want
to be miles away before then.”
“But what—”
She stopped him with a raised
hand. “We’ll have plenty of time to talk on the road. Let’s get away first. Get
your things.” Darius did as he was told, happy to have his weapon again, and
relieved to find the book back in his pack.
She was equally reticent to
answer Luke’s questions, so they set off in silence. She led at a quick pace,
and showed no hesitation about where she was headed. They saw signs of neither
the tavern nor the Old Road as they started out—in what direction neither
brother could say—and they moved across open country as opposed to along any
defined path.
They came to a dense patch of
trees and entered in. She glided through gracefully, and it seemed to Darius
she could have easily lost them in here had she wanted to. She slowed and glanced
back from time to time to be certain they were keeping pace. After a time they
came to a small clearing, and here she wheeled about and threw back her hood.
Even in the darkness they
could see she was a beautiful young woman, her delicate features framed by wavy
locks of raven hair. She looked at them with eyes both deep and playful, and
the edge of her lip curled into a smile. “I think we can tarry here safely for
at least a brief time. Where should we begin?”
“I’d say we should begin with
‘Thank You,’ ” Darius said, giving a small bow. “What happened back there?”
“I was hoping nothing,” she
replied. “Nigaf and his lot are usually better for a threat than any real
action, but once they get to drinking they can be a bit rash. I was afraid he’d
really do some harm to your brother, so I had to intervene.”
“You were in the room?” Luke
asked. “But where—”
“Wasn’t. I was outside the
window. They came through the door, and likely thought one of you had left the
window ajar to let a breeze in.”
“And we thought they opened it
to get in,” Darius said, finishing the thought.
“Exactly, which is how I could
follow along, being just outside.”
“But why were you there? Are
you saying we were saved by chance?”
“Hardly. I’ve been on your
trail for more than a day. I was just waiting for the right time to make an
appearance.” She shrugged, then added, “This wasn’t the way I would have
chosen, but I suppose it’ll have to do.”
Darius folded his arms. “I
have to admit you’ve lost me.”
“You were looking for someone
with special ‘talents.’ I’m not sure why, or if I want to help you any further,
but I’m willing to hear you out.”
Luke’s eyes grew round. “You’re
a wi—”
“I prefer ‘sorceress.’ ”
Darius struggled for words,
then finally settled on, “You aren’t exactly what I was expecting.”
“I would guess not. Probably
thought you’d find a gray-haired old man with a pointy hat.” Seeing she had hit
the mark, she smiled softly. “Nothing to be ashamed of…and there are a few like
that. They tend to be a little more eccentric. Hard to fit into a crowd when
you stick out like a sore thumb.”
Luke lowered his brow in
thought. “So did you use spells to track us?”
“Nothing that exciting. I have
contacts too, and when someone might have need of my particular skills, word
reaches me. Your approach wasn’t bad, but I doubt anyone would have led you to
a wizard. If we want to be found, we’ll appear at a place and time of our
choosing.”
“Okay, but what happened back
at the tavern? That was a spell, right?”
She nodded. “Best way I know
to knock six men out, eight if you count yourselves. So, I’m here, I’ve given
you a little demonstration, and perhaps gotten into your good graces by pulling
you out of that room. Now it’s your turn.”
Darius hesitated. “I’m not
sure where to start.”
“Names are always a good
place.”
“Of course,” Darius said,
slightly embarrassed. “Darius, and this is Luke.”
“I’m Adrianna.” She waited
patiently for one of the brothers to
to be miles away before then.”
“But what—”
She stopped him with a raised
hand. “We’ll have plenty of time to talk on the road. Let’s get away first. Get
your things.” Darius did as he was told, happy to have his weapon again, and
relieved to find the book back in his pack.
She was equally reticent to
answer Luke’s questions, so they set off in silence. She led at a quick pace,
and showed no hesitation about where she was headed. They saw signs of neither
the tavern nor the Old Road as they started out—in what direction neither
brother could say—and they moved across open country as opposed to along any
defined path.
They came to a dense patch of
trees and entered in. She glided through gracefully, and it seemed to Darius
she could have easily lost them in here had she wanted to. She slowed and glanced
back from time to time to be certain they were keeping pace. After a time they
came to a small clearing, and here she wheeled about and threw back her hood.
Even in the darkness they
could see she was a beautiful young woman, her delicate features framed by wavy
locks of raven hair. She looked at them with eyes both deep and playful, and
the edge of her lip curled into a smile. “I think we can tarry here safely for
at least a brief time. Where should we begin?”
“I’d say we should begin with
‘Thank You,’ ” Darius said, giving a small bow. “What happened back there?”
“I was hoping nothing,” she
replied. “Nigaf and his lot are usually better for a threat than any real
action, but once they get to drinking they can be a bit rash. I was afraid he’d
really do some harm to your brother, so I had to intervene.”
“You were in the room?” Luke
asked. “But where—”
“Wasn’t. I was outside the
window. They came through the door, and likely thought one of you had left the
window ajar to let a breeze in.”
“And we thought they opened it
to get in,” Darius said, finishing the thought.
“Exactly, which is how I could
follow along, being just outside.”
“But why were you there? Are
you saying we were saved by chance?”
“Hardly. I’ve been on your
trail for more than a day. I was just waiting for the right time to make an
appearance.” She shrugged, then added, “This wasn’t the way I would have
chosen, but I suppose it’ll have to do.”
Darius folded his arms. “I
have to admit you’ve lost me.”
“You were looking for someone
with special ‘talents.’ I’m not sure why, or if I want to help you any further,
but I’m willing to hear you out.”
Luke’s eyes grew round. “You’re
a wi—”
“I prefer ‘sorceress.’ ”
Darius struggled for words,
then finally settled on, “You aren’t exactly what I was expecting.”
“I would guess not. Probably
thought you’d find a gray-haired old man with a pointy hat.” Seeing she had hit
the mark, she smiled softly. “Nothing to be ashamed of…and there are a few like
that. They tend to be a little more eccentric. Hard to fit into a crowd when
you stick out like a sore thumb.”
Luke lowered his brow in
thought. “So did you use spells to track us?”
“Nothing that exciting. I have
contacts too, and when someone might have need of my particular skills, word
reaches me. Your approach wasn’t bad, but I doubt anyone would have led you to
a wizard. If we want to be found, we’ll appear at a place and time of our
choosing.”
“Okay, but what happened back
at the tavern? That was a spell, right?”
She nodded. “Best way I know
to knock six men out, eight if you count yourselves. So, I’m here, I’ve given
you a little demonstration, and perhaps gotten into your good graces by pulling
you out of that room. Now it’s your turn.”
Darius hesitated. “I’m not
sure where to start.”
“Names are always a good
place.”
“Of course,” Darius said,
slightly embarrassed. “Darius, and this is Luke.”
“I’m Adrianna.” She waited
patiently for one of the brothers to
Similar Books
