Lusam: The Dragon Mage Wars Book Two Read Online Free PDF

Temple, then he heard a slight rustle as Lusam shifted his weight.
    “Did you know my mother?” Lusam asked softly, fighting to hold back the tears now threatening to break free.
    “I'm afraid not. Your mother chose to live a life outside the confines of the High Temple, even though she was offered a high position within its ranks. Our paths never crossed, but I knew of her, she was a good woman, and well respected. I know she would have been very proud of you Lusam,” Renn replied quietly.
    “Thank you Renn,” Lusam whispered as he lay down and looked up to the stars high above, tears now rolling freely down his cheeks. Reaching into his tunic he removed his mother's pendant and held it tight in his hand. Silently he thanked the two women who had given so much for him to survive, one he thought he had known, and the other he would never know.

    ***

Chapter Five

    Neala had remained silent since asking Skelly about Lusam's fate earlier that day. Her mind had been tortured by the countless possibilities of what could have happened to Lusam after Skelly had left him on that cobbled street, bleeding and fighting for his life. Did Lusam have enough time to heal himself? Or had the man in the dark robes caught him unprepared, and maybe even killed him after Skelly had left? She wasn't a religious person by any stretch of the imagination, but she had found herself praying several times already today, asking Aysha to help Lusam overcome whatever difficulties he had now found himself in.
    Already twice that day they had ridden past more of the strange looking men in black robes, and twice she had felt that same feeling again. It felt like thousands of insects crawling around in her head, burrowing into her mind. She didn't know why, or how, but Neala knew instinctively they were searching her mind for something as they passed, and it didn't take a genius to work out it was more than likely to do with Lusam. Neala had no idea if it would help or not, but she tried to consciously block out any thoughts of Lusam while they invaded her mind.
    Neala realised that the men in the black robes seemed to be waiting at all of the junctions and crossroads, covering all the possible exit routes from Helveel. She felt so helpless not being able to warn Lusam of their presence. If he had survived, and he was now coming to try and rescue her, he would be walking straight into their trap, and she had no way to warn him.
    The pace Skelly had set was not fast, nor was it slow, they had remained at a constant trot for most of the morning. When the sun was at its highest point in the sky Skelly slowed his horse and came to a stop in the shade of a large oak tree. Neala was very glad of the shade. She had been far too hot sitting tied to the saddle all day, with no hat to protect her head, and no way to wipe the sweat from her face. Although it wasn't yet the full height of summer, it had still been a very hot day nonetheless. She had been very thirsty ever since she had first awoken; tied face down in the saddle. She wasn't sure if it was due to the residual effects of the  poison Skelly had used on her, or the dust she surely must have breathed in while being carried face down like that, but she needed a drink of water badly. But there was no way she was going to ask Skelly for anything; she didn't want him to think she was weak, and certainly not after what he had done to Lusam. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction, she thought to herself.
    Skelly dismounted his horse and tied it off securely to a tree branch before removing his saddlebag.
    “Are you hungry?” he asked without looking up. Neala didn't reply. Skelly removed a waterskin and two strips of dried beef from his saddlebag, then placed the bag next to the large tree trunk before walking over to Neala's horse and offering her a piece of the dried beef. Neala didn't acknowledge Skelly's approach and looked the other way.
    “Take it or leave it, it makes no difference to me either