King Of The North (Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

him square in the face. The creature stopped, flying back to him and hovering in the air for a few moments. It was a homunculus, he knew. He had once made one himself. He smiled at it, his kind eyes causing the tiny thing to squeal.
    Then, as soon as it came, the homunculus was gone, buzzing away to follow the Enkhatar and their horde.
    A thought came to the Druid's mind. Someone had created this creature to follow the Enkhatar. But who? Who felt the need to keep these evil beings under watch? There were only a few people he knew of who could create a homunculus, and they surely would have told him. He would have to find this person. If they were on the side of nature, then perhaps they could be of assistance.
    Jodocus called upon the power of The Dragon to guide him. He would follow the trail the homunculus left, and it should lead him back to its origin. There, he would either find an enemy, or a possible ally.
    He hoped it was the latter.

 
    Chapter Three
     
    The coast of Jotunheim emerged from the fog that crept across the sea. It was a welcome sight for Farouk, who had been at sea for days. His journey, which should have only taken him a day and a half, had unfortunately been extended by the loss of one oar. An encounter with a harmless, but annoying sea creature had caused him to lose his grip on it as he attempted to swat the flapping, barking beast away.
    Farouk breathed a sigh of relief as the rocky shore came into view just a few yards away. He was glad to see solid ground, as uninviting as it looked, and he struggled to guide himself toward it. His fingers were nearly numb already, and exposing them to the cold as he rowed with his one paddle threatened to freeze them solid.
    The rocks were slippery as Farouk pulled the dinghy onto shore and stepped out. His legs quivered, not only from the cold, but from being cramped up in the small boat as long as they were. Still, he welcomed the solid surface, and collapsed onto the pebbles joyously.
    There was a thick drizzle in the air, making the environment even more unpleasant than the cold had already made it. He didn't lie still for long, knowing that if he fell asleep, he would likely freeze to death. He stood, looking around at the shoreline. He knew that the first thing he must do is find shelter. He had a few days worth of food left, and plenty of water, if needed. What he did lack was protection from the rains that the dark sky told him were coming.
    Near the bank, a shallow depression was worn into the dirt wall. This gave him an idea. Turning to the small boat, he dragged it as hard as he could, overturning it and leaning it against the natural alcove. He then removed a layer of his clothing and spread it across the edge, sealing the gap between the boat and the dirt. It was crude, and drafty, but it was better than nothing.
    Farouk crawled inside, squeezing through the gap he had left, and pulled his equipment inside. There was enough room for him to sit up straight or lie down without exposing himself to the elements, and the protection the shelter gave him from the wind was a welcome feeling. Despite this, it was still cold, and as night approached, it would only get colder.
    Farouk reached for his staff, hoping the light that he could conjure would provide enough warmth to get him through the night. Calling on the power of the Earth, he willed the staff into life, creating a dim red ball of light at the end. He let it build slowly until it was just the right brightness to remain comfortable. He felt its warmth start to fill the shelter, and he closed his eyes as its comforting blanket of magical heat enveloped him.
    Fortunately for any Druid in his current situation, such a minor spell could be maintained without much thought. He would be able to sleep and still keep the light burning. As he relaxed and felt the effects of his journey, the added warmth began to make him drowsy. He spread a few cloaks down on the cold, damp pebbles, wrapping himself in a few