Shepherd's Quest: The Broken Key #1 Read Online Free PDF Page B

wipe it off with a well place blow, but then he realized that would solve nothing. So he turned his back on him and walked home.

Chapter Three
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    Once back home he told his mom what had happened. “How could her father agree to this union?” he asked with great emotion. Then he flopped down in a chair.
    “I’m sure he’s doing what he thinks is best for her,” his mother replied.
    He looked at his mother with hurt filled eyes. “Don’t tell me that you agree with this?”
    She shook her head negatively then walked over to him. “Sometimes parents do the wrong thing for the right reason,” she explained as she wrapped her arms about him to offer comfort.
    “Rupert is a swine,” he said. “Someone needs to do something about him.”
    “But not you,” she insisted. “Respect her father’s wishes and do nothing.” Riyan abruptly came to his feet and started pacing. “I can’t stay here,” he said as he came to a stop. “I need to get away for awhile.”
    “That’s a good idea,” agreed his mother.
    “I’ll take the flock out for a few days to the edge of the mountains,” he told her.
    “Chad will be working at the mill for the next week so this would be a good time for me to be alone.”
    “Are you sure you want to go that far?” she asked. “There have been rumors of goblins.”
    He turned his face towards hers and smiled. “There are always rumors of goblins,” he replied. “So far I have yet to come across one and we live as close as anyone.”
    “Still, be careful,” she cautioned.
     
    “I will,” he promised.
    She insisted on cooking him a good lunch before he started off. Outside, the sheep have already begun their bleating. According to their schedule, they should have been heading out to greener pastures long before now.
    They shared a meal of cooked mutton, potatoes, and bread. Then she packed enough food for him to last several days, even though he planned on using his sling to hunt for food while he was gone.
    As he slung his pack over his shoulder and prepared to head out, she placed her arm on his. “Just think on this while you’re out there,” she began. “Freya has no choice in this, such is the fate of all girls. She’ll need friends like you to lean on.” When he turned his head to look at her, she added, “Lord knows being married to Rupert will not be an easy life.”
    He nodded and hung his head. “I will mother,” he replied. “Why can’t her father see that?” He then gave her a peck on the cheek.
    His mother handed him his staff before he stepped out the door. She went with him to the sheep pen and gave a hand with removing the flock. As he herded the sheep away from the house, she waved goodbye to her son.
    “See you in a few days,” he hollered to her as he left.
    “Be careful,” she cautioned with another wave.
    He then continued herding the flock away from the pen and towards the distant mountains. This wasn’t the first time he had taken the flock towards the mountains on an overnight excursion, usually he would return a day or two later. But this time he planned to go further than he ever had before and didn’t plan on being back for at least four days, maybe longer. He needed time to get over the hurt in his heart.
    For the rest of the afternoon, he continued pushing deeper into the hills. When nightfall came, he stopped the flock near a small stream and settled in for the night. He made sure the flock was accounted for before darkness came. Then he spread out his bedroll and fixed himself a quick bite to eat.
    Later that night as he laid there under the stars, he sobbed.
    “Riyan!”
    Early the following morning, Chad came running down the lane towards the home where Riyan and his mother lived. “Riyan!” he hollered again and then saw that the sheep were not in the pen.
    The front door opened before he reached the house and Riyan’s mother stepped out.
    “Good morning Chad,” she said.
    “Have you heard?” he