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

and queen approached the training grounds, they could tell that practice was well underway.
    "I wonder if anyone has been able to best her." Argeon tried to hide the pride he felt for his daughter. Her gift made her near impossible to beat sword-on-sword.
     
     
     
     

5
Travels
     
    About an hour outside of Brauns, the sound of thundering hooves to their left caught Daen's attention. He looked around but couldn't see them, however, that would soon change. He took Rhea's elbow and nudged her towards a large boulder. "Quickly, hide behind here."
    Randell was fast on Daen's heels. "What's wrong?"
    "Riders." Daen watched carefully to see if he could ascertain who they were. They'd been passed by people of Taulomi on several occasions already, but something about the sound of several horses being ridden hard in their direction didn't seem right. He was not going to take any chances.
    Daen's body suddenly go stiff and he draw back further behind the edge of the large rock.
    "What is it? Who are they?" Randell started to lean forward to look, but Daen held him back.
    "Warriors. Laundan warriors." His face said the rest. Apparently, their presence was not a good thing.
    Randell started to speak, but Daen stopped him, pressing his finger to his lips.
    The ground shook as the horses, carrying riders cloaked in black, pounded by—kicking up a small dust storm.
    Rhea couldn't help notice the similarity between the riders that just went by and the riders she'd dreamed about before coming to Luxatra. Was this a sign? The setting wasn't the same but still she wondered.
    Daen took notice of how Rhea had paled; her eyes had the look of fear and concern. "Rhea, what is it?"
    She shook her head, struggling with her memories, arguing with herself that the dreams and what she'd just witnessed weren't related.
    "Rhea?" Randell placed his hand on her shoulder, bringing her back to the present.
    Before she could respond, Daen realized what was happening. "Are they the same, the riders from your dreams?"
    Randell's head snapped up from looking at Rhea. "You don't think ...?"
    Rhea pushed up to her feet, her fingertips pressed to her temples. "I don't know. The surroundings aren't the same. Even if they are, I don't know what it would mean."
    Randell stood. "Daen, you said they were Laundan warriors? Which way is Laundan?"
    Daen pointed east. "It's the realm that shares the eastern border of Taulomi. It's ruled by King Craen."
    "I take it their presence in Taulomi isn't normal," said Rhea.
    Daen watched as the black riders disappeared in a trail of dust. "Warriors tend to stay in their own territory unless they've been given permission to cross the border, typically in pursuit of someone. When that happens, they're usually accompanied by the border guards from the host realm, in this case Taulomi."
    Randell brushed some weeds from his pants. "Did you see any Taulomi warriors?"
    Daen shook his head.
    They stepped onto the road and continued north, and Rhea ran through the images she remembered from her dreams.
    Daen tried to think of a reason why Laundan warriors would be charging through Taulomi.
    Randell kept a lookout for other unwanted travelers that might be fast approaching from behind.
    Travelers passed in both directions a few more times over the next couple of hours, but they approached and departed calmly, nothing like the dark thundering force from earlier. Nothing exciting happened, much to their relief.
    A couple of hours later, a small tavern started to materialize on the horizon. They could see people coming and going from two roads: the one they traveled and another running west and east. Before they reached the intersection, Daen stepped off the road.
    "Why are we stopping?" Randell was looking around.
    "We can stop to eat at that tavern, but I need to warn you. Although it's not unusual for a guardian to be in any of the realms, especially this close to the Libraim territory, not everyone feels comfortable in our presence."
    "What