Beyond the Hell Cliffs by Case C. Capehart Read Free Book Online Page A

“Do you have any idea how strong a monkey is?  Well this one is possessed and made of fire!  Picture that, bitch!”
    Tavin was busting up with laughter and Ebriz simply sat on the edge of the cart with a grin on his face.  A moment later even Boram was smiling widely and Raegith was just entirely confused.
    “What the hell is going on here?” he asked.
    Boram let him back into the cart before releasing him, laughing the entire time.
    “You couldn’t resist, could you?” Boram asked Ebriz.
    “Who else could I play that story off on but a boy who’s spent most of his life in his room?” Ebriz replied.  “Look at him, he actually believed it for a moment when you grabbed him.”
    “Yeah, real funny,” Raegith said, thoroughly humiliated.  “I knew there was no fire monkey.”
    The group got quiet again and exchanged light sheepish looks at each other, as if they had heard something funny, but didn’t know if they should laugh or not.
    “Guys, there is no such thing as the Demonic Fire Monkey, right?  Why are you looking at each other like that?”
    “No, there is no Demonic Fire Monkey, prince,” Tavin said, his smooth voice much more even -toned than Ebriz.  “That monkey had an exorcism a long time ago.  He’s completely himself now.”
    It was another two hours before the rest of the group caught up with them.  They were pulling another cart, this one much fuller of gear and items.  There were cabinets on the sides with jingling bottles and containers and all manner of instruments.  Beside the cart were Hemmil and Zakk, the sun reflecting cleanly off of their plate armor.  To the other side was a tall Faeir in dazzling orange and red robes riding atop a strange and colorful beast.  Walking in front of the cart and leading the horse that pulled it was another Faeir, dressed in grey pants and a short robe. 
    This Faeir was much different than the other.  The mounted Faeir was of orange skin and looked like fire, while the walking one had pale blue skin and wore bland clothing.  The blue Faeir held a different stance than the other, in much more of a submissive posture and looked at the ground while walking.  As Raegith watched the group approach in the fading day, he realized another grave difference between the two Faeir.  The blue one was a female.
    “Have you been riding in that thing all day?” Hemmil asked Raegith as they came up on the cart.
    Raegith had to break his gaze away from the woman that led the cart down the road.  “Of course.  What else would I do?”
    Zakk sighed and Hemmil eyed Raegith hard.
    “Get off, now,” Hemmil ordered the prince.  “I would expect a lay-about like Ebriz to overburden this poor beast, but by the Fates Raegith, you’re supposed to be in training!  When we travel, you will walk!”
    Raegith got off the cart, feeling embarrassed in front of the Faeir woman who was now close enough to hear him being admonished.  She did not even look up to notice him.  He tried not to pay an overt amount of attention to her, but she was such a lovely creature.  She was taller than him, with slender Faeir features and black hair that hung loose in front of her face.  He tried even to pull her scent into his nose as she passed by, but she was too far from him and Hemmil was already barking orders at him.
    “…and I’ll be damned if you’re going to try and… are you even listening, boy?” Hemmil growled.
    Raegith felt the blow to the back of his head and he stumbled forward, barely keeping his footing under him.
    “Pay attention, damn you!” the man yelled.
    By the time they had decided to camp, Raegith was tired and hungry.  He couldn’t believe something as simple as walking could drain him so badly and the pain in his heels was nearly unbearable.  He looked around for Onyx and found her beside the larger cart, pulling out poles and canvas to set up the tents.  She yanked and tugged, having a seemingly difficult time with her task.  Out away