Read Online The Whitefire Crossing by Courtney Schafer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Courtney Schafer
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beauty of the surrounding ridgelines and snowcapped peaks made my heart swell. The satisfaction deep inside was almost—not quite, but almost—as good as my childhood memories of my lost Taint.
My exhilaration faded at the thought. I surveyed the terrain ahead, recalled to duty. My perch gave me a hawks-eye view of the upper reaches of the canyon, all the way up to the edge of the wide basin below the pass. I traced the pale line of the trail. About a mile upcanyon from my ridge, a pile of freshly fallen boulders blocked the path. Some of them were big, too, wagon-sized or more.
I set about hammering pitons into cracks in the rock to anchor my rappel, unwelcome thoughts of Pello and Kiran creeping back into my mind. When I leaned out to throw the rope down, I stopped short. The catsclaw thickets below the convoy now lay deep in shadow, but a few circular patches appeared unnaturally dark, as if the bushes themselves had turned black. I squinted, trying to make them out, but the light was fading fast. I gave up and reached for the rope. I’d have another chance to take a look when we bashed our way through the catsclaw for water in the morning.
By the time I returned to the outrider wagon, twilight was giving way to darkness. The storm still blotted out the eastern sky, far enough away now that only silent sourceless flashes lit the horizon. Overhead, the first stars glimmered amidst stray wisps of cloud. Cara straightened up from lighting a candle lantern and clapped her hands, slowly. “Well, you win one drink, at least. Harken and Jerik are about to dig out our dinner rations.”
“You’ll want to talk to Meldon. I spotted major rockfall on the trail, about a mile up. Probably a full morning’s work to clear.” I shrugged out of my pack and tried not to be too obvious about looking around for Kiran.
“Figures, after that little show we had during the storm.” Cara glanced across the canyon to the lightning-struck pinnacle, a sharp black outline against the darkening sky. We squatted down together next to the lantern and I drew a quick diagram in the dirt for her of the rockfall’s position and extent.
Cara stood and brushed off her hands. “I’ll head up to Meldon, fill him in before I eat. Oh, and the kid’s back, safe and sound—he took your gear up to your tarp. Looked kinda wobbly, though. You sure you’re feeding him enough?”
“He’s just tired. Long day, for a city boy.” Relief made my voice light. If Khalmet really favored me, maybe Kiran had even managed to avoid Pello. I’d have to think of some innocent way to ask Cara about Pello’s little visit.
“He can sleep in some tomorrow, thanks to that rockfall. I doubt the convoy’ll move before noon.” Cara peered at me, her blonde brows drawing together. “You look like you could use some extra sleep yourself.”
“Not my fault if Kellan snores.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. Kiran didn’t snore, but he certainly was a noisy sleeper. Lots of thrashing and sighing and whimpering. From the sound of it, his dreams weren’t much more fun than mine.
She grinned and strode off. I hurried over to the tarp, my nerves keying up a notch. When I ducked under the edge, the glow of a lantern illuminated our sleeping blankets, laid neatly out beside our personal gear. Kiran sat cross-legged beside them, staring at his hands laced together in his lap. He raised his head when I squatted down in front of him. Cara was right, he did look a bit unsteady, though that was a big improvement from the last time I’d seen him.
“What in Khalmet’s name happened with you?” I demanded.
His eyes slid away from mine. “Nothing. I just don’t like storms.”
“Right.” I drew the word out. His chin lifted, and I got another glimpse of a highsider’s usual arrogance. Judging by the stubborn, mutinous look on his face, I could wait until all the snow melted off the Whitefires before he’d explain. I clenched my hands on my knees to keep myself
My exhilaration faded at the thought. I surveyed the terrain ahead, recalled to duty. My perch gave me a hawks-eye view of the upper reaches of the canyon, all the way up to the edge of the wide basin below the pass. I traced the pale line of the trail. About a mile upcanyon from my ridge, a pile of freshly fallen boulders blocked the path. Some of them were big, too, wagon-sized or more.
I set about hammering pitons into cracks in the rock to anchor my rappel, unwelcome thoughts of Pello and Kiran creeping back into my mind. When I leaned out to throw the rope down, I stopped short. The catsclaw thickets below the convoy now lay deep in shadow, but a few circular patches appeared unnaturally dark, as if the bushes themselves had turned black. I squinted, trying to make them out, but the light was fading fast. I gave up and reached for the rope. I’d have another chance to take a look when we bashed our way through the catsclaw for water in the morning.
By the time I returned to the outrider wagon, twilight was giving way to darkness. The storm still blotted out the eastern sky, far enough away now that only silent sourceless flashes lit the horizon. Overhead, the first stars glimmered amidst stray wisps of cloud. Cara straightened up from lighting a candle lantern and clapped her hands, slowly. “Well, you win one drink, at least. Harken and Jerik are about to dig out our dinner rations.”
“You’ll want to talk to Meldon. I spotted major rockfall on the trail, about a mile up. Probably a full morning’s work to clear.” I shrugged out of my pack and tried not to be too obvious about looking around for Kiran.
“Figures, after that little show we had during the storm.” Cara glanced across the canyon to the lightning-struck pinnacle, a sharp black outline against the darkening sky. We squatted down together next to the lantern and I drew a quick diagram in the dirt for her of the rockfall’s position and extent.
Cara stood and brushed off her hands. “I’ll head up to Meldon, fill him in before I eat. Oh, and the kid’s back, safe and sound—he took your gear up to your tarp. Looked kinda wobbly, though. You sure you’re feeding him enough?”
“He’s just tired. Long day, for a city boy.” Relief made my voice light. If Khalmet really favored me, maybe Kiran had even managed to avoid Pello. I’d have to think of some innocent way to ask Cara about Pello’s little visit.
“He can sleep in some tomorrow, thanks to that rockfall. I doubt the convoy’ll move before noon.” Cara peered at me, her blonde brows drawing together. “You look like you could use some extra sleep yourself.”
“Not my fault if Kellan snores.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. Kiran didn’t snore, but he certainly was a noisy sleeper. Lots of thrashing and sighing and whimpering. From the sound of it, his dreams weren’t much more fun than mine.
She grinned and strode off. I hurried over to the tarp, my nerves keying up a notch. When I ducked under the edge, the glow of a lantern illuminated our sleeping blankets, laid neatly out beside our personal gear. Kiran sat cross-legged beside them, staring at his hands laced together in his lap. He raised his head when I squatted down in front of him. Cara was right, he did look a bit unsteady, though that was a big improvement from the last time I’d seen him.
“What in Khalmet’s name happened with you?” I demanded.
His eyes slid away from mine. “Nothing. I just don’t like storms.”
“Right.” I drew the word out. His chin lifted, and I got another glimpse of a highsider’s usual arrogance. Judging by the stubborn, mutinous look on his face, I could wait until all the snow melted off the Whitefires before he’d explain. I clenched my hands on my knees to keep myself
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