Chael's Luck (A Knights of Dorathan Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page A

though he headed toward the shortest and narrowest of
the swampy paths.
    Klora’s head came up in disgust as he stepped
into the swamp and sank to his fetlocks. I gave him a pat on the
neck.
    “Come on, now. It’s just a bit of mud. Just
remember; stay between the rows of swamp grass and this is as deep
as you’ll have to step.”
    Klora shook out his mane but proceeded into
the swamp without much more persuading. The stench of rotting swamp
grass and decaying whatever had managed to get sucked into the
swamp clogged my nostrils. Klora’s eyes started to show white as he
spotted something covered in flies floating nearby.
    “Easy, boy. Almost there.” His steps made
sickening sucking sounds and I knew that should he bolt, we had a
very good chance of ending up like the fly covered mess to the
right.
    “Chael!”
    I looked up to find Harry already on the
other side of the swamp. The others were no longer in sight.
    “Do you want me to wait here in case he goes
over?”
    I shook my head. “Go! I’ll catch up!”
    Klora picked that moment to jump sideways,
away from a small serpent swimming toward us. I spurred him with my
right leg, trying to keep him on the path. He jumped away from the
jab and I spurred with both legs. He bogged down, fighting to pull
his legs out of the muck. The motion threw me forward in the saddle
and I clenched my teeth as my thigh landed on the swell of my
saddle.
    “Come on, Chael! Three more jumps like that
and you’re out!” Mark’s voice echoed through the swamp.
    Klora launched himself again, and true to
Mark’s estimate, we were soon clear of the swamp. I jumped off of
him and wiped his legs off, looking for any cuts.
    “What happened to Jarran?” inquired Harry of
Mark’s mare. I looked up and noticed she was limping as he led her
out of the woods in our direction.
    “Caleb. He cut us off just before the first
log jump. I had to put on the brakes to avoid running into him but
I couldn’t slow her enough to stop her and she tried taking the
jump anyway.” He shook his head. “She caught her knee on it.”
    “Maybe it was an accident?” Harry didn’t look
very convinced at his own suggestion.
    “I’d like to know what’s gotten into him
lately.” Mark shook his head. “Anyhow, the two of you better get
going if you’re going to catch up.” He started to lead his mare
around the swamp. Harry and I got back on the trail.
    “Good gods, why do I even bother asking you
for help. You’re so busy trying to make my life miserable, it would
never occur to you to make things a little easier.”
    Harry glanced at me, his eyebrows raised.
“Who are you talking to?”
    I rolled my eyes. “Just a useless, good for
nothing god who seems to love taking pleasure in my bad luck.”
    If he was going to comment, he changed his
mind at the sight of a tall, rocky trail.
    “Have you ever gone up the cliff path
before?” Harry looked up the nearly non-existent trail.
    “Never.” I gave Klora a kick and gave him his
head. My horse, who did show a sense of self-preservation from time
to time, dropped his head and started to pick his way neatly up the
trail. I leaned forward and hung on to the saddle, making sure to
stay out of his way.
    The top of the path opened up onto an open
field and the two of us urged our horses into a gallop.
    “How far ahead do you think they are?” I
yelled over to Harry.
    “My best guess is that they’ve made it to the
last fork.”
    Both horses perked their ears at the sight of
a third standing by the woods. Harry and I looked at each other
grimly.
    “That’s Mac’s horse.” I pulled Klora to a
stop.
    “So where’s Mac?”
    A cough startled Klora.
    “I’m right here. Bastard pushed me off my
horse.” He tried to sit and lay back down with a groan into the
ferns that were hiding him. “I mean literally. He reached over,
rammed his horse into mine, and pushed me off with his own hand.
Bastard!”
    Harry and I dismounted. “Are you