Book Three of the Travelers Read Online Free PDF

river,” King Allon said. “But then one day it just stopped flowing. Like that.” He snapped his fingers, then shrugged. “The world is full of mysteries.”
    They walked silently.
    When they had finally reached their tent, the young king stopped and turned to her. “We are free people,” he said. “I will not keep you here against your will.”
    â€œThen I will leave right now,” she said.
    â€œI will not send anyone to escort you home, either,”he said. He pointed toward the mountains, their peaks a fiery red as they reflected the blaze of the setting sun. “Those peaks rise twenty thousand feet into the air. To the north and south lies a plateau where there is not a tree or leaf or blade of grass. To the east, between here and Xhaxhu, is only desert sand. There are no maps but the ones in our heads.” He tapped his temple. “If you leave this place, you will die.” He stroked the side of her face. “And I will be very sad for you.”
    The king’s retainers spotted them and began walking briskly toward them. “Your Highness!” one of them said, pointing at the king’s midsection.
    The king looked down at the large red stain that was spreading slowly down the front of his robe.
    â€œIt is nothing,” King Allon said. “Send word to my cook to bring out the food. Loor and I will eat by the lake.”
    F IVE
    I t wasn’t nothing though. By the time that Loor had finished eating, the red stain had grown to cover much of King Allon’s lap. The young king’s face was pale and drawn. It was obvious that his men were alarmed at all the blood. But none of them said a word about it. So she had been correct, her aim had been true. But this man, this kind man, was strong of both body and will.
    In fact, King Allon continued to talk with her as though nothing at all had happened. His conversation was lively and interesting—tough, realistic, yet generous and wise. She had an odd realization: Batu boys bored her. They seemed so obvious, so loud, so tedious. Batu boys were always telling you how great they were, how strong, how fearless. But Allon, he hadn’t talked about himself even for a second.
    â€œLook,” she said finally, waving at all the blood, “you have to do something about that. You will die if you keep bleeding.”
    â€œIs that not what you want?” he said.
    Loor said nothing.
    King Allon smiled his mysterious smile. “Well then, if you have eaten your fill, I think I might take a little rest.”
    Â 
    That night Loor was left all alone in the tent. A simple woolen mat lay in the center for her to sleep on. Next to it was a woolen robe, as white and pure as the king’s.
    After the sun went down, Loor lay down on the mat and stared up at the tent roof. She could feel the robe lying there. The air had grown cold. She had nothing to wear but her Batu combat gear.
    What if I just went ahead and put it on? she thought.
    She couldn’t sleep. All she could think about was the king, sitting there talking with her as his blood slowly drained onto the floor.
    â€œNever make the first move.” Wasn’t that what the one-eyed man’s son had said? She had made a move before she’d thought everything through. And now she was sorry.
    Loor felt her eyes sting as she stared up into the air. She’d failed in her mission, failed in her attempt to kill her captor, failed in everything. Why hadn’t they picked someone else to come out here? I am too young, she thought. They should have chosen someone else.
    And then, suddenly, she knew what she needed to do. It was time to stop feeling sorry for herself. She stood, pulled the robe over body, let it slip down over her bare skin. It was an odd sensation. She wasn’t used to wearing things like this.
    Then she gathered what she would need and walked out of the tent, continuing past the other silent tents.A dog barked, then