Halfstone: A Tale of the Narathlands by Daniel White Read Free Book Online Page A

breaths were heavy and
without rhythm.
    “You should get some sleep,” he said, eying her.
    She yawned and shook her head. “No, I’m all right. Don’t worry
about me.”
    He did worry. Télia struck him as someone who was too good, who
would push herself too far. It was her call though.
    “Suit yourself,” he said and closed his eyes.
     
     
    Télia sprang from the bed.
    He bolted upright. “What is it?!”
    She put a finger to her lips. An anxious pause followed.
    “I heard hooves on the road,” she whispered.
    He leapt to his feet and drew a knife from his belt.
    “Keep quiet,” she urged, loading her crossbow carefully. “This is
trouble.”
    They made their way slowly toward the entrance of the Inn, keeping
their figures stooped. Roan had gone to bed, but a number of lanterns still
burned. Beyond the windows it was pitch black. Aldrick listened for any noise
but could hear only the rain. They crept behind the counter and rested their
backs against it. He looked to Télia. Her face was one of ardent concentration.
    They waited.
    “Maybe it was nothing,” he said after a while.
    Télia shook her head. “No, those who come in silence are not of
good will.”
    There was a creak as the front door began to open slowly. Roan
must have forgotten to lock it! Télia touched his shoulder and mouthed the
words “Don’t move.”
    He didn’t.
    “Be silent, he could still be awake,” one intruder muttered to
another.
    Télia took the hand Aldrick held his knife in, turned it so that
the blade was upright and gave him a subtle nod. He knew what she meant by it—he
was going to need to use it.
    Without warning Télia stood and aimed her crossbow beyond the
counter.
    “Move one step closer and die!” she yelled, then ducked all of a
sudden. A knife flew into the wall behind her. She released an arrow then
dropped back down beside him. Aldrick heard one of the intruders charging. As
they reached the side of the bar he sprang up and drove the knife at their
chest. It pierced armour but not flesh. Aldrick was gripped and thrust into the
wall. Dazed, he lost his footing and collapsed to the floor, dropping his knife.
Staring up, he saw a figure—a man shrouded in black—raising a sword. Télia came
at him from behind but he whirled round and hit her hard across the face. She
flew sideways to the floor.
    “Télia, get up!”
    She groaned. The man approached her, sniggering. Aldrick had to do
something fast. His knife lay near him, and he took hold of it. As the man
raised his sword, intent upon driving Télia’s body through, Aldrick leapt at
him, thrusting it into his side where the armour failed to protect. They both
toppled to the floor. Aldrick sprang back up. The man remained down. He was dead,
his sword still clutched in hand.
    Once more the rain was the only sound to be heard. Aldrick stood
shaking. By the entrance a second man lay with one of Télia’s arrows in his
chest, dead also.
    Télia found her feet at Aldrick’s side.
    “Thanks,” she said, rubbing her jaw.
    “Yeah,” he managed. He had just killed somebody. They were dead.
    “You had to do it, Aldrick,” Télia said, surveying him. “He would
have killed us both.” She went to the door and peered outside for a moment,
checking for any further danger, then beckoned Aldrick back to the bedroom. In
the hallway Roan stood with a lantern in his hand, staring at them with wide
eyes.
    “Fret not, my friend,” Télia said to him as they passed. “They
were enemies. The coast is clear now. We will deal with this in the morning. We
apologise for causing you distress.”
    Roan said nothing, just watched them pass then looked vacantly
down at the bodies lying upon the floor.
    Aldrick slumped onto the bed. He was in no mood for anything.
Télia sat down next to him.
    “We should think no more of this night until morning,” she said
quietly. “Let us rest now.” She blew out the last burning candle.
    They shared the bed. Télia slept but Aldrick