3 Weaver of Shadow Read Online Free PDF Page B

absorbing the taint of Shadow, but, given how strong the Blight was here, he wondered how much longer it could continue to do so.
    “Bad,” said Grogan. There was a note of question in his voice. He spoke softly in a tone that would not carry far. Kormak replaced the amulet beneath his tunic.
    “It will get a lot worse as we move towards the Shadowheart,” said Kormak, matching his manner of speech. It reminded him of times they had fought together on night raids during the Orc War.
    Grogan spat. “What sort of people would choose to live in this?”
    “You’d be surprised,” said Kormak. “I’ve seen villages in the middle of blights. Many of the people looked normal but they were cannibals and worse…”
    “You’ve led an interesting life since the war.” Grogan had dropped into the easy loping pace of the wood’s runner. Kormak kept pace beside him. “Me— my life had to get interesting just as I am feeling my age. Hunting Shadow-maddened elves in a blighted forest is not how I planned on spending my old age.”
    “You’re not old,” Kormak said.
    “For around here I am; woodrunners don’t always live to a great age.”
    “Well, watch your step if you want to live to get much older.”

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    GROGAN PAUSED FOR a moment, looked down, stooped and rose with something in his hand. They had been following the trail for hours now and the forest was getting more and more shadowy. “Woman’s brooch, dropped here. Looks like we’re on the right trail sure enough.”
    “Think she left it deliberately?” Kormak glanced over his shoulder. Once again, he had the sense of being watched. He trusted his instincts enough to pay attention. Something about the way Grogan’s eyes flickered to the undergrowth told him that the ranger was feeling that way too.
    “If she had her wits about her. They must be praying someone will come looking for them. I shudder to think what those elves will do with their prisoners.”
    “Slaves?”
    “Never heard of elves taking or selling slaves, not until the Weaver came along.”
    Another thought crossed Kormak’s mind. “Sacrifices. There’s a lot of power in offering blood and souls when you’re working magic.”
    “The thought had crossed my mind. Never heard of elves working Shadow magic either.”
    “There’s a first time for everything. Something’s very wrong around here.”
    “Yes,” said a soft voice from nearby. Kormak looked around and saw the elf girl standing there. Somehow she had slipped through the cordon of watchful hunters and come across them. She held her bow in her hand but the arrow was pointing towards the ground.
    “I wondered when you were going to show yourself,” said Grogan. If he was daunted by the elf’s sudden appearance he gave no sign of it. He looked over at Kormak. “She’s been stalking us for the past couple of minutes.”
    “Let’s hope none of her kin have been,” said Kormak.
    She laughed quietly. “The Lost are no kin of mine. They are no kin to anyone anymore.”
    “She’s Kayoga,” Grogan said. “The ones who attacked last night were Mayasha.”
    “The Mayasha are gone. A Shadow has fallen between them and the sun. Their tree herds rot. Their Elder is dead. They follow their new-old god now and it leads them down a rotting path into darkness.”
    “Why are you here, Speardancer?” Grogan asked.
    “I am here to tell you to turn back. Your people are worse than dead. You will be too if you follow this path to its bitter end.”
    “You saw the prisoners die?” Kormak said.
    She shook her head. “I know what will happen to them and you cannot stop it. Best you flee this place. Best you raise your war-banners and summon the Armies of the Morning. The Shadow rules here and it will take the strength of Nations to oppose it.”
    Kormak heard steps coming closer turned and saw Jaethro; his jaw gaped, he opened his mouth to shout. When Kormak turned to look back for the elf, she was gone.
    “What was