Dusk Falling (Book 1) by Keri L. Salyers Read Free Book Online

flat, littered with patched of unruly bush, wildflowers and young saplings, visually the west was nothing grand. Prairie badgers made their homes in such areas, making a pace faster than a trot potentially dangerous. A herd of deer took to their feet when the team came within bowshot, bounding away to disappear into the thicket.
    Within several hours and two rest stops later, the landscape began to change once again. The openness of the prairie blended with tall emerald-leaved trees. The air quality changed as well, thickening with the proximity of the Azure Ribbon. The soil grew at once more rocky and more moist.
    Aya’s mare stepped up its pace, ears alert. She too knew a city was near and was looking forward to a nice bath and a warm meal almost as much as her rider. Last night had been chill underneath the tree canopy.
    The appearance of dragonlits finalized the last few steps to the city. The small scavengers chittered at the trio’s approach, only bothering to move out of the way when they were threatened with being stepped on. Even then, they bared their needle-like teeth and flapped multi-colored wings in agitation. The dragonlits seemed to especially eye Agemeer for wolves have been known to kill and eat their kind.
    “Foul flying rats.” Serrtin growled in distain, “Wherever there is a city, it’s a guarantee there’ll be dragonlits.”
    Barda’s borders sat nestled amidst the tall slender trees that dotted the landside. What could be immediately seen from their vantage point was the combination of stained woods and a material called ‘sand plaster’ that made up the majority of the buildings. Adjusting their path, they headed through the arc wall and into the city. No guards stopped them nor would any of the short pole fences that some chose to bar in their yards.
    Barda was a large establishment but not in terms of cities like Taclor or Jerenzi. Most of the buildings were one-story with slanted roofs to keep rainwater and humidity from setting in rot. Still, green moss could be seen on the thatching. Large barrels sat below corners of some, collected rain pooled within. One-horse drawn wagons sat patiently out of the way of the main roads, jumbled piles of netting and rope inside.
    The people who could be seen outside of their homes or businesses wore mostly what looked to be of a strong homespun cotton and mended leathers, the ladies wearing brightly colored shawls around their heads to keep the wind, cooled by the inlet, from tangling their hair and nipping their ears. Heavy sturdy boots seemed the commonplace even for the children that ran laughing down the hard-packed soil of the streets.
    The city smelled of fertile grounds, seawater and salted wood. The scent of fish too was altogether noticeable. Outdoor booths saw hung the catch of the day, gutted and strung up by bits of twine. It seemed as if the entire city was made up solely of fish- if it were not fillets or dried marine life ready for sup, it was signs and boards and even statues with fish painted or etched on them. Buildings sported reliefs of bass and swordfish, some even had painted balusters of shining sand imprinted with the waves of the ocean. Hitching posts outside of the smithy shops consisted of dolphins and sharks with simple wooden poles clutched in their mouths. Even the street names were game- named after the inlet and its creatures.
    Agemeer opted to remain outside of the city as he usually did, something the old scholar was adjusting to in his own way. At first, it was hard on him not being able to even enter cities he’d never been in before. As a man of knowledge, being denied the chance to see and learn new things first-hand was a difficult lesson to come to terms with but as a wise man he understood why and could accept the loss as yet another chance at something to learn.
    Once in Barda, the eyes of those on the main thoroughfare were automatically drawn to Serrtin but that was not an odd occurrence. All non-saurians