Cospa's Mercy by Sarah Berry (best summer reads of all time txt) 📖

I saw Fogwen collapse into the snow. Hador and Felanir were being fools and had harmed Fogwen. I thought she was fine till I saw the blood pouring out of her arm. Felanir punched Hador and ran to help Fogwen. I ran over and grabbed her hand. Felanir had wrapped a bandage around her arm but blood was still pouring onto the ground. She was unconscious but still breathing.
“There’s a village in a valley about ten days from here.” Said Felanir.
“What? That’s too far!” I said.
“It’s our only choice! There are no healers in the other village!” he said. He lifted up Fogwen and placed her on his back. We started out on our journey to save her life.

I woke up in a bed and saw Felanir sitting in a chair beside the bed. I sat up and looked at my arm. My wound was wrapped tightly. Felanir glanced up and gasped.
“Fogwen!” he cried. He sat beside me and hugged me.
“Uh, good morning.” I said. Felanir released me and sighed.
“I was so worried!” he said.
“You were?” I asked.
“You were asleep for fourteen days!” he said.
“I was?” I asked. He nodded.
“What happened?” I asked.
“Hador sliced your arm open when he was trying to kill me.” Said Felanir. I sighed.
“Please forgive Hador.” I said.
“It’s alright. I know I’m not welcome.” He said.
“No! You are welcome! Ravoneth and Hador are stupid and rude to outsiders!” I said. Felanir smiled and squeezed my hand.
“Where’re Hador and Ravoneth?” I asked.
“Probably in some corner locked in each other’s lips.” He said frowning.
“They’re together?” I asked.
“Yes. While you were comatose they decided to put their differences aside.” Said Felanir sighing. I closed my eyes and shook my head.
“Where are we?” I asked.
“Bestead. We have to leave tonight.” Said Felanir.
“Why?”
“Let’s just say Hador over stayed his welcome…” said Felanir slowly.
“Uhg. Help me up Felanir. I want to look around.” I said swinging my legs onto the floor. Felanir grabbed my hands and pulled me to my feet. He helped me balance myself and then let go of my hands. I swayed for a second before I started to collapse. Felanir grabbed me and pulled me up, a wide grin on his face. He picked me up like a child, my knees draped over his arms.
“Come on Felanir! Let me down!” I laughed.
“No way! You wanted to see the village so I’m taking you.” He said, though he barely could through his laughing. He carried me down the stairs and out into the cold. Snow covered the ground and was falling from the sky. No one was out so it was silent except for the whispers as the snow fell to the ground.
“It’s pretty quiet here. Hador and Ravoneth have been at the taverns for the past few days however.” Said Felanir looking disapproving.
“Are we all stocked up for the journey?” I asked.
“Yes. While the others were off drinking, I bought coats and food.” He said smiling slightly.
“Let’s go get the others. I want to leave right away.” I said.
“Why?” he asked.
“We have one more person to find. I want to find her as soon as possible so we can find the Sword of Cospa.” I said. Felanir nodded and carried me down the road to a tavern. Loud noises were coming from inside and I could see Ravoneth and Hador arguing with someone.
“Do you want me to get them?” asked Felanir.
“No. You stay out here while I go get them.” I said. Felanir nodded and set me down.I staggered as I regained my balance; Felanir looking worried nearly grabbed me.
“Felanir I’m fine.” I said smiling. I opened the door and walked in. I frowned as the loud noise engulfed me. I pushed and shoved till I reached Hador and Ravoneth. Hador was yelling at a dwarf man and pounding his fist on the table while Ravoneth was trying to stop him. The dwarf man sighed and told Hador to leave him be. Hador threw the table aside and charged at the dwarf.
“Hador stop!” I screamed jumped in front of him. He didn’t recognize me in his drunken rage and punched me in the face. He knocked me down and kicked me in the stomach. I doubled over coughing out blood.
“Hador enough!” screamed Ravoneth trying to pull him off as he continued to hit me. Suddenly somebody grabbed Hador and pulled him off of me. Ravoneth helped me up and put my arm around her shoulder. I could barely breathe as she helped me outside. My vision was blurry and I was dizzy. The cold air started to bring me back around and I could see. I could hear Felanir screaming at Hador in the back of my head. I stood up shakily and staggered over to the two.
“Stop you two!” I cried.
“Stay back Fogwen!” cried Felanir.
“You can’t tell her what to do!” yelled Hador as he shoved Felanir. Felanir jumped back and morphed into a wolf.
“Felanir don’t!” I cried. Felanir ignored me and lunged at Hador. Felanir pinned him down and bared his teeth.
“Felanir!” screamed Ravoneth running over to him. Felanir lifted a giant paw, claws unsheathed.
“Felanir, you can’t do this!” I yelled. Ravoneth lunged at Felanir and knocked him over. As Felanir fell over his claws caught on Hador’s throat and slit it open.
“Hador!” I screamed. I ran over and shook him. Felanir morphed back into a human and raced over.
“Fogwen I’m so sorry! I didn’t want to kill him! I just wanted to scare him!” cried Felanir running over. Blood was pouring out of Hador’s neck and onto the snow dying it red.
“Tanka harwar!” I cried, slamming my hands onto his chest trying to heal him. Nothing happened. “Tanka harwar!” I screamed. Hador’s silver eyes stared blankly ahead. “Tanka harwar!” I sobbed. Tears dripped down my cheeks as I tried again and again. Felanir grabbed me and pulled me away from his limp body. I tried to pull away from him but his grip on my wrist was that of iron. Sobs shook my body as I looked at his dead body. Felanir held me close, his arms warm and comforting. I buried my face into his shoulder and sobbed. He stroked my hair and squeezed me tight. I finally stopped crying but I felt drained. Felanir helped me up and walked me over to Ravoneth.
“Take Fogwen back to the inn. I’ll bury Hador and then we’ll get going.” Said Felanir. Ravoneth nodded and helped me back to the inn.
She set me down on the bed and sat beside me. Suddenly I realized something. Cospa’s Leafs…I jumped up before Ravoneth could stop me and grabbed the scroll.
“Fogwen, what are you doing?” questioned Ravoneth confused.
“Ravoneth, we thought this was Hador.” I said pointing at the silver haired boy.
“Yeah.”
“What if it wasn’t?” I asked shaking.
“What do you mean?” asked Ravoneth slowly, her brow furrowing.
“If that wasn’t Hador, then Cospa’s Leafs obviously didn’t want him, but we brought him along anyway. We might’ve brought someone not meant for this journey and those that are not meant for this journey must not be worthy. Ravoneth, Hador might have died because of us.” I said softly.
“Oh no…” whispered Ravoneth.
“Hador’s dead because of us…” I said, tears welling up in my eyes. Felanir walked in and saw us but decided not to ask.
“We better head out.” Said Felanir, slinging the bags over his arms. We got up and left, Felanir paying the inn keeper. The night was eerily silent, Hador’s death all on our minds. We had all lost a dear friend tonight…

