Book of Remembrance: The Forgotten Gods: Book One by Tania Johansson Read Free Book Online Page B

seen no unusual bucks rand here.” He shrugged. “Could be the numbers of buck up north
has shrunk. Maybe they be out looking for something
new to hunt. Looked like they liked the smell of ye !”
He gave a roar of laughter. “I wouldn’t worry. Once they have recognised ye are
too strong for ‘ em they leave ye be. Not all too
brave, but clever they are.”
    We spread our bedrolls out. I
poured myself another cup of the Cha’s tea. Holding my nose, I tried to gulp it
all down without tasting it. It didn’t work. The foul bitter taste made it feel
as though my mouth was contracting. I retched, but managed to keep myself from
being sick.
    I became aware of the amused
grin on Grer’s face. “Ye poisoning yesself boy?”
    I gave him a sickly smile. “Just
some tea our Cha prepared for me. Settles my stomach.” We lay in our bedrolls chatting about nothing. I was awake long after Grer
started snoring.
    I realised with some relief that
he had fallen silent. I rolled over, thinking that I would finally be able to
sleep when I noticed Grer was not there. Neither was his bedroll. I was looking
around for where he could have gone when some movement caught the corner of my
eye. I just saw him going into the forest.
    Curious, I got up and followed
calling out his name, but he didn’t answer. I hurried after him. I walked to
the edge of the trees. The moon was full, but even so I could not see very far
under the thick canopy of the forest and tracking would be impossible. I turned
back and was startled to see someone hunching over my saddlebags.
    I started running back. “Get
away from my bag!” I said.
    Standing, the man kept his face
still and expressionless as a stone. He was tall with light hair hanging down
past his shoulders. He had on a worn-looking leather jerkin. A flat, wide nose
dominated his face. He stepped forward from where he stood over my bags and I
caught sight of a huge sword at his side. I halted in my tracks.
    I started to reach for my bow
when I realised I had not taken it. Unarmed, I reached for Navitas. He lifted
both hands above his head as if in surrender. “Now, now master Kadin. No need
for such. Calm yourself. I am Boryka. By your Navitas, you are already a
warrior of mind; and much more powerful than you realise.” He gave a glimmer of
a smile. “In fact, more powerful than any thought possible. You have much to learn of this still, but not from me. I am here to teach you
to be a warrior and master of your body.”
        As he
was speaking, he reached down and picked up a sheathed sword. As he walked over
to me, he reminded me of Markai; he moved with the same fluidity and power. He
rested the sword over both of his hands and with a bow, presented it to me. “This
is yours, master Kadin. Destined to be yours ages before you were even
conceived. I believe you have some rudimentary skill with the sword. The
Tretakai are known for many things, but unfortunately swordsmanship is not one
of them.”
    I was a little affronted by his
words, but knew them to be true so I kept my tongue. I accepted the weapon,
bowing in return and replied formally, “Thank you, Master Boryka. May the sun
show you your path and the moon keep you walking along
it.”
    He bobbed his head.
    I inspected the sword and
unsheathed it. My breath caught. It was magnificent. The beautifully carved
hilt was inlaid in gold with the image of Markai completed by blue sapphires
for eyes. The blade almost seemed to ripple and glow.
    He saw me running my finger over
the golden image of Markai. “As I said, this was destined for you. Now, it is
time you start learning how to use this blade. Let us see how far along your
training is.”
    When I looked around, I realised
we were no longer in the clearing by the stream. We were not even in the
forest, but standing in the centre of a massive stone bowl. There were steps
leading up the side of it, but it was so deep that I could not see what lay
beyond the rim of the bowl. It was full