The Talisman of Delucha by A.J. Calvin (list of e readers .txt) 📖

EXCERPT

“When we arrive at the Underground Caverns,” Vardak was saying, “we do not know what will happen. There are several possibilities.”
They had set up camp a bit later than usual—it had been fully dark when the last of the tents had been erected. They had taken a meal of dried meat and somewhat stale bread, and now were sitting around a small campfire that did little to ease the chill the night brought.
“The first,” he continued, “and the most likely, considering the last contact my people had with the Murkogs was hostile, is that we will be turned away.”
“Or imprisoned,” Patak put in.
“Not if I can help it,” Vardak said, staring into the fire. “The next possibility is that we will be made to wait for some time, perhaps several days, before being allowed in or sent away. At times, the Murkogs will hold a meeting of sorts to determine if visitors will be allowed to enter the caverns.”
“The other possibility,” Patak said, seeming a bit optimistic, “is that we will be shown inside. In that case, only Emra or Coreyaless will be able to negotiate the release of Travin and Luke. Only women are allowed to visit the Matriarch, and only the Matriarch can release prisoners if she chooses to do so.”
Coreyaless was nodding. “What you are saying is that we will need descriptions, true? Emra is the only one of us who knows Luke, so she will be able to describe him. What I need is the description of your brother.”
“Well,” said Patak, “as you noticed before, Vardak and I look nothing like our mother, but Travin does. He is about the same height as we are, but he has black hair. And blue eyes.”
“He also has a scar on his forehead,” Vardak said. “It looks like a half-moon. Patak gave him that with a table leg.”
Patak shrugged, as if to say it had not been his fault. “It was an accident, I swear it! He took somewhat that belonged to me, and of course I got mad, but I never meant to actually hit him. He just moved the wrong way.”
Vardak nodded, obviously disbelieving. “It’s your story, Patak.”
“I do not need this from you, little brother,” Patak said. “It’s a shame I have no table leg with me now.”
“You certainly have a way of scaring me,” Vardak replied sarcastically.
Patak laughed. “It does not matter. Did you get what you needed?” He asked of Coreyaless, then his smile quickly faded as he glanced around the campfire. “Where is Emra?”
No one knew. No one had noticed her leave.
Patak stood up and moved quickly around the fire to the place where she had been sitting. He sighed.
“What is it?” Vardak demanded.
Patak pointed into the darkness. “Her footprints lead away. The tents are over there,” he said pointing back to the other side of the fire. “She’s gone.”
“But why?” Maryn asked. “Why would she just leave like that?”
Patak frowned. “I do not know,” he said, “but I am going to find out.” He grabbed a branch from the fire and turned away.
“Wait,” said Vardak. “Someone should go with you.”
“You are not,” Patak said. “You need to stay here, in case the Murkogs come unexpected. We cannot both go.”
“I’ll go,” said Maryn.
Patak nodded impatiently. “Come on.”
Maryn scrambled to his feet, removing his daggers from inside his baggy sleeves in the same motion. “Let’s go.”
Patak moved quickly, following the faint footprints left behind in the thin layer of dirt that coated this arid land. They led to the east, away from the camp and the road. Patak was worried.
“Why would she just leave like that?” Maryn asked again.
Patak shook his head. “I’ve no idea…but somewhat has been bothering her lately, and I have a feeling that it might be a part of this.”
They went on for some distance when Maryn abruptly stopped with a sharp intake of breath.
“What is it?” Patak demanded.
“Emra,” he said quietly. “She’s just past where your light falls.”
Patak did not question him. He knew Maryn’s night vision far surpassed his own.
Moving forward a bit more slowly than before, he stopped as soon as she came into his sight, and dropped the branch he held immediately. Emra was lying facedown and was not moving. In one hand she held her sword. Patak could only imagine the worst that could have happened.
Stooping, he gently picked her up and turned to go back the way they had come. Maryn had picked up the branch, which by now only glowed, but did not flame.
“What do you think happened?” Maryn asked softly.
“I’ve no idea, seeing that she was alone. She is alive—she is breathing. We may be forced to wait until she comes around before we find out what has truly gone on this night.”
They moved quickly, retracing their footsteps while they still had enough light to find them. The night around them was cold and dark and still.
Danness met them some distance from the camp, a much brighter branch in his hand. He was immediately concerned as he saw them approach with Emra unconscious.
“What happened?”
“We do not know,” Maryn said. “We found her like that.”
“Where did that sword come from?” Danness asked. “It is not hers. Vardak thought to check her things—she went without a weapon.”
“That means that whoever did this to her…They lost their weapon. I never thought to check around to see if someone lay beyond the reach of the light,” Patak said. “My main concern was to get her back to camp safely.”
Danness shrugged. “It does not truly matter if there was someone or not. If she managed to take their weapon, she must have bested them. The culprit would have been dead, most likely.”
Patak nodded. “You are most likely right. Let’s get her back to camp.”

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Publication Date: 01-15-2009

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