Crowning Fantasy Book 1 Read Online Free PDF Page B

a head taller than Gumus. The Vartalf in this area would hunt alone or in pairs. In pairs they would be easy to contend with if they decided to attack but if one were able to get back to their caravan with news of unarmed travelers, Gumus knew it would mean more trouble then he could handle.
    By the third scouting, dusk had fallen. Mina's movements were slow and unsteady as she lowered herself.
    "Are you okay?"
    "Hunger, Gumus."
    The way had been clear so far and Gumus hated to stop now. He estimated they were thirty or forty more miles. Then there were another forty or more miles to the Free Port of Sanddyner. Water was plentiful at small ponds scattered throughout the Galen, but Gumus was no hunter. "Can you catch another crab?"
    "I try."
    Gumus took his time circling around the next pond checking for danger before allowing Mina to spring into action. Much smaller Slat Galen crabs clicked their claws in the darkness. Mina came back with a handful and offered first to Gumus. "No, I'm fine." A look of doubt crossed Mina's face so he insisted. "I need water, food can wait."
    Mina chewed her food and slurped some of the crab juice from it's shell, then she curled up in his lap.
    "We can't stay here," Gumus said.
    Before the sun set there was a large hill on the right and mountains on the left. On the right side of the Galen were two more Galen, Trask and Falt, which needed to be crossed before reaching the jointly held capital of Enade. The Elyun, Manskliga, and Asistan Ti held and maintained this city as a neutral zone for the three nations.
    On the left side of Slat Galen was the way to Sanddyner. Gumus searched along the small outcroppings until he came to a small hole that smelled like some creature had used it in the past. "Here." He enlarged the opening enough for Mina and then laid down in front. The grass wasn't tall enough to conceal him but since they'd traveled in darkness and heard nothing out of the ordinary he hoped to pass for a rock in the darkness.
    The next day passed much the same way only they made more stops for food. As they neared the entrance to Sanddyner Mina spotted an upright figure walking in the distance. Gumus squinted. "Too small to be Padda and too big to be Vartalf. Must be Aventyrare. Is he armed?"
    "Not know."
    They gave the figure a wide berth and continued through the green grass of the Slat Galen until it gave way to the blinding white sands of Sanddyner. The guard shack was on the far left so Gumus stayed to the far right. At this distance he couldn't tell which nation was on duty. There were no Padda in Sanddyner and the Vartalf were numerous here but a bit more civilized since they relied on trading with the outpost and Free Port. There were several more aggressive beasts they needed to avoid until Gumus could properly arm himself. With food in her system Mina was alert and even trotted by his side for sort periods of time or scouted ahead over a dune.
    Mina pointed. "Small tree patch three miles."
    "Small tree patch is an oasis." Gumus replied. He had tried improving her Loha during the journey. Since entering Sanddyner and having fasted for almost a week, the flames and burning were at bay. He couldn't carry on much longer this way though and he didn't know what would happen when he was fully rested and fed. "We'll stop there."
    On the ledge above the oasis they hunkered down as figures appeared. Gumus could make out small groups of what appeared to be Aventyrare scattered around campfires. They looked Manskliga and Elyun in stature. No Kertenkele and no Mikachiari. To the left the pound of the surf could be heard although dunes obscured it from sight and to the right were more sand dunes which eventually led to the Galens before reaching the Manskliga capital of Fond.
    Gumus turned to Mina and saw her for the first time in days. Her hair was matted and either lying flat or puffed out at odd angles. Her bruises and cuts were gone and only faint scars remained. He reached out as Mina