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

find the cold bracing,” she said. “But I am not opposed to piling on a few extra furs when I have someone with whom to share them. There are few things as pleasant as sharing warmth and comfort when the world is cold and dead.”

“I agree with you there,” said Tagata, taking the seat Kaita had offered. Their shoulders pressed together, and even through her thick cloak, Kaita could feel the warmth of Tagata’s shoulder. She was like a furnace. It was something she had noticed in all the shadeborn she had ever met, as if they burned with some inner fire that no winter could hope to douse. Kaita leaned into her, resting her head on her shoulder.

Rogan had always told her to love all the Shades like her own family. But in truth, Kaita held most of them in disdain. They were like sheep, like the very people who had made her suffer early in life. She gave her trust and love only to those who deserved it—ones like Tagata, and Rogan himself. Ones who were useful, because they were strong.

But they were also very, very clever. And even as Tagata wrapped an arm around Kaita’s shoulders, sharing more of her heat through the cloak, she glanced down at Kaita to give her a quick look-over.

“Are you well?” she said. “Is there anything you wish to speak with me about? Anything that worries you?”

Kaita sighed through her nose. “You should say what you mean. I have not taken the magestones. I gave my word to Rogan. And yet in return, he has sent me to march with you, directly away from where I wish to go.”

Tagata frowned. “We must make for the pass. If the western senators can muster—”

“I know the reasons,” snapped Kaita. She paused, took a breath, and forced herself back to calm. “Of course, this host can hardly turn around and head east. But I could. I could go on the hunt for Albern and Mag again. I have the power to end them at last.”

“You must have faith,” said Tagata. “If Rogan told you this was the right thing to do, you must trust him. He would not deceive you.”

“I trust in him, just as I trust in our father,” said Kaita irritably. “Yet what else am I supposed to think? The last I heard, Albern and Mag were to the east. Yet he sends me to march west. Does he know where they are better than I do? If so, why does he not tell me? Why not tell me where and when I shall meet them, rather than a vague promise?”

“He would never say it unless he believed it to be true,” said Tagata.

“And I wish to trust in that,” growled Kaita. “But how can I? How can he know?”

Tagata hesitated. At first, Kaita thought she had no answer. But when Tagata spoke, it was almost as if the words were being forced out of her. “He has … methods.”

Kaita drew back, feeling her arm and shoulder cool as she looked up into Tagata’s face. Tagata, meanwhile, did not meet her eyes, but looked studiously at the tent flap.

“Tagata?” said Kaita. “What do you mean?”

Tagata licked her lips, considering. “He … that is, I mean Rogan, but Father as well … they have … a sight.”

She paused. Kaita remained silent, waiting. She felt a curious certainty that Tagata should not be telling her this, and that she should not press the matter, for that might drive Tagata back to silence.

“I do not know quite how it works,” said Tagata. Now she spoke more quickly, as though cracks in a dam were widening. “But they can see things. Threads of time and fate, like the future in a tapestry.”

“No one has that power,” whispered Kaita.

“They do,” said Tagata. “I do not know how it works. I do not know where they gained it. Rogan often says that we are all equal to each other—but I cannot be his equal, for this gift is beyond me. I barely know of its existence, and I know nothing of its origin. It seems to me that it is … unclear, some of the time. Yet from what I know, it is infallible.”

“And what do you know?” said Kaita.

But Tagata shook her head. “I should not have said as much as I have. I will not speak more of this. I only tell you so that you know your faith is not misplaced. If Rogan said you would achieve your aims this way, but did not explain why, then I am sure it is because he has seen it.”

Kaita wanted to ask one of the thousand questions whirling in her mind. But before she could prod Tagata to speak on, they heard shouting outside the tent.

Instantly they were on their feet, Kaita casting her cloaks and blankets aside. They threw themselves out of the tent just as a Shade came running up to them, her eyes wide, and pointed east.

“Commander!” she said to Tagata. “One of the eastern outriders has delivered a report. There is a force following us.”

“What?” snapped Tagata. “How many? How close?”

“That is unclear, commander,” said the messenger. “He saw the smoke of many campfires, but could not see the foe.”

Tagata paused for a moment, considering. But a furious excitement sparked in Kaita’s heart.

“It is them,” she said in a whisper. “It must be.”

Tagata frowned at her. “If there are many campfires, it cannot only be Mag and Albern.”

“No,” said Kaita. “Not just them. They have allied with others, other servants of the High King, to pursue me. Or to pursue us, for I doubt they know I am here. You were right. Rogan was right. I should never have doubted.”

“You can be forgiven, I think,” said Tagata. She turned back to the messenger. “Send word all through the camp. Muster for the march, and be ready to press hard. We must reach the Greatrocks before they catch us.”

“Yes, commander,” said the messenger, and