Read Online Tribe of the Snow Tiger (Legends of Windemere Book 10) by Charles E. Yallowitz - Free Book Online Page B

early on that I’m not proud of,” Sari awkwardly admits, shifting in front of her own reflection. She adjusts her nightgown and runs her hands along the fabric to dry it off with her powers. “Those are the events that are hurting me now. They make me think I deserve to suffer.”
    “Remind me to tell you about my sins, little sister.”
    “Little sister?”
    “Well if I’m going to marry Nyx then I should get used to calling you that.”
    Sari grins and rushes over to give Delvin a tight hug around the neck. After a brief moment of hesitation, she plants a quick kiss on his rough cheek. She can feel tension in the young man’s arms and wonders if she has gone too far considering their current state of dress. Looking into his eyes, Sari can tell that his thoughts have wandered back to the distant channeler. Whispering a soothing spell, she puts her companion to sleep and struggles to drag him to the bed. Placing her finger on his lips, the gypsy leaves the faint illusion of Nyx’s mouth on his to go along with the dream that she knows he is enjoying.
    “Some days I think all of you are too good for me,” Sari says while grabbing her stiletto and returning to her own bed. In her absence, Fizzle has stolen the pillow and stretched his long tail across the entire mattress. “Then there are times when I think we were always meant to become a family. Move over and give me back my pillow, Fizzle.”
    A puff of rainbow mist hits her face when she tries to move the drite, causing Sari to fall asleep next to the bed.
    *****
    As the sun peeks over the horizon, the three adventurers stare at the vessel that will take them to the southern jungles. The Little Sister has plain, white sails with no identifying symbols and the masthead is a fairly common mermaid figure. A series of openings are along the side, which Delvin assumes are portholes until he sees an oar emerge and dip into the dark green water. Someone shouts from the upper deck and the long pole is pulled back inside with the faint clatter of wood. As the tide comes in, the small ship bumps against the padded dock while its crew continues loading the last of the cargo into the hold. Some of the sailors pause when Sari arches her back and waves her hand at a nearby drinking barrel. A snake of warm water slithers through the air and slips into her shirt before churning to massage her sore muscles.
    “I’m so glad this worked,” the gypsy groans as she relaxes. Not wanting to overheat, she sends the water into the ocean and takes a seat on a crate. “My back is killing me. Especially the lower region.”
    “Well you were sleeping on the floor,” Delvin points out with a shrug.
    “Thank you for not making the obvious joke.”
    “What joke?”
    “The one about big . . . so where’s the captain?”
    “He’s the man by the wheel.”
    Sari scans the deck, her eyes going wide when she sees the bulky figure. “What is he?”
    “Captain Lunk Erovayn is a half dwarf.”
    “What’s the other half?”
    “Ogre.”
    Seeing that his new crewmembers have arrived, the short and stocky captain makes his way to the nearest gangplank. He has an obvious limp that is caused by his right calf missing a chunk of flesh, an injury that he has proudly exposed by removing part of his pant leg. The sun reflects off his bald head, which is adorned with a collection of sea-based henna tattoos that range from an octopus to a coiled leviathan. His brown beard is thick and oily, the impressive mane matching the hair that covers his bare arms. The man’s barrel-like chest is protected by a vest of leather armor that has several daggers dangling from polished rings. A massive cutlass is on his hip and the battered hilt shows that it has seen many battles. There is a cold spark in his hazel eyes as he extends a hand toward Delvin and takes in the sight of the blue-haired gypsy.
    “She doesn’t look like much, but the boss said you’re a package deal,” Captain Erovayn says in a