The Troven (Kingdom of Denall Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

and wiser brother, or else I don't know what you would do,” Farin said with a grin. He started formulating a plan to get them together for a secret rendezvous.
    Garin rolled his eyes at his brother, who constantly rubbed in the two minutes that made him Garin’s senior. “What are you talking about?” he asked, looking back out into the woods.
    “We'll find a way for you to get to your dearest love.”
    Clearly tempted by the prospect, Garin paused for a moment to consider, then shook his head. “You know we can't sneak out tonight. It's the night before the Summer Festival; we're the guests of honor, and Mom would never forgive us. Besides, we'll need all our energy for tomorrow. We can’t be out all night.”
    Farin held his hands up in a sign of surrender. “Fine, Garin. If that's what you want.” Although he acted disappointed, Garin was probably right. Getting out that night would be nearly impossible.
    “I'm not saying it's what I want,” he replied angrily. “I'm saying it is the right thing to do.”
    “You really do have a talent for ruining all my fun,” Farin replied.
    They continued to search for the lost animal in silence. From time to time, Farin glanced over mischievously at Garin who consistently looked back with a stern, serious face. These exchanges spoke louder than words between the twins who had a strong bond, and often carried on entire conversations without needing to speak at all.
    While searching for the lost lamp, Farin snagged his hand on a briar and immediately placed his fresh wound in his mouth. “If I don't find that four-legged-good-for-nothing beast soon, I'll break its neck.”
    “Probably wouldn't help much,” Garin countered. “A dead lamb can't grow into a full-sized meal.”
    “Well, at least I wouldn't have to search for it again and again. Besides, I'm not going to be here to enjoy it when it is full-grown.” He pulled his finger out of his mouth and looked to see if it was bleeding.
    “Shhh! Do you hear that?”
    As Farin strained his heightened sense of hearing, the two marks on his ear lobe deepened to a maroon red. It was faint, but he could hear the sound of bleating in the distance. “Over there.” He pointed to their right.
    Farin led the way down the hill, but stopped short when he saw his friend coming with the runaway in his arms. Even at this distance he knew it was Kaz. Kaz was one of the few people in town who always had a longbow strung and slung over his shoulder, and he was taller than most men.
    Kaz's kind face brightened into a boyish grin as he saw his friends. “I saw her coming over from your farm and I thought I'd save you some time.”
    “Thanks, Eagle Eye,” Garin said as he took the lamb from Kaz. “With you on guard we'll always be safe from bandits, forest fires, or wandering sheep. But your keen eyes missed that it's a male.”
    “Guess I didn’t concentrate on looking between its hind legs. I'll leave that to you,” Kaz said jokingly. “Farin, what about you? No thanks? I just saved you wandering all the way to the village.”
    “Thanks a lot! Now we'll be back to work in the fields with those brainless, walking muscles Dad hired from out east.” Kaz and Garin exchanged a confused look, but Kaz just shrugged and let Farin continue his rant. “Did you see that strongarm Dad hired? He's a level four. What a monster.”
    “I'm a level four,” Kaz interrupted.
    “It's not his level, it's his… I don't even know.” Farin started walking briskly through the small stand of trees back to the farm, not sure how to explain his frustration, not even sure if he fully understood it. “Well, for one thing, none of his shirts have sleeves and he's always flexing when anyone walks past. Just to show off, he pulled a full grown tree right out of the ground without needing a horse team, and yesterday he pulled out that rock in the south field we've been trying to remove for years. It's not that he is a level four, it's that he wants us