Hunted (Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

to normal. The belongings of
the people who entered the fog were distributed to those who needed them most. “We
weren’t any different than your people. We did what we needed to survive.”
    Elinor nodded. She tossed the daisy into the air. It landed on the ground, nestling
among the blades of grass that reached up to their ankles. They walked in
silence for a while longer.
    Trees stretched into the sky, covered in green leaves
swaying in the gentle breeze. It was far different from the forbidding forest
outside of Hutton’s Bridge. This one didn’t harbor monsters waiting to suck the
marrow from his bones. Magical guardians didn’t hide in the trees, holding the
fate of hundreds in their hands. Here, Bastian could almost appreciate the
beauty. He just wished Tressa was there with him, not off on some errand with
that man from the Black Guard.
    Yes, Jarrett had helped to keep her safe. He’d fought
bravely against the dragon when Bastian was wounded and left for dead in the
hall. But Bastian bristled, knowing that Jarrett was interested in Tressa.
    “We’re almost there,” Elinor said. “You can hide here until
things calm down in Ashoom. Then I’ll find a way to get you out of the Drowned
Country. Probably by river. Can you sail?” She looked up at him with blue eyes
large and round.
    “No, I can’t. I’ve never even been near a body of water
bigger than a well.”
    “Of course not.” Elinor blushed. “I wasn’t thinking. Well,
it’s not so hard. You’ll get used to it quickly.”
    Bastian appreciated her help, but he wasn’t sure she’d
thought her plan all the way through. “Where should I sail to?”
    “You can sail the Snake south to one of the major ports. From
there you can hire a ship and go anywhere you want.” She paused, laying her
hand on the bark of a nearby tree. She pressed her ear to a knothole.
    Bastian pretended to look at a rock. He wanted to look at
anything other than Elinor. If she hadn’t saved his life, he might have
questioned her sanity.
    Elinor pulled away from the tree and smiled. “Yes, there’s
a cave up ahead. It will do well to hide you.”
    “Did the tree tell you that?” Bastian asked, a smirk
crossing his face.
    Elinor crossed her arms under her chest. It was the first time
Bastian realized she had one. An ample set of breasts had been hiding under her
cloak the whole time. He forced himself to look into her eyes again. “Just
because you don’t understand, doesn’t mean you should tease.” She glared at
him. “And, yes, the tree did tell me there’s a cave ahead. It said something
about a family living there, but I have to doubt that. There are no families in
this part of the forest. Sometimes the memory of trees is polluted by time.”
    “Lead on, then,” Bastian said. His wounds were healed, yes,
but his stamina hadn’t returned. He needed a rest, and a quiet cave would be
perfect. Maybe even a nap.
    Elinor turned to the north. “It’s not far now. I know we’ve
been walking a long time, but we’re almost there. I promise.” She flashed him a
toothy white smile.
    “When we get there, will you be leaving?” Bastian wasn’t
afraid to be alone, but night would be falling soon. It might not be safe for
her to travel in the forest. She’d taken such good care of him. It was right to
ask her to stay.
    Elinor looked up into the canopy. “The sun is almost ready
to set. It would be wise to remain here. Do you mind?”
    Bastian shook his head. “Of course not. Maybe you can tell
me more about the port. Where can boats take me once I’m on them? I don’t want
to go too far away. Tressa said she’d be coming back for me. If I can’t wait in
Ashoom, I want to make sure there’s a way she can find me.”
    “I’ll watch for her,” Elinor said. “If she comes back, the
guard will kill her. It is certain. Soon everyone will be looking for the girl
who dresses as a boy. I’ll tell her where you’ve gone. I have friends in the
ports who can pass