Path of Honor Read Online Free PDF

grow up.
    “Nearly there. Over that ridge.” Sodur pointed to a heavily wooded slope. The sun broke through clouds, spangling the trees with light.
    Reisil yawned, her jaws cracking. “Hope they have kohv on the fire. And hot bread.”
    “Best not dawdle, then. Don’t want to be late for lunch or there won’t be anything left. Not in a town this small.”
    Veneston was situated in a rich valley, the drought having had little impact on the thriving town. It perched on the edge of a narrow, quick-running river that sparkled in the sun, reminding Reisil uncomfortably of the nokulas .
    At the top end of the valley was a mine shaft where the villagers quarried copper and silver. A waterwheel poured water into pipes that ran down to the fields and filled cisterns in the town. The air smelled of blue spruce, hemlock and birch. It was an idyllic spot, with tidy, half-timbered houses, green meadows dotted with black sheep and spotted goats.
    There was no stockade to discourage visitors, and Reisil wondered if the town had been troubled by nokulas . But she saw no signs of violence. They rode down the main street, eager to break their midday fast, charmed by the quaint tidiness of the town.
    But as they passed between the boat shed, cartwright and smithy, the wind turned, and the stench of death rose about them in an invisible fog. Reisil covered her mouth and pinched her nose, gorge rising in her throat. Down on the ground, Lume whined, his hackles rising. The two horses snorted and shifted uneasily.
    Now Reisil noticed that the town was eerily quiet, except for the low musical sound of wooden pipe chimes ringing from the gable of the nearby tavern, the swishing rush of river, and the sough of the wind through the trees.
    “I guess we found what we were looking for,” Sodur said grimly, pulling his gelding up and dismounting. He tied the animal to the hitching post. As Reisil swung to the ground, she called Saljane. The goshawk arrowed from the trees and landed on Reisil’s gauntleted fist, her slate wings making a popping sound as she spread them to halt her descent. Reisil lifted Saljane to her shoulder, glad of the goshawk’s fierce strength in her mind.
    “Where is everybody? They can’t all be dead—can they?” Her voice quivered. The reports spoke of entire villages killed, but she hadn’t believed that. She couldn’t even conceive of such death.
    “Not all, not yet,” came a harsh voice from within the tavern. Sodur and Reisil jerked in surprise. “Soon enough. Best get back on those beasts and ride like demons was chasing you.”
    “We came to help.” Sodur stepped up onto the wide, skirting porch.
    “Nothing you can do, ahalad-kaaslane . Nothing anyone can do. Justice from the Lady, I reckon. Built our fires, made our prayers, did our rites. No answers but for more dying. Maybe that was the Lady’s answer.”
    “Maybe we’re the answer.” Reisil sent a silent prayer to the Lady that this was true.
    “Likely not,” came the unimpressed reply. “But if you’re so eager to die, go down to the shearing sheds at the end of the street. Go on, then, and don’t come back here after.”
    Sodur and Reisil looked at one another and proceeded down the street, leading their horses. On all sides, the houses turned grim faces on the ahalad-kaaslane . One had been burnt to the ground, leaving a gaping hole filled with ash and charred timbers. Several others had been sealed shut from the outside and archaic symbols painted on the shutters and doors. Reisil gasped and angled toward the closest of those boarded up. Sodur caught her arm, his face harsh.
    “Don’t bother,” he said. “Whoever’s inside is probably long since dead, from thirst or hunger, if not the plague. Better to see what we can do for the people in the sheds. They might still be alive.”
    Reisil nodded jerkily. Saljane dipped her head and rubbed Reisil’s cheek.
    ~It will be well.
    Trust. Faith. Solace.
    Reisil returned the caress, stroking