Outcasts of Velrune by Isaac Crowe Read Free Book Online Page B

You’ve gotten pretty good at it.”
    “Yeah, but the water in the Swiftwater is only chest deep, and I wasn’t even in the river, it was a small pool off to the side.”
    Max let go of Eve’s arm and laughed. “And yet you still almost managed to drown me.”
    Eve stared down at her feet and mumbled. “I’m sorry.”
    Max wondered what else might be bothering Eve. It was unlike her to be so nervous. He remembered the first time she waded into the little pool by the Swiftwater River. She had shaken with fright, but had still made jokes. Now she stood silently with her head hung low.
    Max didn’t know what else he could say, so he remained quiet for the next several minutes. A shout from across the river brought him back to the present. He faced the far bank and saw that Tyco and Mr. Penna had reached it. They signaled him to bring the ferry back across.
    Max stepped up to the wheel for the winch. “Come on, Eve, our turn.”
    Together they worked the winch to pull the ferry back over to their side. Max led Starlight on to it then turned to check on Eve. Her trembling had resumed. She stood firmly on the edge of the bank.
    Max tried to reassure her. “You’ll be fine, Eve.”
    “May...Maybe...I…I should just go home.”
    Max scratched his head then tried a different tactic.
    “I suppose it would be less of a hassle if you did. I’d get into a lot less trouble, and it would certainly be nice not to have to worry about getting pounced on every time I walked by a dark corner.”
    Eve’s shaking subsided a little. “You would get into plenty of trouble by yourself. I’m the one always getting you out of it.”
    A wry smile crept onto Max’s face. “If that’s the case, you sure have a funny way of doing it. I think you’re confused on what helping means.”
    That did it. The fire in Eve’s eyes flared up.
    “Maybe I should stay here, and you can get out of your own trouble then.”
    “Maybe so, but I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t you let me help you get across this river and show you how you’re supposed to get someone out of trouble? Then, just maybe, I’ll let you come along and see if you can do any better.”
    Eve turned her nose up. “I…I suppose we could try that instead.”
    “Alright then.”
    Max stepped off the ferry and walked over to Eve. She didn’t look as scared, but he could still feel her trembling when he took her hand. Eve, tail in hand, tightly wrapped her other arm around Max’s waist. Together they walked to the ferry where they boarded, moving opposite of Starlight. Max sat down with Eve, her grip around him even tighter.
    “Now then, all we have to do is let Tyco and Mr. Penna do all the work while we take a nice ride across.”
    “Kay.”
    Eve sat stone still the breadth of the river, not making the slightest peep. The ferry soon reached the dock on the other side where Max guided Eve off the ferry. Once on the shore she stopped shaking. Her tail, badly ruffled where she had held it, waved back and forth behind her once more.
    Tyco and Mr. Penna had already mounted their horses. Max let go of Eve and went back for Starlight. He led her off the ferry and climbed into the saddle. Mr. Penna gave Eve the pleasant smile he reserved only for her.
    “For a minute there, Evangeline, I did not think you were going to be joining us.”
    Eve smiled back. “For a moment, I wasn’t sure either.”
    Eve turned and looked at the path that led down into the dead lands. One last shiver ran down her as she thought about what lie ahead.
    Well, I’ve come this far, and I’m not going back across that river again. Might as well see what happens next. She took a deep breath, held it for a second, then let it out.
    “Well, let’s get going.”
    Without any further hesitation, Eve walked west towards the narrow path that led over the cliff wall. The quick change caught Max off guard. She reached the edge of the path without him realizing it.
    “Don’t you want to ride,