The Gems of Raga-Tor (Elemental Legends Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

himself out of the sea the way this one had. Nor setting a table that was doing a fine job of luring his hungry, churning stomach to feast on its abundance.
    “I’m telling you the truth, my boy.”
    “Don’t call me ‘my boy’.”
    Raga nodded.
    “As you wish, friend.”
    Eris grimaced. He slammed his empty cup down on the table and looked away. He walked to the fireplace and tried to get warm. He felt chilled deep in his bones. The conversation was going from bad to worse and nowhere fast. Where did these people come from, and why did they always choose him to aggravate?
    “You aren’t a very nice person,” Raga complained.
    “I make it a point not to be,” Eris retorted coldly. “Otherwise, I would continually find myself in the company of idiots like you.”
    Raga-Tor let out his breath audibly. He pulled a rough-hewn chair from under the table and sat down.
    “Come and sit, Eris,” he said with a voice that more than insisted. “We have much to discuss. No more bantering, no more insults. You will understand who I am and what we are going to do even if I have to stay the whole night to convince you.”
    Faithful stubbornness rose up in Eris. He wanted nothing whatsoever to do with anyone that dealt in black magic and vile sorcery, and certainly nothing to do with anything connected to the Red Vale where the elemental sorcerers made their homes. That was the gate to the Seven Hells if ever there was one. Tormented by sorcery more times than he cared to remember, he would not have any part in it, unless it was to destroy an evil that should not exist.
    “Eris, sit down,” Raga insisted in such a way that Eris instinctively felt he didn’t dare oppose the ruddy man further. He came back to the table and sat. His mood was sullen. Anger narrowed his eyes. Raga handed back the silver cup again filled with fragrant wine.
    “Good. Now listen and give fair consideration to what I’m telling you. I’ve been following you for about the last three phases of the moon, Minrah,” he began.
    With difficulty, Eris kept his silence. No one had ever been able to follow his trail for more than two or three days without him becoming aware of it. No one, the thought jumped at him, except a sorcerer using arcane powers to assist him.
    “We both seek the same thing. The power gems of Raga-Tor. My gems. The ones that are supposed to be mounted to my bow.”
    Eris looked at the long bow leaning against the wall behind Raga. There was certainly nothing special about its appearance. The wood was lack-luster and shabby, and in spots the lacquer was worn through exposing bare, cracked wood. Why, he nearly laughed, the bowstring was tied together.
    “I’ve watched you. I’ve seen your cunning, your fighting abilities. I’ve come to the conclusion that between the two of us we have enough talent to gather the other two stones in a relatively short period of time. That’s why I finally decided to confront you about the possibility of forming a partnership.”
    “And if I refuse? As I said before, sorcerers don’t make a habit of joining themselves to the contemptible race of man.”
    “If you would have a little patience, everything will be made clear. It wouldn’t be wise to refuse me, but,” Raga sighed and puffed his cheeks, “I suppose, in the end, the decision is yours.”
    Eris stared silently at him. The red beard continued.
    “I want to start at the beginning, because there are a few details still puzzling me. Maybe if I talk about them they will become clear to one of us. You see, when the sorceress Charra-Tir stole those gems from me and scattered them about the earth, she also cast a spell so that when I caught up with the gems’ current possessor, he would suddenly have pressing business in another city.”
    “If that’s so, why am I not compelled to leave town other than to get away from your chatter?” Eris interrupted rudely. “And,” he paused to consider, “why didn’t Slott run instead of