Rain (The Quest Trilogy-Book Two) by Iram Dana Read Free Book Online Page A

sand before leaving.
    “I’m right beside you.” she said, floating along next to him. They walked along in companionable silence for a while.
    “It’s been month’s since you discovered your first wisdom…” she began tentatively, “how come you’re not restless to get on with the rest of them? I remember you were fairly impatient when the first Quest took a month to present itself.”
    “I was, wasn’t I?” said Rain with a wry smile. “Well, you live and learn, I guess.”
    He stole another quick, hopeful look at his chain, something that earned him another eye-roll from his Geeya.
    “Actually, after seeing what that first task was, I’m not feeling quite as impatient for the next one.” explained Rain.
    There was the sound of a loud crack and Rain jumped back in alarm looking for the source of the sound.
    “Oh no, not again!” he groaned, looking at the tiny crab that he had just crushed under his foot.
    “His unlucky day, I suppose.” said his Geeya, pouring a handful of sand over the crab’s crushed body. They were moving out of the beach and into the forest now.
    “Tell me something more about my Quest.” demanded Rain.
    He broke a thin branch from a tree, intending to clear away slugs and snails from his path with it.
    “What would you like to know?” asked his Geeya, floating straight into a thick tree trunk and emerging on the other side of the tree in one piece, like a ghost.
    That’s how a companion should be, thought Rain, someone who’s there when you need them; who listens when spoken to; speaks only as much is necessary, and never tries to force their opinions you.
    “I was wondering if there are any rules that I should be aware of.”
    “Yes. The Quest has rules too. There are three rules. The first of them you already know. You only get one chance to go for your Quest … At the age of eighteen.”
    “Hmm … then I think I know the second one, too.”
    “Do you? Once you enter, you cannot leave until you have completed your Quest.” said his Geeya.
    “Right. Knew that. And the third rule?” he asked, shoving a snail out of his way with the branch.
    “No mating.”
    Rain came to an abrupt halt. His Geeya, who was floating one step behind him, would have bumped right into him had she not been what she was. Instead, she simply dispersed upon contact and reformed a foot in front of him.
    “No whaat ?!” he exclaimed, not sure he had heard right.
    “You heard it right the first time … no mating .” she said, emphasizing the vowels.
    “What the …! No way… but what’s the…” Rain stopped, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. “Isn’t it here that a sequestor will meet their soulmate?” said Rain, finally.
    “Yes.” replied his Geeya, smiling broadly, having already guessed his next question.
    “Well, what’s the point of the meeting , when there isn’t going to be any mating ?!” exclaimed Rain.
    “Let me put it this way,” said his Geeya, circling around him slowly in a wide arc, “The Quest is like an exam … and Quniverse is like an exam hall. When you appear for an exam in the real world, no matter how long, are you allowed to mate there?”
    Rain laughed at the comic image that brought to his mind.
    “No, I guess not.” he agreed, shaking his head. “But still … it could take me years to finish my Quest. I’m more than six months into it already and all I have to my credit is one wisdom. And I’ve got to collect eleven !” he said, throwing up his hands in frustration. I can’t believe I’ll have to …that I can’t …”
    He stopped talking and grew red in the face.
    “Rain, you’ve seen what Quniverse is. The last thing you need to worry about here is family planning.” said his Geeya gently, taking pity on him.
    “But still … all this privacy, and no mating! Cheez!” he grumbled, pushing aside another snail. “What happens if you break a rule?” he asked. Just for information, of course. It was always good to be