Sea Queen Read Online Free PDF Page A

had affected anything, so he sat, waiting and wondering what his next move should be. Perhaps he should return now to searching the coast and leave the others to their fate. He didn’t have time to care for them, and Tyson seemed as good a leader as any. They had no food, but they had money. Talon remembered that Tyson had cut the coin purse from the dead guard—and he had not yet offered Talon any for helping them escape. He would have to remember that the next time Tyson wanted food. The coin would help him to replenish his rations and might even get him a room somewhere. The idea of a hot bath left his tired bones aching even more, and the idea of hot food made his mouth water.
    He daydreamed about Agoran cuisine as he fought to stay awake. The rain had stopped before he’d come out on guard duty, and the clouds had begun to part a little. By the passage of the moon, he counted the hours. It must have been near midnight when Chief returned and woke him with a nudge to the arm. He jumped with a start and yelled Akkeri’s name.
    “Oh…Hey, boy, did you break up the search party?”
    Chief barked and sat down with his head on Talon’s lap.
    “Good, Chief, that’s my boy.” Talon laughed as he scratched him behind the ears. The wolf quickly turned onto his back for a belly rub. He marveled again at how real Chief felt.
    “Them runaway slaves in there are tired and hungry. Think you can rustle up some game? A few rabbits or something? I think they might share in their coin if we give them a hot meal.”
    Chief sniffed and sneezed twice, and pawed at his nose.
    “What’s that, boy? Did you come across game trails?”
    Chief sneezed again and yawned. He got up off his back and shook his furry coat. Something caught his eye and he growled low in his throat. Talon turned to see Tyson standing in the doorway, wide-eyed. He didn’t call off Chief right away, letting Tyson fear him for a moment.
    “It’s alright, Chief.” Talon met Tyson’s eyes. “He’s a friend.”
    Chief stopped and the hair on his back relaxed. He wagged his tail and offered himself to Tyson, who petted him cautiously.
    “Good magic wolf.” He laughed nervously as he pet Chief with longer strokes.
    “Like I said, Chief. Tyson, here, won’t mind parting with a few coins for some fire cooked meat.”
    Tyson offered a sly grin. “I was going to split it with you, anyway. I owe you that much at least.”
    He untied the purse from his belt and sat down next to Talon. The coins clanged heavily as he dumped the contents onto the grass. Talon recognized silver, and guessed that the dull brown coins were bronze. There was no gold. Tyson picked one of the silver coins up to inspect it, and Talon did likewise. One side of the coin portrayed the head of a bearded man wearing a pointed crown, below the bust was the name TOBIAS. The other side of the coin depicted a small island, as seen through the clouds. At its center Talon could make out a castle. The bronze coin was less adorned—on one side was a single S set within a circle, and on the other, a soaring eagle clutching a sword in its talons.
    Tyson counted out the coins. There were four silver and twenty three bronze pieces. He gave Talon two silver and eleven bronze. Knowing that there was one left over Talon cocked his eyebrow at him. Tyson held up the extra coin.
    “This one’s for luck. Isn’t every day you meet someone famous.”
    Talon didn’t know what he meant, and Tyson saw his confusion. He pocketed the coin with a chuckle.
    “So you says you escaped Volnoss, eh? You must be the Skomm the Vald been looking for.”
    Talon froze, not knowing what to say.
    “Thodin’s harry arse—it is you!” Tyson yelled and slapped his knee, and noticed how Talon cringed. “Relax, friend. You’re far from where anybody knows what I’m talking about.”
    Talon started hastily gathering his coins. “I should go.”
    “What’s the big hurry?” Tyson grabbed his arm as he tried to