Hawkmoon (The Hawkmoon Chronicles) by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page B

A burly, greybeard stepped from the back.
    Kerris glared at the intruder. “Old man, you will do that once too often. I have no time to bandy words with you. I have just sent a young woman with no protection on a quest that is almost certainly beyond her”. Kerris took the notebook and put it in the back cover. Reaching for a pot of glue she   started to paste the lining. Enoch stood to one side peering over her shoulder. “Not bad, it makes you wonder how she found it”.
    “She found it, because she was meant to find it”. Kerris wrinkled her nose. “You smell like a horse”
    Enoch gripped her shoulders.” She is brave and resourceful. She will not be without protection”. .
    “I trust you were not seen?”
    “You know what they call me? “
    “The Ghost Who Walks,  right this moment you are the Ghost Who Smells. Take your bath here. The less they know of your comings and goings the better I like it”
    “You don’t trust your sisters?” he asked.
    “I trust them with my life, but these are not normal times.”
    Enoch stripped as she filled the bath. There were bruises on his ribs, a shallow cut on his hip
    She touched his side. “What’s this?”
    “I wanted to come here, someone wanted to detain me”
    “When are you going to stop this gadding about? A man of your age “She took his clothes as he stepped into the copper bath. “When you decide to come away with me”, he replied as he lowered himself in the water. With a phial of soap from the bureau., she  emptied a basin over his head. Enoch gasped. “It’s cold”.
    “Don’t be a baby”, she said, massaging soap into his scalp. “Who cut your hair?”
    “The Elf Queen.  Well, one of her sisters, actually”. He closed his eyes.
    “You knew about the supplement. Did you know it was here?”
    “I’ve known for years. The longer it could be kept hidden the better. al Jiddah did well  but it was only a matter of time ... You must see to your defences my dear. Trouble is headed your way”.
    “In what form?” She asked.
    He wiped his eyes with a cloth.  “I can think of several  who would be interested”
    Enoch stood up in the bath wrapping a towel at his waist.” One day this Land  will be consumed by the sun. Deserts are spreading into populated areas. Nations are facing the prospect of starvation. We should be bending every effort to finding answers. Instead we have the Wampyrhii, squabbling warlords, treacherous queens. There  is the  also the small matter of a Reiver invasion  . Remember when I asked you to come with me to the Western Isles?”
    “Enoch, in all the years we have known each other how long have you stayed in one place for more than a month?”
    “There was the siege of Cormalin. That was seven months”.
    “You couldn’t get out of the city”.  Kerris went to the door. “Sit by the table. I will have food brought up”.
    He pored over the maps Mira had been using. Kerris returned with a basket of cold chicken, fresh baked bread, and two bottles of wine..
    “Is Evangeline still cook?”
    “She has an assistant, to help her with the heavy work” Enoch pored  over the map.” ..It’s a good route, it begins well enough but there’s a sting in the tail”.
    Kerris laid out the food. “You said you had arranged protection for her. “
    “I have  friends .We have done each other service on occasion. They will guard her at night”.
    “And the day? “
    “There are two, one is in the Forest. He has been there since the end of winter. He is from the Parish”.  Enoch described him.
    Kerris looked at him.” A Half Man.? She will need someone useful with weapons.”
    “I have had dealings with them and they are quite resourceful. Besides he is about his own business. He will have a part to play before this is over”.
    “And the other?”
    “I must confess, I had not expected him. But if it is a bodyguard you need he’s your man”.
    “Who is he?” Enoch told her. The news made her jump to