Questing Sucks (Book 1) by Kevin Weinberg Read Free Book Online

or two. Not that it mattered. Sehn could destroy them all with ease.
    The lead rider dismounted. He was a tall, muscular Elf. His face was hardened, and he wore a golden helmet. He had the same build as Sehn, yet where Sehn’s face was smooth with youth, the rider’s had the ridges of age. The rider walked up to Sehn and then exchanged knowing glances with Sehn’s traveling companions.
    “Father, what is it you want? I am off on a journey to obtain treasure.”
    The rider, Suhn, chief of Elvar, commander of all seven war-clans, casually took off his golden helmet and stood before Sehn. He was taller than Sehn by nearly a full head. His eyes were hard, one who had seen battle and lived to speak of it. He shared the same passionate green eyes as his son.
    “So I see,” he said, raising a hand and waving behind him. The entourage backed off a bit, but remained nearby. “Sehn, I have come to have a word with my son. Is that too much to ask?”
    “Yes.”
    Suhn narrowed his eyes and snarl. He held this look of contempt a mere second before tilting back his head and roaring with laughter. “Oh, Sehn, you have never changed, not since you were but a small boy. An odd one you’ve always been, but nevertheless the pride of my life.”
    Sehn felt as if he’d been punched, his eyes widening. “What did you say to me, father? You dare speak that way to—”
    Suhn held up a hand, and Sehn backed off. He was not in the mood to start another fight with his father. He had lost the last forty-seven battles, but only because each time he wasn’t ready and-or extremely unlucky.
    Suhn looked over to Patrick, and again, Sehn thought he saw a sign of recognition, as if the two knew each other. More so, for a brief moment Patrick had nodded. Sehn blocked the thoughts from his mind. He must’ve been imagining things.
    Suhn put a strong grip on Sehn’s shoulders. “Sehn, I know you wish to go soon. So I will make this quick, boy, and you will listen.” Sehn grunted but decided to let the fool speak.
    “I have always known what you are—stop nodding your head in approval; it’s not what you’re thinking. You may not wish to admit it to me or, for that matter, even yourself, but I have always been proud of you. For years I allowed others to think differently to spare your odd, twisted feelings, but just for this one moment I will not. I have always known of the things you have done, the ridiculous lengths that you have gone to hide them, and furthermore, what lies in here.” Suhn pounded his fist against his heart.
    “Father, what lies in my heart is nothing more than a cold thirst for power and glory!”
    Suhn breathed a sigh and shook his head. “Very well, you are different from all other Elves, and so you act like this. It is your choice as you are who you are. But nevertheless, there are still things a father wishes to say to his son. I know that somewhere these words will reach you—and stop shaking your head no.”
    “Sehn, there are things out in the world you’re not ready for—silence! I have not finished speaking. You are not yet twenty-one seasoned, and while you may be strong, you are not the strongest.”
    Sehn struggled under his father’s grip, but he couldn’t budge. This was the weirdest behavior he’d ever seen his father display.
    “What I really want to say to you, Sehn, what I hope you will take with you always, is that if we never meet again, know that I have, and always will love you. Stop squirming, Sehn. I need you to hear this for my sake if not for your own.”
    “Father, why are you making such a big deal of this?” Sehn grumbled. “It’s just a treasure hunt. I’ll be back in time to have my statue built.”
    Suhn laughed. “As hard as it may be to believe, your mother had your exact personality, Sehn. Do you know when I first met her she tried to capture me and sell me as a slave? I wish you could’ve met her. You two would have spent hours fighting. There would be no place in the