Renown of the Raithlin: Book One of the Raithlindrath Series Read Online Free PDF Page B

the sun. It had
begun its downward arc, but hours of daylight remained. He consciously noticed
something then that he had been hearing for some time without realizing –
drums.
    The elugs always marched to the beat of drums: they
were a part of their life and integral to their ceremonies. They also used them
to communicate in the mountainous lands of the Graèglin Dennath. These were all
things to be mindful of. If he infiltrated the army, he would look to make use
of them to inflame its superstition.
    Lanrik put this thought aside, for he saw movement
among the trees in the timbered area he was nearing. He could not quite make
out what it was then realized it was a flock of birds, probably wood pigeons.
They were a common sight in the forested patches on Galenthern, but these were
not flying in the high and lazy circles that he often observed or in the direct
line they used when heading to feeding grounds. They had been scared and taken
off in an abrupt and scattered way.
    It could mean anything, but Lanrik thought it
signified something very specific: elugs had arrived. They were passing through
the woods, and he would now have to be even more careful.
    He moved off the aurochs’ trail and into taller
grass nearby, leaving minimal sign of his passing. Squatting down he watched
the woods, only his head visible above the top of the grass. To break up his
outline he pulled up his hood and wove the stems of some grass clumps through
purpose made holes in the material. It was an old but effective practice, and
so long as he did not move, or the enemy come too close, he would remain
undiscovered.
    He waited, and soon a troop of a dozen elugs moved
out of the timber and paused. There appeared to be some discussion about where
to go, but they soon made a decision and commenced walking. Lanrik grimaced as
they came down the trail the aurochs had left and toward him.
    He sank deeper into the grass and lay perfectly
still. It was bad luck that they were coming this way, but at least they did
not appear to be scouts: there were too many of them, and they made no attempt
to hide their presence. The army had sent out patrols of ordinary elugs, and
this particular group would have swept the timber to ensure there were no
concealed enemies.
    Lanrik slowed his breathing and peered between the
grass stems. He heard their approach before he saw them clearly. They were
talking, their boots scuffing the ground and their equipment rattling and
creaking. Definitely not scouts, he thought.
    They came into view and filed past his hiding spot.
Their scimitars were scabbarded on their back as was usual, and their iron-shod
boots crushed the grass. That would further obscure his own tracks. He counted
a dozen as they passed nearby, and just when he thought the last one had gone
he saw another.
    The final elug, shorter and thinner than his
companions, moved along silently and then stopped and peered at the ground.
After a few moments the elug’s gaze lifted off the earth and scanned the taller
grass. Lanrik went cold. The elug seemed undecided for some moments then called
to his companions in their guttural language. Their speech was harsh to an
Esgallien’s ears, and though the Raithlin learned a smattering of their tongue,
he did not understand anything.
    Harsh replies came from several in the group ahead.
The elug stubbornly shook his head and responded at length. His companions
laughed, and Lanrik could tell from the receding sound that they continued to
move away. The elug shook his head angrily and trotted off.
    Lanrik was relieved. His plans had almost come
undone; it was luck alone that had saved him, but he knew he would need still
more before the day was done. He waited some time before moving again. The
elugs had completely disappeared, swallowed by one of the folds in the plains,
and he moved on with speed. The safest place for him now was in the woods. If
he reached them, he would find better places to hide until nightfall.
    He walked