The Torn Guardian Read Online Free PDF

the jewel is beginning to feel a little warm against my skin. I press it again, and it retracts back and stops glowing. The two strangers turn to look at me. Their positions are so casual; I can tell they clearly do not think I’m currently a threat. They return to their conversation, and I take the curved dragon piece and casually fix it to my ear. The dragon itself is actually hallow, and it allows me to understand what they are saying.
    After I finish equipping it, I’m realize I did so at the right time as their subject is me. The man refers to this woman as priestess, but the priestess is not as nearly as formal. She simply calls him Uzo, so I’m guessing she really is the person in charge here. Uzo tries to argue I might be with the other one, whatever that means, but the priestess is not buying it. She is firm with him as he continues to try and question her to the point where I think he might give up.
    I am wrong, and this Uzo persists by pointing out I am a stranger to the island. The priestess laughs at this and states it is obvious. The smell of the Iri tree took hours of soaking my hand in lotus water to get out. He does not like how the priestess is taking this so apathetically and continues to ask questions like what I am doing here and what I want.
    He is beginning to annoy me. I would have gladly answered these questions myself had I been given the chance in the first place! But no, I get shot with a poisoned arrow!
    I can tell the mystery woman is getting irritated as well. Good, I should not be the only one feeling antagonized today. She tells him off because these people have always engaged in trade with visitors. He should not be judging and attacking on sight. She ends their conversation by telling him she was about to find out the answers to all of the questions he brought up before he rudely interrupted and started berating her.
    Sensing he had crossed the line and not wanting to further provoke his leader, Uzo wises up a bit and starts to back off. He apologizes, and at long last he leaves through the thick red cloth drape acting as a door.
    “Now where were we?” the priestess mutters to herself after Uzo has disappeared.
    “Can you understand me?” I ask. If need be, I can activate the magnifying glass again, but I would much rather avoid showing I have magical items until I can figure out what is going on.
    “Yes, I can,” this woman finally speaks directly to me.
    “Good, so give me my bow,” I order again.
    She laughs again and stands up taking care to set my bow softly against the chair. “Yes, your bow,” she says as she kneels down next to me, “I’m actually impressed you carry that. It is very heavy. I will return your things to you. I am no thief, but first you must answer some questions. I would like to know who you are and what you are doing here. You have chosen a chaotic time to arrive on my island.”
    When she reaches out to me, I shift away from her, but this woman is only trying to check on my bandages. I’m wary because her people are the ones who had no problem putting an arrow in me in the first place, but she did just tell Uzo off for doing so. I will give her the benefit of the doubt so long as she acts decently.
    I give her my name, but nothing more. I cannot speak any further until I have some information of my own. I ask her who she is and where I am. With any luck this priestess will know where to find Adira or Grace. At first she only says she is the priestess of the Brizana people, but I already figured out she is some kind of priestess on my own. When she realizes I am not going to give her anything else without a longer answer, she adds her birth name is Adira, but no one calls her that.
    I do not know how I feel about this. On one hand, finding Adira was much easier than anticipated. On the other hand, her people shot me. With a sharp arrow. A sharp, poisoned arrow. Furthermore, I had hoped and actually anticipated having a little more time to figure out