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

it’s time to rest the horses again. This creature is sweating so much that I’m surprised it’s still sweating at all.”
    Patrick nodded. “Very well, I suppose we can give them a few minutes rest.” He raised his voice. “Daniel, Rillith, halt the wagon. Grab our supplies and let’s stop for a mid-day meal.”
    The wagon slowed. When the mid-sized wagon came to a halt, Daniel, in one swift motion, hopped off his mount while the horse was still walking. Patrick laughed and raised himself into the air upside-down in a double handstand and then pushed off, landing elegantly on the ground. Rillith, too, did a similar maneuver, but this time using only one hand.
    They dare challenge the Great Sehn!
    Sehn stood directly atop his horse on both feet, frightening the animal. He leapt backward into the air, flipping multiple times and spinning. He spun once, twice, thrice—only to come crashing head first into the grass, causing a trickle of blood to slide down his forehead.
    With an explosion of pain (pleasure), Sehn jumped to his feet and eyed the three with tremendous fury. “That, my friends, is how to do an intentional face-dismount. It is a secret that only I know, so don’t bother asking me to teach you.”
    Daniel shrugged and walked to the back of the wagon. He emerged with two brown skins of water, which the horses greedily emptied.
    Sehn took a seat on the ground and moaned. As much as he wanted to be rich and have servants, only now, on the very first leg of his journey, had it dawned on him how long all this would take. Rillith took out a cloth and offered it to Sehn for the small gash on his face, but quickly put it away after Sehn challenged him to a fight to the death.
    They ate a small lunch of dried fruit and cheese before packing up their belongings and preparing to continue. Sehn finished first and went towards the wagon to pack his uneaten food. He wasn’t as hungry as usual, but he wasn’t about to waste perfectly good cheese, either.
    “Sehn, wait!” Daniel shouted as Sehn lifted his left leg to climb into the wagon.
    “What now, Daniel?”
    “I don’t think you should go in there. Let me put the food away for you.”
    “You think I need your ‘assistance’, Daniel? Hah! The Great Sehn requires no help from anyone.”
    Daniel seemed agitated, and Sehn thought for a moment he was sweating a bit more than anyone else was. “Sehn, didn’t you say I was your slave? Think about how dishonoring it is for you to go into the wagon and do the work yourself.”
    Sehn’s ears twitched. “You do make quite the good point.”
    Daniel approached him. “Here, give me the food. I’ll do it for you.”
    Sehn raised his hand to give Daniel the food but was startled by a noise from inside the wagon.
    Achoo!
    “What was that?” Sehn asked. “I thought I just heard something.”
    Patrick and Rillith came to stand beside Daniel, and they too carried apprehensive looks. “Sehn, I think you’re just hearing things.”
    “Nonsense! I heard something in there. Out of my way, fools.” Sehn pushed his way past the two Humans.
    It was dark inside. There were no windows in the wagon. Sehn searched the tight space. There were water skins, wooden barrels containing food, clothing, and other personal items, but everything seemed to be in place. It didn’t appear as if any creature had taken up residence. Sehn turned to leave the wagon.
    Achoo!
    He whirled around again, certain he’d heard something this time. He bolted to the back of the wagon, towards one of the larger chests, and popped it open. Looking down at the two forms huddled together, Sehn howled in fury.
Why them?
    “Yo, Sehn!” said the voice of a little Elf huddled inside the chest. “Is it lunch time yet?”
     

     
    “You two are to return home immediately,” Sehn demanded. “This is a direct order from your God-King and lord of all that is in existence, Sehn the almighty!”
    Nero and his older sister, Cah’lia, looked at each other