The Channel (The Gifted Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

cheese and a slice of fruit.
    Gaibel glanced at the food. Her stomach ached of hunger at the same time it turned with the anxiety that her daughter was out there somewhere in possible danger, danger from what she'd just seen.
    "Commander, with all due respect, you're only going to make yourself sick if you don't eat."
    Gaibel took a quick deep breath and took the food Beth had prepared. "Thank you." She continued her watch as she forced herself to eat. Beth was right. She would feel better with something in her stomach, but she couldn't shake the adrenaline that was pumping through her system. Between her fear for her daughter and the rush of being forced to hide from a group of Laundan warriors, she was a bundle of tinder ready to ignite.
    How dare Laundan send warriors into Taulomi without permission? If she didn't have Lanne with her, she'd have stopped them. Between Beth and herself, they could have easily taken them, but she couldn't risk it with her cousin present. Civilians came first. She would report the invasion at the next guard station.
    Beth and Lanne packing up and readying the horses brought Gaibel out of her thoughts. Without a word, she mounted, shoving the last bit of her sandwich into her mouth.
    "Ready?" Gaibel watched Lanne settle into her saddle.
    "Yes. Let's go." Those were the first words Lanne had spoken since their close encounter with the Laundan warriors. She knew her cousin was torn between dealing with an immediate threat and carrying out her mission. She wanted to offer something that would ease her frustration, but what could she say?
    Once they cleared the trees and were back on the road, Gaibel announced, "We need to get to the next station before nightfall. I need to send a bird to the king." She nudged her horse into a trot, then a canter, and soon after a full gallop with Lanne riding next to her and Beth taking the lead.
    Lanne shouted over the thunder of their horses' hooves. "Does this mean we're at war?" She tried to hide her concerns, but she knew she was failing.
    Eyes forward, Gaibel was pure grace on a horse. "I don't know."
    ~~~
    King Argeon sat across the table from his queen. Queen Aubuel's arms were folded over her chest while she glared at her husband.
    "What do you want from me?" Argeon knew his wife wasn't happy with his decision.
    "One warrior? That's all you could spare to help one of your most loyal commanders?"
    His queen was seldom included in strategic meetings and the meeting with Gaibel and Lanne had been no different, but when she saw Gaibel leaving with only Beth as her guard, she marched to her husband's strategy room to discuss her concerns.
    Aubuel had become attached to Gaibel over the years. She'd taken it upon herself to ensure reports on Terrwyn were delivered frequently so Gaibel would know her daughter was safe.
    "Sometimes covert missions are safer for everyone involved. If we draw attention to Terrwyn by using the royal forces, the wrong message could be construed." He stood and reached for his wife's hand, watching as his explanation sunk in. "Let us check on our own daughter. Terrwyn is in good hands."
    Aubuel reluctantly lowered her arms and took his hand.
    "Kiral should be on the practice grounds right about now." Argeon had agreed to allow Princess Kiral to train as a warrior, he couldn't deny her gift. But whether he would allow her to use her gift in a real battle was another story. He wasn't ready to add her to the ranks, especially if war was so close at hand.
    "Have you received any more reports?"
    Argeon knew Aubuel referred to the reports about attacks by bands of Laundan warriors. "There are reports of more attacks, but who the attackers are is reported inconsistently. Until I have proof they are Laundan warriors ..."
    "I know, dear." The queen nodded and squeezed his hand.
    "I've sent more guards to the borders to keep watch. So far, no word has come from the border patrols to say that Laundan is attacking."
    Clang! Clang! Clang! As the king