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

went horribly wrong, even Mag’s considerable skills might not be enough to keep her alive. And if the Uncut Lady could not escape her doom, what hope did I have to save her?

The next day, Kaita rode west out of the Greatrocks with her party of six Shades. In the mountains’ western foothills, she stopped her horse and turned to the soldiers accompanying her.

“And now we part,” she said. “Once you have finished with the satyrs, return to the Watcher. You should find Tagata there, for Rogan will be in Dorsea by now.”

“Very well,” said Ertu, his beard twitching as he frowned. “And can you make the journey to Lan Shui unaided?”

“You need not worry for me,” said Kaita.

“Yet I may if I wish,” said Ertu. “That demon woman from Northwood is chasing you, not us.”

“I can look after myself,” said Kaita.

“I hope that is true,” said Ertu. He extended a hand. Kaita grasped his wrist firmly, and they shook. “Fare well, until we meet again. Until life ends.”

“Until life ends.”

He turned and rode away, and the rest of the Shades accompanied him. Kaita did not ride on, but sat watching them for a moment. She had joined the Shades many years ago. She loved Rogan, as he loved her. But Rogan’s affection extended to all who wore the deathly livery, and in that he was different from Kaita. The Shadeborn, like Tagata—and Trisken, death keep him—were one thing. But Kaita could never muster any great love for the rank and file soldiers like the ones riding away now, half of whom served for love of coin and not from belief.

Yet Ertu believed. Yet Kaita disdained him, and she did not know why.

She sighed as the last blue cloak vanished around a fold in the land. Turning her horse, she struck out for Lan Shui. She had to reach it before nightfall, or she would lose her horse.

Lan Shui is no great burg. A mere pinpoint on a map compared to Bertram farther west, and not even so big as Northwood used to be. It sits near the place where the Blackwind River comes tumbling out of the Greatrocks. There are many beautiful falls in that area, and it gives Lan Shui a chilled and often-misted air—which is excellent for tales and for atmosphere, but horrible for wooden buildings, which often warp and rot. “Rich as a carpenter in Lan Shui” was once a saying in those parts, and it might still be.

Despite its proximity to Bertram, which is the second-largest city in Dorsea and was once that kingdom’s capital, Lan Shui is a quiet, uneventful place, for it is bordered on the west by a sharp and insurmountable spur in the land, as though the Greatrocks were kicking up one last time before letting the earth lie flat. That spur cannot be traveled across, but must be ridden around, and that adds half a week to any journey between Lan Shui and the King’s road.

In other words, it is the perfect sort of town for one to go to when they wish to avoid being found.

Kaita approached in the afternoon, careful to wait out of sight in a small wood just visible from the town. Soon a young man, hardly more than a boy, came to her amid the trees. He had a sallow face and bulging eyes.

“You are she?”

“If by ‘she’ you mean a servant of our father, then yes,” said Kaita. “Are you not supposed to ask me for a password?”

He avoided her gaze. “I … forgot it.”

“Fool,” spat Kaita. “What if I were one of our enemies? You still do not know that I am not. We do not play at some child’s game.”

“Of course,” mumbled the boy. “I am sorry.”

Her nostrils flared. “Sorry” would not save them from the King’s law if it sniffed them out in this town. “I care little for your apologies. Can you get me within the walls?”

The boy ducked his head. “I can. No one will see you. My name is Pantu, by the way.”

“I do not remember asking for your name. Get moving.”

He took the reins of her horse and set off, and Kaita followed. First he took her to a part of the eastern wall that was out of sight of any gate, and then he led her along it until they reached the south entrance. No guards stood there to watch them enter.

“That was simple,” said Kaita. “I could have done it myself.”

“The constables and guards are much preoccupied during the day,” said Pantu. His voice grew hushed as he continued. “And besides, only the night is dangerous now.”

Kaita gave a grim smile.

They moved wordlessly after that, passing through the streets until they reached an old, abandoned-looking building near the center of the town. A woman came to take their horses without having to be called. After they made sure no one was nearby to see, Kaita followed Pantu into the home, where they both threw back their hoods.

The front room was wide and low. In the back wall was set a stone hearth with no fire, and around it sat three people in thick wooden chairs. They turned as one to see Kaita and her companion standing in the doorway, and all three of them shot to their feet at once. One of them, a brawny woman with her grey hair in a braid, took a step forwards and looked at Kaita with joy.

“Kaita,” she said. “At last.”

“Happy to see me, Dellek?” said Kaita, giving her a wry smile.

“Always.” Dellek came and embraced her. “Ever since we received word you were coming, I have eagerly awaited your arrival. Some of us—including myself—wanted very much to join the rest of you in Northwood.”

“There were more than enough of us to do what needed to be done,” said Kaita. “Now, let me see how you have progressed in your work for our father.”

Dellek nodded and led her deeper