The Last Enchanter Read Online Free PDF Page B

fury. “But he swore an oath, signed a binding agreement! What right does anyone have to change that? Who is responsible?”
    Nathar bowed his head, reluctant to continue. Jayson took a deep breath to calm himself. “Tell me,” he said, “by whose authority has this happened? I must know so that I may plead our case before him.”
    Nathar’s shoulder began to tremble. “I saw the name on the document for only a moment, but there is no doubt,” he said. “It was Kelvin Archer, your son and heir to the throne of Dokur.”

Thirteen
    D id you hear that?” asked Marcus, crouching low behind the fire. Beside him, Clovis knelt in the dirt, readying his bow. Marcus noticed the tip of Clovis’s arrow trembling slightly.
    From the edge of the firelight came a slight stirring of leaves. Marcus crept toward a large stone. As he approached, he was sure the sound of his heart beating was as loud as thunder. Summoning his courage, he leapt behind the stone, hoping to surprise whatever was hiding there. From the corner of his eye, Marcus saw Clovis trying to hold his bow steady. Sounds cut through the silence—scuffling, grunting, someone crying out in pain.
    A moment later, Marcus had it by the hair and dragged it, kicking and squirming, into the light. Marcus pulledback its hair and looked at the face, red and out of breath.
    â€œYou!” Marcus shouted, letting go. “You’ve been following us all along!”
    Clovis lowered his arrow. A smile crept onto his face, and he covered his mouth with his hand to keep from chuckling.
    Lael angrily brushed the dust from her tunic.
    â€œWhy?” Marcus demanded.
    â€œWhy do you think?” Lael scowled at him. “I want to come with you to Dokur.”
    A laugh burst from Clovis’s mouth, but he quickly swallowed it. Marcus clenched his teeth. He had been afraid, and for what? To be humiliated by Lael once again. All he wanted was to be rid of her once and for all.
    â€œYou can’t come,” said Marcus. He scooped up a handful of kindling and pitched it into the fire.
    â€œWho are you to tell me where I can and cannot go?” answered Lael. “I’ve as much right as you to travel these woods.”
    â€œLael, look at you!” said Marcus, waving his hand up and down the length of her. “You’re not ready for this sort of journey.”
    â€œNot ready? I’m more ready than you were when you went on your quest. You know as well as I that I’m just as strong as you and better with any weapon. In fact,” she added, “from what I hear, you two could use someone like me along for protection.”
    The kindling ignited, the flames rising higher. Marcus felt the heat on his face. Or was the heat coming from inside him?
    â€œGo home, Lael. Your papa is calling.”
    From the look in her eyes, Marcus saw how deeply his words had stung her. Why did he always say the wrong thing?
    Stepping closer to the fire, Lael held out a small, leather pouch in her fist. She shook it. The coins inside jingled like tiny bells.
    â€œI’ll pay you,” she said. “Be my guide, and I’ll make it worth your while.”
    â€œAre those silver coins?” Clovis asked, swallowing hard.
    Lael emptied the bag into her palm. The firelight reflected off the shiny coins.
    â€œThat’s at least a year’s pay!” said Clovis.
    â€œMore,” replied Lael. She held up a single coin and returned the rest to her pouch. “And I will gladly share it all if you will take me with you.”
    â€œI don’t mind,” said Clovis, reaching for the coin.
    Marcus grabbed his hand. “We don’t want your money, Lael.”
    â€œWe don’t?” asked Clovis. “No, right. Of course. We don’t want your money, Lael.”
    â€œWhere did you get all that, anyway? Did you steal it?” asked Marcus.
    Lael ignored his question with a defiant glare.