Drenai Series 05 - Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf by David Gemmell Read Free Book Online

his right he lifted a long twig from the tinderbox and stood. 'Stand opposite me,' he ordered her. Then, holding the stick between his index fingers he said: 'Put your hand over the stick and, when I release it, catch it. Can you do that?' 
    'Of course, it is . . .' As she was answering him he opened his fingers. The twig dropped sharply. Miriel's hand flashed down, her fingers closing on air, and the twig landed at her feet. 'I wasn't ready,' she argued. 
    'Then try again.' 
    Twice more she missed the falling twig. 'What does it prove?' she snapped. 
    'Reaction time, Miriel. The hand should move as soon as the eye sees the twig fall - but yours doesn't. You see the twig. You send a message to your hand. Then you move. By this time the twig is falling away from you.' 
    'How else can anyone catch it?' she asked him. 'You have to tell your hand to move.' 
    He shook his head. 'You will see.' 
    'Show me,' she demanded. 
    'Show her what?' asked Waylander from the doorway. 
    'She wants to learn to catch twigs,' said Angel, turning slowly. 
    'It's been a long time, Caridris. How are you?' asked the mountain man, the small crossbow pointing at Angel's heart. 
    'Not here looking for a kill, my friend. I don't work for the Guild. I came to warn you.' 
    Waylander nodded. 'I heard you retired from the arena. What do you do now?' 
    'I sold hunting weapons. I had a place in the market square, but it was sequestered against my debts.' 
    'Ten thousand gold pieces would buy it back for you,' said Waylander coldly. 
    'Indeed it would - five times over. But as I have already told you, I do not work for the Guild. And do not even think of calling me a liar!' 
    Waylander pulled the bolts clear of the weapon then released the strings. Dropping the bow to the table he turned back to the scarred fighter. 'You are no liar,' he said. 'But why would you warn me? We were never close.' 
    Angel shrugged. 'I was thinking of Danyal. I didn't want to see her widowed. Where is she?' 
    Waylander did not reply, but Angel saw the colour fade from his face, and a look of anguish that was swiftly masked. 'You may stay the night,' said Waylander. 'And I thank you for your warning.' With that he took up his crossbow and left the cabin. 
    'My mother died,' whispered Miriel. 'Five years ago.' Angel sighed and sank back in his chair. 'You knew her well?' she asked. 
    'Well enough to be a little in love with her. How did she die?' 
    'She was riding. The horse fell and rolled on her.' 
    'After all she'd been through . . . battles and wars . . .' He shook his head. 'There's no sense to such things, none at all. Unless it be that the gods have a grim sense of humour. Five years, you say. Gods! He must have adored her to stay alone this long.' 
    'He did. He still does, spending too much time by her grave, talking to her as if she can still hear him. He does that here sometimes.' 
    'I see it now,' said Angel softly. 
    'What do you see?' 
    'Isn't it obvious, Miriel? The killers are gathering -assassins, hunters, stalkers of the night. He cannot kill them all, he knows that. So why is he still here?' 
    'You tell me.' 
    'He's like the old stag hunted by wolves. It takes to the high ground, knowing it is finished, and then it turns and waits, facing the enemy for one last battle.' 
    'But he's not like that stag. He's not old! He's not! And he's not finished, either.' 
    'That's not how he sees it. Danyal was what he lived for. Perhaps he thinks that in death they will be reunited, I don't know. What I do  know - and so does he - is that to stay here means death.' 
    'You are wrong,' said Miriel, but her words carried no conviction. 

3
    Floating on a sea of pain Ralis knew he was dying; his arms were tied behind him, the skin of his chest was seared and cut, his legs broken. All his dignity had been stripped from him in the screams of anguish the knives and hot irons had torn from his soul. There was nothing