Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue Read Online Free PDF

worked her arrow out of the trunk and carried it and the creature back to the barn. She laid it on the ground near Dalton and knelt beside him. Salina knelt on the opposite side.
    “Isn’t this Sir Dalton? From the—”
    “It’s him,” Carliss answered quickly as she gently lifted his head. “Dalton!”
    Slowly he opened his eyes. “My lady,” he said with a smile, “why did you leave me?” But his speech was slurred, and his eyes began to roll back in his head again. The two places where the creature’s antennae had pierced his neck were swollen and red.
    Carliss looked at Salina. “He’s already reacting to the bite—or the sting, or whatever it is. I’ve never seen poison work so quickly… It must be strong. We’ve got to find help for him fast.”
    She retrieved a cloth from her pack on Rindy and bandaged Dalton’s neck.
    “But we need to—my fam—” Salina began. Then she looked at Dalton, swallowed, and said only, “Salisburg is too far away. Pembrook is a small village, but it is just northwest of here. Perhaps someone there can help.”
    Carliss considered the suggestion. She wanted to get Dalton home, but Salina was right. They were still nearly a day’s ride away from Salisburg. And by the way Dalton was reacting to the lizard’s poison, he might not have that much time.
    “All right. Help me get him on his horse.”
    Carliss and Salina worked hard to get Dalton mounted, but he could not keep himself upright.
    “Hold him there for a moment.” Carliss ran to find a gunnysack. Wrestling the dead lizard into the sack, she secured it to her pack on Rindy. Then she mounted up behind Dalton and held his chest while Salina handed the reins to her. Salina grabbed Rindy’s reins to lead him, and they set off toward Pembrook.
    Carliss’s mind raced as she struggled to keep Dalton balanced. She found it difficult to keep from thinking the worst. And even though she knew that Dalton belonged to Lady Brynn, she could not cut the strings of her heart that seemed to draw her to him. Watching him slip away was nearly unbearable.
    Please help us, my Prince
, she whispered as they continued their maddeningly slow pace northwest to Pembrook.

THE OAF
    Carliss, Salina, and Dalton arrived in Pembrook within an hour. It was indeed a small village. Carliss estimated there were only a few hundred people. She knew the odds were slim that they would find someone here who could help Dalton. She nearly turned about to ride straight for Salisburg, but Salina insisted they try.
    They rode to the only tavern in the town and dismounted. Carliss was grateful to rest her arms. Salina helped her get Dalton off his horse and position him sitting against the wall. She then went into the tavern. Dalton slumped to the side, and Carliss steadied him so he wouldn’t fall. She knelt in front of him, then lifted his chin and peered into his face.
    “Don’t give up, Dalton,” she whispered.
    Dalton moaned, and his head rolled to the left and right. His eyes opened halfway.
    “My love,” he murmured, “I’ve come for you. Let’s ride off togeth…”
    Carliss stared at him, stunned. He was clearly not himself, but hearing him say such things still rattled her.
    “No one here can help.” Salina had appeared in the doorway. “How is he?”
    “Ah… not very well. He’s quite delirious and babbling nonsense.”
    Carliss looked up and down the main thoroughfare. The usual activity of a town filled the lane. A few small shops were open, and people were moving about their business.
    Across the lane and up a few buildings, Carliss saw four children taunting some poor animal cowering in the corner. They all had sticks and took turns poking it.
    “We need to find someone to help him
now.”
Carliss looked up at Salina. She was worried.
    “I’ll check with a couple of the shops to see if they know of anyone.” Salina hurried off.
    “Please stop,” Carliss heard a deep voice plead. She looked more closely at the children