Healer's Ruin by Chris O'Mara Read Free Book Online Page A

stream? Was that pond, with its broad blue lilies, closer than the ragged ditch that sank into blackness, its rim heavy with grey tubers and vines? His eyes took in a dozen trails, two dozen, three, each wending off into mystery.
    'The Gilt Plates made it through,' said Chalos.
    'Indeed.'
    'The Duke's scout riders, they said nothing of the challenge this geography presented?'
    Jolm was silent. Chalos imagined him gnashing and grinding his massive jaws, furious with his superiors but unable to voice such anger. When he spoke, his voice sounded strangely distant.
    'Nothing that was passed to me, slinger.'
    Chalos thought of the second wave of Black Talon that followed in their wake, led by the Duke's other lieutenant.
    'Do you think we should send word to Agryce?'
    That fearsome helm swung around to regard him, chilling his blood in an instant.
    'That Tarukaveri bitch? What would she know?'
    'Perhaps she overheard something, before we split from the main force. Something she assumes you heard too. Or maybe she could send a rider back to the Duke for more news of this place.'
    'Hmm,' the Krune grumbled, mulling it over. 'No. We press on. The Gilt Plates are here somewhere, desperate for our aid. We must answer their call.' The helm craned back to look at the high canopy. 'Your bird will be useless here, I imagine.'
    Mysa cocked her head to one side as if insulted.
    'Tell the purple monster of distant Datha'Aish that I can fly under the canopy,' she said archly. 'It will be hard, and slow going, perhaps a little dangerous. But I can do it.'
    Chalos bit his lip. Datha'Aish, the harsh volcanic heartland of the Krune.
    'Yes, useless, I should think,' he lied.
    'Chalos!' Mysa grated, her voice audible only to the healer. 'Don't lie to this creature!'
    'A shame,' said the Krune. 'She was proving herself a great resource. No matter. When we are out on the plains, she will once again be useful, yes?'
    'Absolutely.'
    'Chalos!' Mysa insisted. 'Do not forget, the mysteries of this place can kill you too, as well as all of them! You and the girl who now lives in the secret chamber of your heart. You need my wings, my eyes and my wisdom!'
    He wished he could silence her without arousing Jolm's suspicion. But all he could do was keep a straight face and ignore the keening behind his eyes, her incessant voice tugging at his conscience.
    'Go back to the column, slinger,' said Jolm. 'I have strategies to formulate.'
    'Yes, lieutenant.'
    Being alone with the leader of the detachment of Black Talon warriors had been a fire-walking experience and Chalos was relieved to be riding back alone. All around him, through the trees, he could see scouts and members of the force's front line, thinning out and stumbling, ambling down dead ends and up slippery, moss-coated trails. Looking back over his shoulder he realised already that he could no longer see Jolm.
    'Why did you lie to him, Chalos?' asked Mysa. 'Do you not think him canny enough to notice?'
    Chalos did not answer immediately because he did not know the answer himself. Why did I lie? Was it to protect Mysa from whatever lurks beneath the arboreal veneer of this place? Or was it to protect myself? Should Mysa be wounded, or killed, somewhere beneath the emerald canopy, I would be alone. She is the only real friend I have. The only being in the entire army, perhaps even including Samine, that doesn't see me as a mere resource. The only creature in the world that actually cares about my well-being.
    'Let him see,' said Chalos, sullenly. 'I'm not a soldier, and I shouldn't be here. Neither should you.'
    The bird clacked its long, curved beak.
    'Unwise not to keep that one on side.'
    'He's got enough to worry about with getting this detachment through the Dallian Woodland. I'm of little interest to him.'
    'For now,' the bird said, in a sinister tone. 'But as the evils of this land trim his force down and break his spirit blow by blow, he will start to look for enemies where there were none before. And