Lament (Scars of the Sundering Book 2) by Hans Cummings Read Free Book Online

it
crossed from the road onto the stone bridge that led to Honeywater.
    On the other side of the bridge,
as they made their way to Honeywater’s market square, human guards wearing the
livery of Almeria’s royal guard flagged down the wagon, grabbing the horses’
reins as Edric brought the team to a halt.
    “What’s your business here,
travelers?” The guard, a tall, lanky human with a weathered face and scraggly
beard, peered at the draks in the back of the wagon.
    Kali poked her head up between
Pancras and Edric. “I’m a Firescale from this village. We’re heading south and
need to trade for supplies.”
    “All right. No funny business,
though. We’re watching.”
    Edric maneuvered the team and
wagon toward the location indicated by the guard. As soon as the wagon stopped,
Delilah scrambled out and planted her feet in the grass. She resisted the urge
to fall to her knees and kiss the land.
    “I guess Princess Valene is
serious about fixing this town, huh?” Kale hopped down next to his sister.
    “Looks that way.” Kali climbed
out of the wagon. “I figured she’d send a few guards to clear out the slavers
and then leave us alone. But, royal guards?”
    Yeah, yeah, the princess is
great, the princess is grand. Delilah wondered where the
princess’s grace was when she was dangling by her wrists in the palace dungeon.
She grunted and hobbled her way around the wagon to Pancras, who worked with
Edric to secure the horses.
    “Are you hurt?” Pancras tossed
the lead rope to Edric and knelt down to examine Delilah.
    “My butt hurts! I’m not riding to
Muncifer in the back of that wagon, Pancras. I’ll walk.”
    Pancras chuckled and stood. “I
don’t think that will be necessary. We should be able to trade this wagon for
more suitable mounts.” He pointed across the square. “It looks like there are
some stables over there.”
    Edric finished securing the
horses and joined Pancras and Delilah. “The wagon would be good for the open
road, but if I’m remembering right, the road isn’t the quickest way to get to
Muncifer from here.”
    “That’s my recollection as well.
The road skirts the plains and passes by the western edge of the Abbar Moors.
It should be faster if we travel cross-country. It’s certainly more direct.”
    “If more direct means we get
there faster, I’m all for that.” Delilah rubbed her bottom through her cloak.
She feared the ache from hours of bouncing on unyielding wood would never
abate.
    Pancras placed his hand on
Delilah’s shoulder. “Why don’t you take Edric and Kale and find us accommodations
for the night? Kali and I will figure out what to do with these horses. We’ll
meet back here shortly.”
    “Fine.” She gestured for Edric to
follow her and walked to the back of the wagon. Kale and Kali spoke in hushed
voices, standing closer than Delilah thought was necessary. “Break it up, you
two. Kale, we need to go find lodging for the night. Pancras wants to take Kali
and trade in these horses.”
    Kali nodded and nuzzled Kale.
“There should be an inn or two down the road.” She pointed toward the far end
of the market before she jogged away to catch up with Pancras.
    The sun hung low in the sky. Long
shadows cast by the surrounding buildings stretched across the market like
dark, ethereal fingers. Delilah pulled her cloak around her as she led Kale and
Edric through the scant crowds. A few vendors vied for their attention, but
most ignored them and closed their stalls for the evening.
    In contrast to the other inns,
shops, and taverns they encountered on their journey, almost every building in
this town was drak sized. Most were built from rough-hewn stone, and gentle
curves featured prominently on most of the older structures. The hard edges and
tall, squared-off doorways of some of the larger buildings marked which ones
were built and used by former slavers. She followed the road to the far end of
the market. The sign above the edifice that stood near the