Sunset of Lantonne Read Online Free PDF Page B

father’s hand and shaking it without taking his eyes off Raeln. “The two bags of coin are good. The wildling and the girl will ride. Is no problem. We like extra passengers. We are friendly people.”
    Huffing again, Raeln walked past the elves to grab Ilarra’s bags and his single small one, carrying them toward the nearest covered wagon.
    “Is the wildling rabid?” the gypsy asked after Raeln began throwing the bags onto the wagon, though Ilarra was still in range to hear the man. “Is not problem, just wish to know.”
    “No, he is not rabid,” said Ilarra’s father, putting his own small coin pouch in Ilarra’s hand now that it was no longer needed to pay for their fare. “He has a short temper, though. Keep my daughter safe and he will be far happier.”
    The gypsy winced slightly, but nodded and said, “We treat her like one of our own, yes? Happy gypsy elf girl, so we have happy werewolf man.”
    “He is no werewolf,” Ilarra’s father said firmly. “He’s just…big.”
    “The wagons were attacked by werewolf last week,” the gypsy went on. “Less elfy clothing, more scars, but wildling look like werewolf, no? If attacked again, I think the wolf might save us, yes? You mind if we tear his clothing lots and have him growl at the werewolves? He might scare them off.”
    Sighing, Ilarra’s father began ignoring the man and instead turned to give Ilarra a warm hug. As soon as he released her, Asha appeared at Ilarra’s side and took her own turn hugging Ilarra.
    “I’ll take care of him,” Ilarra told Asha, burying her face in her adopted mother’s shoulder fur. “I promise.”
    Asha squeezed Ilarra a little tighter and then stepped away, smiling sadly. She glanced over at Raeln and her softened expression faded instantly. With a soft yip that Ilarra was willing to bet pushed the limits of her oath, Asha headed Raeln’s way, wordlessly scolding him and pointing at where he should have put the baggage. Then, pointing at his wounds, she gave him a glower and pointed at the home of the village’s only healer.
    “I will hold the wagons until she is done mothering him,” Ilarra’s father told her, laughing as the two wildlings marched away. “It’s just her way of keeping him a minute longer.”
    Giving Ilarra another hug, her father added, “The city is nothing like Hyeth, Ilarra. Be safe there.”
    “I have Raeln. He won’t let me get hurt.”
    Her father nodded and clung more tightly to her, then forced himself to step back.
    “Travel safely, Ilarra. And come home to me when you are done with your studies. Be sure not to let Raeln save you too often. You need to learn to take care of yourself.”

Chapter Two
    “Heirs”

    May the ancestors guide our hands to preserve all that matters in this world and shield those we care about from harm.

- Statement by Turess believed to found the order of the Preservers

    Therec watched as the distant wagons approached from the west, picking their way slowly through the snowy foothills of Turessi on one of the few windswept roads that the council had allowed to be open for foreigners. The gypsies came through once every few months on their way from one of the dwarven mining towns through Turessi and on south, past the dry lands and into the region held by Altis and Lantonne.
    He had waited with unease for those wagons to appear on the horizon, knowing they would eventually arrive, but hoping deep down that they were lost in one of the early winter storms. If they never came, he would be free of the commands he had been given. With their approach, he was bound by the decisions others had made for his life’s direction. His oath demanded he go, even if he disagreed with the council’s command.
    “Defy them,” Salda, his wife, told him. She hugged herself as though the snow and wind could actually give her a chill. “Tell the council that I am with child and they will relent on this order. We can make the lie a truth before they know for