The Tales of the Wanderer Volume One: A Book of Underrealm (The Underrealm Volumes 4) Garrett Robinson (poetry books to read TXT) 📖

were doing more for the safety of Dorsea than I was. That was an untenable thought. And by the time I had finished healing, Lan Shui had been quiet and peaceful for many weeks. Ashta, it turns out, is more than capable of dealing with day-to-day affairs. She had even hired a new constable to help her, and I felt … unnecessary. So I turned my command over to her and tried to follow you to Opara. But when I reached it, I learned that you had come, and then left, and then come and then left again.”

“Wait,” said Mag, holding up a hand. “Who told you all that?”

Yue shrugged again. “The Rangatira’s constables. A cousin of mine named Aroha serves there.”

I raised my brows. “Do all of your kin take the red leather?”

“Those who do not take the red cloak,” she said, glowering. “May I tell my story, or will you continue to interrupt me at every opportunity?”

“We make no promises,” said Mag.

Just at that moment, Dryleaf came hurrying up, his arm in Chausiku’s. At his heels came Oku, and as soon as the hound spotted Yue, he came bounding forwards with great leaps and barks. Yue looked down at him with a frown she could not quite maintain.

“You still have the mutt,” she said.

“Yue,” I said reproachfully.

“Oh, all right,” she said. She scratched him behind the ears as Dryleaf came hobbling forwards, his arms outstretched.

“Yue!” he cried. The moment Yue took his hands, he seized her around the neck and pulled her down for a hug. I saw tears shining in his eyes as he embraced her. “Dear, dear, dear girl. When young Chausiku here told me it was you, I hardly dared to believe him.”

“Hello, old man,” said Yue. She returned his hug, squeezing him mayhap a bit harder than she should have, what with his age. “I am glad to see you safe, but dismayed to find you still following these fools as they traipse across all the nine lands.”

“They have taken excellent care of me,” chuckled Dryleaf, wheezing slightly in her grip.

“Of course they have,” said Yue. “They know that if they let anything happen to you, I would flay the skin from their bodies.”

Dryleaf laughed aloud before pulling back and reaching up to cradle her face in his leathery hands. “But sky above and dark below, what brought you all this way?”

“I was just telling them,” said Yue. “But I do not mind repeating myself. It has been a long road, and conversation rare. Mayhap after a meal and a, er … a rest.” She glanced back at Mag and me.

“Of course,” I said. “I imagine you have a tent? If not, I am certain one can be provided. I think Kun rather likes you, after that speech.”

“Yes, that was impressive,” said Mag, smirking.

“I am sure it was,” put in Dryleaf. “You do not know Yue as I do. Her talents lie far beyond simple skill with a blade.”

“They do indeed,” said Yue. But she licked her lips nervously. “And speaking of which, there is something I would take care of, now that most of the important business has been seen to, and before we talk further, or before Kun summons me to his council. Before I lose my nerve, at any rate.”

That confused me, and I saw my expression mirrored in Mag and Dryleaf. “What is that?” I asked her.

Yue’s gaze flicked to me, and then away. “I made you an offer in Lan Shui, and you said you would take me up on it when next we met. Well, now we have met. So, shall you set up your tent, or shall I set up mine? It has been … a very long road.”

I do not mind telling you that I was struck utterly speechless for a moment. In wild desperation, I looked to Mag and Dryleaf. Though I am no prudish child of merchants, I doubted my cheeks had ever been so dark.

Mag raised an eyebrow. “Well? Go on, then. You know what to do, yes?”

Dryleaf patted me on the shoulder. “Be careful, my boy. Her injuries were severe, and she may still be recovering.”

I could only splutter and look up at Yue. Me be careful with her? She was a head taller and had to outweigh me by two stones, at least.

But then she reached out her hand towards me. And I saw her grow suddenly hesitant, timid—almost shy. There was a question in her eyes, and a fear of what my answer might be.

Well. I was not such an old man yet, and blood ran in my veins. And Yue was, as I have told you … a powerful woman.

I took her hand and led her to where Hallan was building my tent for me.

Of the rest of that evening I wish to say little, so let us resume the tale after some time had passed. After a while, Yue went to Kun’s council. When she returned, Mag and I learned that Kun had assigned her as sergeant to another squadron of soldiers in Tou’s company. But to our dismay, Yue would not tell us much of what else they had discussed, for Kun had commanded her to secrecy. All she would say to us was that the army would march west in the morning.

“West?” said Mag. “Why west?”

“Because that is where the Shades were going, as best I could tell,” said Yue.

“But there is nothing to the west,” said Mag. “Dorsea’s large cities are all to the south, and Feldemar’s to the north. These are wildlands.”

“I only know where they are heading,” said Yue, shrugging. “I know nothing more of their aims than you do.”

The next day, Kun turned his march away from the rising sun. And now that he had some definite idea of our enemy’s movements, he pushed his troops hard. We found ourselves on a forced march, and suddenly Mag’s and my experience with campaigning