Dalton Reed [All Things Impossible 01] Crown of the Realm 2e (pdf)

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and spicy and above all, warm. It even stayed warm in his stomach, and spread its soothing
fingers to the rest of his body. He rubbed his stomach happily as he ambled around the camp.
He moseyed over to Derora and Thalon. You know, I think I m feeling better.
Good, Der answered. How are you doing, Thalon?
The boy stared at the ground. Fine.
Where s Eve, Kelin? she asked. She s usually never far away from the fire.
He shook his head. I didn t see her, but there was a ladle spilled on the ground. I can t
say that I know her that well, but I couldn t imagine her dropping a ladle. He shrugged.
Weird.
Der shrugged also. Mayhap she left already. They launched two boats because two are
missing.
Thalon s head snapped up. Do you hear that?
Kelin shook his head. No, nothing.
No, Der said. She listened and heard a cessation of the normal background sounds
and silence flooded the camp, and it was so quiet it rang in their ears louder than the nearby
raging river. It didn t mask the sound of the river, but it muted it. Their skin sucked in the
distressing cold. A cloud lazily drifted over the moon.
Kelin shifted his weight anxiously. The cold breeze shook his nerves loose and he
began to tremble. He looked into the breeze and listened. Something was breaking loudly
through the sticks and trees before them, coming directly to the hidden sanctuary.
Sir Amthros ran up, drawing his sword. Something s not right.
All Things Impossible Crown of the Realm Dalton�132
Kaleb was directly behind him. He shook his head. I don t know. Perhaps the chemmen
found us. Sir Amthros, we need to prepare to launch, now!
Moans echoed throughout the camp. The crunching of the foliage grew closer in an
unerring trail toward them. Glaringly bright moonlight gradually spread over the area as the
cloud drifted away. Six bodies walked ungainly into the camp, issuing guttural, slurred noises.
Der tried to swallow, but it stuck in her throat.
That s not the chemmen. Wouldn t they be silent? She stepped toward the
approaching men. Sennha! They re followers of Sennha, I see a tattoo! But, how did they
find& ? Her nostrils flared the scent of blood and death shot into her head. She staggered
back. Then she saw the rich, fresh blood caked over their wounds. No one could survive those
cuts.
Shit, Thalon said.
Kaleb pulled Der back by her shoulder. He freed his own sword from his scabbard, and
it reflected the moonlight wildly around the camp. His voice was as pale as his face. Undead.
Amthros growled. They re between us and the canoes. We can t flee safely, we ll have
to destroy them first.
But, the chemmen Der started to protest.
They they& The prince shook himself, and shouted, To the trees! He darted to the
nearest pine. The trees still stood like sentinels, massive and unyielding. Also, they stood
slippery and dripping with the inches of rain.
Why? Kelin demanded, following the prince s footsteps exactly. He stared unsurely up
into the dark branches. He lifted up Thalon over his head so that the boy could grasp the
prince s extended hand. The lowest branches were above his head, and he couldn t fathom
how the prince had jumped so high with his weapon drawn.
They don t have enough control of their bodies to climb! Kaleb answered harshly as he
sheathed his sword. They re puppets, Kelin!
But who s controlling them?
The prince gritted his teeth as he pulled himself higher. I ll give you one guess. They
won t be far behind. We need to flee. He secured his balance. Archers! Prepare! Instantly,
arrows were drawn from lidded quivers. Perhaps he had thirty of elves, and not all of them
fighters.
Kelin and Der stared up into the pine; the branches were like a network of ladders, a
very wet, slick network of ladders. The elves seemed to sit on the thin branches like a breeze,
but they weren t too sure about their own weights. They also weren t sure if they could climb
some of those narrow branches. How in the world did the sentries sit up there for hours?
They spun to see that the dead cultists were only ten feet away. The moaning increased
in volume and intensity now they were close to fresh meat. They shambled faster toward the
pair. Looking around, Kelin and Der realized they were the last people on the ground.
Here! The knight of Arborn reached down from the next tree over. Der shoved Kelin
and ran after him. Kelin tossed up his hand, and with a grunt of effort Amthros hauled him up
into the tree. He nodded to Kelin and jumped lightly higher into the branches. The young man
turned and lowered his hand to Der.
Hurry!
She hesitated, looking between him and the cultists.
Derora Saxen! Now!
All Things Impossible Crown of the Realm Dalton�133
She half-turned to face the three lurching monsters that were closing on her.
No! Don t you dare! They re undead! [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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