sword with
cloth, hiding the distinctive marks.
The young man Timor had indicated, looked like Adar
and seemed to have something of Nelion in him as well, but that could just be
Tere’s imagination playing a trick on him. Searching for something for so long
made it easy to see things that didn’t exist.
Jorad walked faster and the woman that he’d been
chasing now ran to catch up to him. Tere thanked Timor and left but not before
he mentioned that he might be back for the coat. It was best to keep up
appearances, even if it might not be necessary any longer.
What were the chances of Tere finding a man named
Jorad, who carried a sword in a place where most others didn’t, that had
recognized something about Tere?
Once he mounted his horse, Tere had to restrain from
galloping out of town. Now that he had found them, he didn’t want to mess up.
So as much as it bothered him, he continued at a walk on the road out of
Neberan. With every passing moment he became more anxious and worried. This was
the best lead since Adar had disappeared and Tere’s men were half a mile out of
town. It had seemed a small thing to leave them, but now Tere cursed his
decision. He’d become careless. He smiled at some of the people he passed but
they didn’t return it and looked straight ahead pretending not to notice. So
much for the rumored hospitality of the west.
Tere alone might be a match for Adar, but together
with Lous and Tarner they should be able to take him. Even though it had been
years, Tere was certain that Adar would still be in shape. The man had been
diligent about his training even when he was going through the trials. He
wouldn’t have become lax now.
Tere snorted. Adar had always been driven as though
somebody were cracking a whip over his head. Tere doubted that Adar lacked the
motivation to continue his training. Living life on the run would be reason
enough.
Tere reached the edge of town, made sure no one was
around and urged his horse to a gallop.
Chapter 8
Soret was a step ahead of Jorad and the street was
crowded with people so he had to strain to hear her words. The dust kicked up
from all the traffic was sticking to his sweaty face. Using the back of his
hand, he wiped off his forehead. It came away grimy and he cleaned it on his
pants. He wanted to take a few minutes to rest and calm down but couldn't
afford the luxury.
His blood was still racing from the encounter with
Erro. If Erro tried something again, Jorad would give him the beating he
deserved, whether the town guard was there or not. He didn’t know what else to
say to Soret about the Hunwei. At least Erro’s poster hadn’t seemed to faze her.
Jorad couldn’t blame her for her anger and confusion
about the Hunwei though. Ruder hadn’t been able to convince him, Jorad had
needed to see it for himself. He wished that he had evidence to show her but
all he could do was tell her what he'd seen.
“Save your breath, I’m not coming with you,” Soret
said when he caught up to her. “Not for something like this.”
“Once I leave, I won’t be coming back, Adar is adamant
about getting to Zecarani as fast as possible.”
“He wants to get that weapon or whatever, right?”
Soret looked like she was thinking of slapping him. “Why the rush now? It
sounds like he’s known about it for years.”
“It won’t be the first time we’ve tried, but this time
is different. He’s not going to leave without it now that the Hunwei are back.”
“And where will you go after that?”
“I don’t know,” he lied. Much as Jorad hated to admit
it, Adar’s logic made sense. If there was even a slim chance that something in
the Portal could help, it was worth Jorad making the effort to access it.
Assuming of course that Rarbon hadn't already been taken over by the Hunwei.
As they passed Timor’s tanner shop, Jorad noticed an
armed man that he didn’t recognize. The man was a bit shorter than most but he
looked like he knew how to
cloth, hiding the distinctive marks.
The young man Timor had indicated, looked like Adar
and seemed to have something of Nelion in him as well, but that could just be
Tere’s imagination playing a trick on him. Searching for something for so long
made it easy to see things that didn’t exist.
Jorad walked faster and the woman that he’d been
chasing now ran to catch up to him. Tere thanked Timor and left but not before
he mentioned that he might be back for the coat. It was best to keep up
appearances, even if it might not be necessary any longer.
What were the chances of Tere finding a man named
Jorad, who carried a sword in a place where most others didn’t, that had
recognized something about Tere?
Once he mounted his horse, Tere had to restrain from
galloping out of town. Now that he had found them, he didn’t want to mess up.
So as much as it bothered him, he continued at a walk on the road out of
Neberan. With every passing moment he became more anxious and worried. This was
the best lead since Adar had disappeared and Tere’s men were half a mile out of
town. It had seemed a small thing to leave them, but now Tere cursed his
decision. He’d become careless. He smiled at some of the people he passed but
they didn’t return it and looked straight ahead pretending not to notice. So
much for the rumored hospitality of the west.
Tere alone might be a match for Adar, but together
with Lous and Tarner they should be able to take him. Even though it had been
years, Tere was certain that Adar would still be in shape. The man had been
diligent about his training even when he was going through the trials. He
wouldn’t have become lax now.
Tere snorted. Adar had always been driven as though
somebody were cracking a whip over his head. Tere doubted that Adar lacked the
motivation to continue his training. Living life on the run would be reason
enough.
Tere reached the edge of town, made sure no one was
around and urged his horse to a gallop.
Chapter 8
Soret was a step ahead of Jorad and the street was
crowded with people so he had to strain to hear her words. The dust kicked up
from all the traffic was sticking to his sweaty face. Using the back of his
hand, he wiped off his forehead. It came away grimy and he cleaned it on his
pants. He wanted to take a few minutes to rest and calm down but couldn't
afford the luxury.
His blood was still racing from the encounter with
Erro. If Erro tried something again, Jorad would give him the beating he
deserved, whether the town guard was there or not. He didn’t know what else to
say to Soret about the Hunwei. At least Erro’s poster hadn’t seemed to faze her.
Jorad couldn’t blame her for her anger and confusion
about the Hunwei though. Ruder hadn’t been able to convince him, Jorad had
needed to see it for himself. He wished that he had evidence to show her but
all he could do was tell her what he'd seen.
“Save your breath, I’m not coming with you,” Soret
said when he caught up to her. “Not for something like this.”
“Once I leave, I won’t be coming back, Adar is adamant
about getting to Zecarani as fast as possible.”
“He wants to get that weapon or whatever, right?”
Soret looked like she was thinking of slapping him. “Why the rush now? It
sounds like he’s known about it for years.”
“It won’t be the first time we’ve tried, but this time
is different. He’s not going to leave without it now that the Hunwei are back.”
“And where will you go after that?”
“I don’t know,” he lied. Much as Jorad hated to admit
it, Adar’s logic made sense. If there was even a slim chance that something in
the Portal could help, it was worth Jorad making the effort to access it.
Assuming of course that Rarbon hadn't already been taken over by the Hunwei.
As they passed Timor’s tanner shop, Jorad noticed an
armed man that he didn’t recognize. The man was a bit shorter than most but he
looked like he knew how to
Similar Books
