Read Online Winterfinding by Daniel Casey - Free Book Online Page A

none of the architecture seemed ambitious. Jena
couldn’t tell a shop from a home and the people in the wide streets
were painfully plain of dress. There had never been a time when
Jena really stood out due to her clothes but it was clear from the
looks she was attracting that none of these people had ever seen a
free ranger. Or, at least, not often enough to not take note.
    As she came to an intersection, the street
narrowed and splayed out into five different slender lanes. Jena
strained to see if there were some kind of marker or sign letting
her know where she was heading. In Anhra, there were signposts in
the center of street intersections that couldn’t be missed—tall and
crudely constructed. Here though, it seemed as though everyone knew
where to go without looking up from what they were doing.
    “ Not exactly convenient
for visitors,” Jena mumbled as she drew the vellum.
    “ New to town.” Jena turn
quickly around and saw a man standing not more than a few feet from
her. She wasn’t startled though surprised.
    “ You could say that,” Jena
replied, angry with herself for letting the man sneak up on
her.
    The man held out his hand, “Addison.” His
voice was even and friendly. Jena hesitated, holding the vellum
tighter.
    “ I’m the local constable.”
Addison smiled, “So, I think I could point you in the right
direction.”
    Setting down her rucksack, Jena held out her
hand, “Is that on out of town?”
    Addison smirked, “I wouldn’t say that but
you are going to attract some attention. We tend to keep to
ourselves here and there’s rarely a draw for…” He eyed her up and
down.
    “ I’m a free ranger.” Jena
said matter of fact. Addison didn’t miss a beat but nodded, “So
long as you’re not looking to cause trouble you can claim to be
anything.”
    Jena grimaced but Addison held up his hands
apologetically, “So then, how can I help?”
    “ I need to find Tolland
Road.”
    “ Looking for the
Archway?”
    Jena wasn’t sure. However, if saying so
would get her directions, what could it hurt? She nodded
slightly.
    Addison gave a sigh of relief, his body
visibly relaxed, “I wouldn’t have pegged you as a gifter.”
    “ Gifter?” Jena had never
heard the term before.
    “ No offense
meant.”
    “ None taken because I have
no idea what you’re talking about.”
    Addison chuckled, “A gifter, one of the
noble born youths who’ve grown bored and are slumming it. Playing
at being traders, tinkers, rangers, or corsairs. Most are out of
Ardavass and Elixem; they come through here thinking we’re Anhra.
But they know things here are quieter.”
    “ That sounds ridiculous.”
Jena couldn’t hide her contempt.
    “ No, it’s true. Arderra is
a quiet place, more disciplined.” Addison walked around Jena to
stand a little further in the road looking at the
crossroads.
    Jena shook her head, “I didn’t mean…”
    “ I know what you meant.
Most gifters have had everything given to them and they expect a
certain level of comfort.”
    “ I earn my
way.”
    Addison nodded, “So long as you don’t take
it.”
    Jena flushed with anger, she knew Addison’s
type and this little dance between them was getting on her nerves,
“You don’t have to worry about me constable. I won’t be here long,
and I won’t be causing any trouble.”
    Turning Addison’s face had hardened, he
nodded, “The Archway isn’t just some nit infested hostel; it’s a
proper inn. Tends to attract…”
    “ Gifters.” Jena said
flatly. “Well, constable Addison, if you could point me in the
right direction…”
    “ The sooner you’ll be
off,” he raised a hand gesturing to the lane on the far left, “Down
that lane, then turn left. It’ll be on your right, you can’t miss
it.”
    “ Because of the archway.”
Jena shrugged.
    Addison nodded; Jena picked her rucksack up
again and headed off. She didn’t look back at the constable but if
she had, she would have seen him not move until she turned