shouted. He bowed his head at the group and clamored up the gangplank.
The princess turned toward the companions with a strained smile on her face. "Well, perhaps we should leave the captain to his cargo."
"And quickly," Percy agreed.
CHAPTER 9
The princess led them up the stairs and through the cart entrance. They emerged into the sunlight on the lowest terrace of the city. The entrance square lay just a quarter arch down the road. Far ahead of them and to their left lay the gates, and to their right was the stairs leading to the higher terraces. Telana guided them to the square where the market bustled with the day's business, and where they paused at the intersection to decide their new route. Elves bustled to and fro in their search to appease their shopping lists.
Ned breathed deeply and sighed. "There is nothing quite like emerging from the darkness into the light that lightens the soul," he commented.
"Yes, the world beneath the castle is a very dark place and you will not often find elves inside those stone walls. We prefer the warmth of the sun and the greenery of our plants," Telana replied. Anduvis squawked, and Telana looked to him disapprovingly. "Must you be so demanding?" she scolded him. The hawk glared back at her.
"Is something the matter?" Ruth asked her.
Telana sighed and looked to the group with pleading eyes. "Please excuse me, but I must attend to Anduvis. He is hungry and, unfortunately, very particular about who feeds him. He will only accept food I have prepared myself, and given to him."
Ned smiled and shook his head. "You needn't worry about us. We will be sure to keep ourselves out of trouble," he assured her.
Telana's bowed her head. "Then I bid you farewell until you return to the castle." She hurried off to attend to her pet.
Ned turned to the group and stroked his chin. "Now what shall we do?" he asked them.
"I would like to go to the Feora Library," Pat suggested.
"I, too, would like to see the library," Ruth chimed in.
"That's two votes for the library. Anyone else?" Ned wondered.
Canto cringed. "Ah'll pass. Reading's not my thing. Ah'd rather go and see that Dueling Grounds again, if ya don't mind," he replied.
"I see nothing wrong with our splitting up, though we must be mindful of the intruder," Ned reminded them.
"Ah'll take the risk," Canto assured him. He glanced at Percy. "Were ya wanting to come with me?" he wondered.
Percy smiled, but shook his head. "As interesting as the customs of the elves are to me, I would much rather return to the port and study the ships," he told him.
Canto scoffed. "Ya can have that boring watching, but Ah'll see if these elves are man enough to spill their blood for their honor." With that beautiful picture in their minds Canto sauntered off to the stairs.
Percy chuckled and glanced at the others. "I will also bid you farewell," he replied, and turned to return to the port entrance. He noticed when Sins moved to follow, and glanced over his shoulder. "I won't need you for this, Sins, but you might help us all by keeping Canto out of trouble," he pointed out.
The captain smiled at her and nodded his head. "Yes. When attacking a foe they work together as a group, and they won't stop attacking until their target stops moving."
"Why bring these into the city?" Ruth wondered.
"Nothing in the world makes the best honey, and the cream from their honey is an age-old recipe to rejuvenate the skin," he explained.
"Has Lord Ransan allowed this shipment into the city?" Telana asked him.
"Yes, but only because it won't be here for long. These hives are set to go by cart to Kite in a day or two," he told her.
"And you carry how many of these hives aboard your ship?" Percy wondered.
The captain chuckled. "Enough to cause quite a mess if they were to get out, but no fear. My men are clumsy, but-" He was interrupted when one of his men dropped the end of a heavy box on the deck. "You there, be careful!" the captain shouted. He bowed his head at the group and clamored up the gangplank.
The princess turned toward the companions with a strained smile on her face. "Well, perhaps we should leave the captain to his cargo."
"And quickly," Percy agreed.
CHAPTER 9
The princess led them up the stairs and through the cart entrance. They emerged into the sunlight on the lowest terrace of the city. The entrance square lay just a quarter arch down the road. Far ahead of them and to their left lay the gates, and to their right was the stairs leading to the higher terraces. Telana guided them to the square where the market bustled with the day's business, and where they paused at the intersection to decide their new route. Elves bustled to and fro in their search to appease their shopping lists.
Ned breathed deeply and sighed. "There is nothing quite like emerging from the darkness into the light that lightens the soul," he commented.
"Yes, the world beneath the castle is a very dark place and you will not often find elves inside those stone walls. We prefer the warmth of the sun and the greenery of our plants," Telana replied. Anduvis squawked, and Telana looked to him disapprovingly. "Must you be so demanding?" she scolded him. The hawk glared back at her.
"Is something the matter?" Ruth asked her.
Telana sighed and looked to the group with pleading eyes. "Please excuse me, but I must attend to Anduvis. He is hungry and, unfortunately, very particular about who feeds him. He will only accept food I have prepared myself, and given to him."
Ned smiled and shook his head. "You needn't worry about us. We will be sure to keep ourselves out of trouble," he assured her.
Telana's bowed her head. "Then I bid you farewell until you return to the castle." She hurried off to attend to her pet.
Ned turned to the group and stroked his chin. "Now what shall we do?" he asked them.
"I would like to go to the Feora Library," Pat suggested.
"I, too, would like to see the library," Ruth chimed in.
"That's two votes for the library. Anyone else?" Ned wondered.
Canto cringed. "Ah'll pass. Reading's not my thing. Ah'd rather go and see that Dueling Grounds again, if ya don't mind," he replied.
"I see nothing wrong with our splitting up, though we must be mindful of the intruder," Ned reminded them.
"Ah'll take the risk," Canto assured him. He glanced at Percy. "Were ya wanting to come with me?" he wondered.
Percy smiled, but shook his head. "As interesting as the customs of the elves are to me, I would much rather return to the port and study the ships," he told him.
Canto scoffed. "Ya can have that boring watching, but Ah'll see if these elves are man enough to spill their blood for their honor." With that beautiful picture in their minds Canto sauntered off to the stairs.
Percy chuckled and glanced at the others. "I will also bid you farewell," he replied, and turned to return to the port entrance. He noticed when Sins moved to follow, and glanced over his shoulder. "I won't need you for this, Sins, but you might help us all by keeping Canto out of trouble," he pointed out.
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