River Of Life (Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

attack.  None said a word.  Most were fair skinned, and all were slim. 
Most were blond, but a few had dark hair.  All had eyes bright like stars, yet
deep within, Erelon could sense their real age even though their bodies did not
show it.
    Yalen appeared beside Erelon, and after a few moments with no
others slipping in, Erelon queried, “Is this all of them?”
    “Not sure,” Yalen replied and then began to scan the faces of
all his friends and finally answered, “Yeah.  Twenty-three of us, not including
yourself and me.”
    “Okay.  Then let us go,” the wizard said hastily.  Quickly
everyone stepped outside where horses waited.  As one, all mounted and, turning
their horses, followed Erelon into the forest paths.  Occasionally a bird would
flutter through the trees, sensing the presence of the warriors, yet it could
not be seen in the vague morning light.  No talking was heard from the men,
only a low creak of a leather saddle or the graze of horse flesh against brush.
    It was as if the goblins were within visual distance.  If anyone
even released the slightest breath, they feared the entire wraith’s army might
come down on them.  It was the silence of warriors who knew what was coming. 
Instead of boasting and telling stories of previous fights, they kept quiet and
calm, meditating.
    The wizard led them to a gate on the very edge of the forest. 
It was not the one by which he had first entered.  It would allow for them to
creep up on the goblins instead of stepping directly into the middle of any
that might be waiting at the main gate within the forest.
    In the clearing before the wall, the hunters left their horses. 
Dismounting, they strolled over to a door that led into a chamber below a
watchtower, which had a secret door within its walls.  The door was invisible
to the eye, such was the craftsmanship of the dwarves.
    Erelon turned to Yalen and quickly told the plan, “Pick eight of
your best archers.  Put them a couple steps behind.  They are to take out any
goblins that might be watching from the tops of the trees or may be too far
away from us to reach with knives.  There are between ten to fifteen goblins to
an elf.  Hopefully we can destroy the majority of them before they know we have
arrived.  I am hoping for no casualties or deaths.  I have several caravans
coming in over the next couple of weeks starting today.  I do not need any of
the wagons destroyed or those driving injured.  The only enemies in these trees
are goblins, and I am going to try to get as many supplies within the walls as
possible before anything larger and stronger joins the enemy forces to help
besiege us.  Let us make this quick and efficient.  We might even make it back
in time for breakfast.”
     
    Into the dark room within the wall, the hunters filed, Yalen
sorting through his friends and giving individual instructions.  The elves followed
the barely visible wizard before them.  He appeared to be no more than a ghoul
in the early morning.  On the other side of the protecting wall, the forest was
barely more than a minute’s walk.  Silently they slipped into the trees,
beginning to separate, creating a line while at the same moment keeping everyone
in view.
    The forest was mostly clean.  Brush did not grow in abundance. 
However, many fallen limbs crossed the paths of the elves, and twigs and limbs,
dried and dead, were covered in drying leaves.  Yet the elves still made no
noise, and the wizard seemed to hover above it all.
    A few trees with small rounded leaves and thin intertwining
branches grew among the majestic trees.  These smaller brushy trees protected
thicker ground cover and choked off the paths.  Sometimes the brush could be
maneuvered around, and occasionally they would have to fight through it as
quietly as possible while the woody brush grabbed at their clothing and
threatened to rip their garments.
    Gliding from tree to tree, each member of the hunting party
swiftly proceeded