Read Online The Vaetra Chronicles: Book 01 - Vaetra Unveiled by Daniel R. Marvello - Free Book Online
Authors: Daniel R. Marvello
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both rose to their feet. Sulana kept her crossbow aimed at the open doorway and Daven drew his sword. "Please step away from the doorway, ma'am," Sulana called out.
Meghan stepped to the side of the doorway as Sulana and Daven approached. Talon and Barek emerged from the trees and quickly loped up to the cabin. They both moved stealthily around to the back with their swords drawn.
From my position at the bottom of the hill, I could see Meghan sigh and cross her arms. I was certain then that she was telling the truth, but I understood that Sulana's team couldn't take any chances.
Sulana stayed back several paces from the doorway with her crossbow aimed straight into the opening. It was hard to see inside the cabin because outside it was brightly sunny, and the shuttered windows put the interior into heavy shadow. Daven ran to the far side of the door and waited there.
Sulana nodded her head, and Daven ducked low and slipped into the cabin. A few moments later, Daven appeared at the doorway and waved Sulana in. He had sheathed his sword. Sulana called out that the way was clear and walked in. Meghan slowly followed them into her home.
I took that as my cue to move forward with the horses. I left them to graze along with the thief's horse and walked up to the cabin doorway just as Talon and Barek moved into guard positions at the front and side of the cabin.
The healer's cabin was small but well made. It had a course of river stone along the bottom quarter of the outside wall, and the rest was constructed of log. The cabin had a cedar shingle roof, and many of the shingles were covered with a light green coating of moss. A few along the edge of the roof were broken off or showing signs of rot. The whole roof would need to be replaced soon.
I stepped through the doorway and into the cabin where the odor of healing herbs hung thick in the air. I stood just inside the threshold for a few seconds while my eyes adjusted to the darkness of the candle-lit interior. Daven stood with his back to the fireplace, warming his hands behind him. "In there," he said, tilting his head toward an open doorway to the bedroom beyond.
I passed a wall of shelves that was filled with numerous jars and pots containing the herbs and concoctions of Meghan's trade. I stopped just inside the doorway to the small bedroom. Inside the room, Sulana was leaning over an unconscious man who was bandaged across the chest. Bright red blood soaked through the bandage. I'd seen enough battle wounds to know that this man wouldn't be around long.
"Last night, I was surprised to hear a horse wander up to my home, and when I went out to investigate, this man fell out of the saddle at my feet without saying a word," Meghan explained to Sulana. "I was able to rouse him enough to walk him inside. He had a bolt through his chest," she said, looking at the crossbow in Sulana's hand and raising an eyebrow. "Your handiwork, I suppose?"
Sulana nodded. "Yes, but I didn't realize I'd hit him. Last night's darkness and rain hid the fact that he was bleeding." She lightly touched the man's shoulder. His eyelids fluttered briefly, but he didn't open them. His breathing was shallow and rattling. "I wish you hadn't run," she spoke softly to him.
The man on the bed shivered and Meghan pulled a blanket up over his chest and arms. "I did what I could, but his wound is beyond my skill. He's lost a lot of blood and the bolt punctured his lung," she said.
So this was Donal, the man I was hired to find. I didn't look forward to telling Raleb about his partner's current condition. Especially since his condition would probably get a lot worse real soon. Donal was much older than Raleb. His thinning hair was turning grey and he had the roundness of someone who more often gave orders than exercised them. His face had the pallor of extreme pain and his brow was beaded with perspiration. Every breath was labored.
Sulana turned to Meghan. "Where are this man's belongings? He and his
Meghan stepped to the side of the doorway as Sulana and Daven approached. Talon and Barek emerged from the trees and quickly loped up to the cabin. They both moved stealthily around to the back with their swords drawn.
From my position at the bottom of the hill, I could see Meghan sigh and cross her arms. I was certain then that she was telling the truth, but I understood that Sulana's team couldn't take any chances.
Sulana stayed back several paces from the doorway with her crossbow aimed straight into the opening. It was hard to see inside the cabin because outside it was brightly sunny, and the shuttered windows put the interior into heavy shadow. Daven ran to the far side of the door and waited there.
Sulana nodded her head, and Daven ducked low and slipped into the cabin. A few moments later, Daven appeared at the doorway and waved Sulana in. He had sheathed his sword. Sulana called out that the way was clear and walked in. Meghan slowly followed them into her home.
I took that as my cue to move forward with the horses. I left them to graze along with the thief's horse and walked up to the cabin doorway just as Talon and Barek moved into guard positions at the front and side of the cabin.
The healer's cabin was small but well made. It had a course of river stone along the bottom quarter of the outside wall, and the rest was constructed of log. The cabin had a cedar shingle roof, and many of the shingles were covered with a light green coating of moss. A few along the edge of the roof were broken off or showing signs of rot. The whole roof would need to be replaced soon.
I stepped through the doorway and into the cabin where the odor of healing herbs hung thick in the air. I stood just inside the threshold for a few seconds while my eyes adjusted to the darkness of the candle-lit interior. Daven stood with his back to the fireplace, warming his hands behind him. "In there," he said, tilting his head toward an open doorway to the bedroom beyond.
I passed a wall of shelves that was filled with numerous jars and pots containing the herbs and concoctions of Meghan's trade. I stopped just inside the doorway to the small bedroom. Inside the room, Sulana was leaning over an unconscious man who was bandaged across the chest. Bright red blood soaked through the bandage. I'd seen enough battle wounds to know that this man wouldn't be around long.
"Last night, I was surprised to hear a horse wander up to my home, and when I went out to investigate, this man fell out of the saddle at my feet without saying a word," Meghan explained to Sulana. "I was able to rouse him enough to walk him inside. He had a bolt through his chest," she said, looking at the crossbow in Sulana's hand and raising an eyebrow. "Your handiwork, I suppose?"
Sulana nodded. "Yes, but I didn't realize I'd hit him. Last night's darkness and rain hid the fact that he was bleeding." She lightly touched the man's shoulder. His eyelids fluttered briefly, but he didn't open them. His breathing was shallow and rattling. "I wish you hadn't run," she spoke softly to him.
The man on the bed shivered and Meghan pulled a blanket up over his chest and arms. "I did what I could, but his wound is beyond my skill. He's lost a lot of blood and the bolt punctured his lung," she said.
So this was Donal, the man I was hired to find. I didn't look forward to telling Raleb about his partner's current condition. Especially since his condition would probably get a lot worse real soon. Donal was much older than Raleb. His thinning hair was turning grey and he had the roundness of someone who more often gave orders than exercised them. His face had the pallor of extreme pain and his brow was beaded with perspiration. Every breath was labored.
Sulana turned to Meghan. "Where are this man's belongings? He and his
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