Eight Days Later

We woke up to another cold day, tired and hungry. We were low on food and were all irritated. I slowly sat up, rubbing my arms trying to keep them warm. Felanir was already up, his face pale and drawn as he shook Ravoneth awake. I stood up and rubbed my eyes, trying to get the exhaustion out of my body. We had been sleeping on the hard snow and ice and we were all sore and exhausted. Ravoneth stood up and folded up her blanket and put it into the satchel along with ours. Felanir took it and slung it over his shoulder.
“Let’s get going.” Said Felanir. We all sighed and started to walk. We walked in silence for hours until we reached a large expanse of ice.
“Careful. We don’t want any broken bones.” Said Felanir, treading carefully. Ravoneth walked beside him while I walked right behind him. We were halfway across it when he heard cracking.
“Nobody move.” Said Felanir quickly. We all stood absolutely still till it stopped.
“Phew. That was close.” Said Ravoneth smiling. She took a step forward. As she did, th ice cracked underneath her.
“Ravoneth run!” yelled Felanir. Ravoneth looked at us terrified right before the ice fell out from underneath us.
“Ravoneth!” I screamed trying to grab her arm. I grabbed onto her wrist and tried to pull her up but couldn’t
“Felanir help me!” I cried. I couldn’t lose Ravoneth. Felanir grabbed my waist and started to pull me out when we heard more ice cracking. Suddenly the ice fell out from under us and we plummeted down to the ground. We hit the bottom about fifteen feet below. I slowly got up and looked around. The walls were completely smooth so there was no chance of us getting out by climbing. Felanir struggled to his feet and groaned in pain.
“Everybody fine?” I asked. I heard a muffled groan come from Ravoneth. She struggled to her feet and joined Felanir and I. Suddenly, we heard whispers coming from beside us.
“Did you hear that?” asked Felanir warily. Ravoneth nodded and looked around. Felanir morphed into a wolf, his fur on end as he growled at the invisible threat. Suddenly someone dressed in a black