David Bishop and the Legend of the Orb T.C. Crawford (easy to read books for adults list .txt) 📖

his instruction, whether it be academics, politics, or chores, but what she particularly looked forward to was the combat training.

Erin had excelled in the physical aspects of her training unlike anything Tyrius had expected or seen in his nearly eighty years of life. She was graceful as a dancer, strong as an acrobat, and swift and precise as a skilled warrior. Before long, she was mastering all the obstacle courses he could make for her, finishing them in record times after only a few attempts.

Her skill with the blade and bow were unprecedented, and as she grew older, she would spar with Captain Ryan for hours on end to the point of physical and mental exhaustion. She could remember the look on his face the first time she bested him, it was a mixture of shock and pride, and she savored that moment knowing it would be a rare occurrence at best – he was the most skilled fighter in all the Kingdom, and everyone knew it.

Tyrius would always tell her that she was a born natural and he was very proud of the woman she was becoming.  He always knew what would make her feel special. Now he was gone, taken from her and imprisoned – or worse. She had to get him back.

Erin followed Captain Ryan through the campground, looking around as they walked. It was bustling with activity. Hundreds of people were milling about, setting up tents, cook ware, and other supplies they were able to carry away with them when they fled the carnage in the city.

There were some who had already been there for days, their tents established, and their families settled in, sitting around cooking large pots of stews and roasting small game over little fires. Others who had only recently wandered in, a few here and there each day, were trying to find their place amongst the make-shift village of refugees, hoping to find their lost loved ones somewhere in the crowd. She felt a pang of sympathy for those who had lost family and friends during the takeover. She knew what it was like.

The camp was filled with steady, low conversation and the sound of hammers ringing out as they fashioned and bent metal weapons and tools. She could hear the sharp sizzle of hot iron being cooled in the oil basins as she walked past rows of tents with blacksmiths and metal workers. She watched them fashioning new armor and weapons or repairing ones that had been damaged in the fight.

She could see that everyone, despite their misfortune, kept themselves busy and productive in what had grown to become a little community. There were leather workers sewing clothing and constructing stockpiles of leather armor, leggings, and boots. In other tents sat musicians playing sad tunes, singing songs of the tragedy that only a couple of days before had befallen them while crowds sat around listening, weeping, and reflecting. Others were knitting blankets and bedrolls for those who needed one. They all understood that working was better than sitting still and being haunted by the memories of the attack.

As they neared the center of the camp, they approached a series of larger tents with candlelight pouring from the entrance. As Captain Ryan led her past the opening to the largest tent, Erin caught a glimpse inside of a table with a map spread out across its surface, while a group of soldiers and officers standing around were quietly discussing something, pointing at the map every now and then. A lantern hung from the tent’s central support beam provided sufficient light for the men to see and cast their elongated shadows up the sides of the tent in distorted shapes and sizes.

Captain Ryan continued to lead Erin to a series of smaller empty tents, each with a bedroll and a lantern equipped inside, finally coming to a stop in front of one of the bigger ones and gestured for her to go inside.

“You can take this tent, here. Mine is the one to your left, and the one to the right belongs to one of my most trusted men. You will be safe here. Please, get some rest. We can catch up in the morning, at which time I’ll need you to tell me as much as you can about the events leading up to when we found you in the wagon today.” He smiled and gently put his hand on her shoulder. “You did a great job out there today, keeping it together like that. I know you must have been scared. Tyrius would have been proud of you.”

“Thank you…” she said, unable to voice the myriad of thoughts racing through her mind.

When he saw she was going to object, he quickly cut her off, “Get some rest and come see me in the morning at first light.” he said, and he turned and walked back towards the large tent with the soldiers at the table and disappeared through the opening flap. Light quickly poured out of the tent before it flapped shut leaving only a thin beam of light pouring across the ground before it.

Erin lifted the flap and ducked through the opening to her tent before climbing onto her bed roll. It was far more comfortable than the one she had been sleeping on the past few nights, as it had some kind of cushioning and a fluffy pillow to lay her head on.

The exhaustion seemed to be unbearable, but she had too much on her mind and felt she would never get any sleep. She wondered where David, Rex, and Orin were at and if they were safe. She wondered if they were looking for her or if they had gone on to seek help from Rex’s brethren in Ravenfell. She missed David most of all. They had been through so much in such a short time, but because of those challenges they had formed a bond of trust and respect that went deeper than most relationships did in