Revelyn: 1st Chronicles - When the last arrow falls by Chris Ward Read Free Book Online Page A

and the small Eastern Upthrust formed its eye, but his good friend Goldsmith Cantor, who was never one for looking at drawings and maps would say he was dreaming, for he couldn’t see it.
    He’d left Sylvion there. She had planned to visit her kindma on the plains below in her old hometown of Wildwood on the southern edge of the great Wildwood forest, where the fast flowing Vigarn traveled rapidly east before swinging more slowly around in a vast loop and heading southwards towards its junction with small and mystical Snake River.  He had tried to dissuade her going; there had been renewed outbreaks of violence at Morraine not far from Wildwood .  Houses had been burnt and farms destroyed, and the indiscriminate nature of it all had worried Rema, but Sylvion had just laughed at him. She was full of spirit and would not be persuaded that she might be in any danger. It was her home and nothing would stop her seeing her precious kindma.
    She had poked him hard in the ribs and laughed. ‘You worry about me Rema Bowman, and you, off to Ramos where the King sits. He will imprison any man from the Mighty Mountains without reason. He has grown paranoid and fearful beyond all sense. It is you who should be staying, not me; there is fifty times the danger in that sad city for you than I will face in my simple town.’
    ‘I wouldn’t go by choice,’ Rema had replied solemnly, ‘But Serenna is in trouble and I cannot ignore her request.’
    ‘Serenna is always in trouble,’ Sylvion tossed her dark hair in anger, ‘she has no sense at all, running off and marrying that idiot Jycob, just because he has money and position, and to defy her parents like that. She is trouble.’
    ‘She is still my favourite cousin and I grew up with her. Headstrong she may be, but I cannot ignore her request. And speaking of headstrong, who are you to talk.’ Rema grabbed Sylvion around the waist and swung her laughing in a wild circle. She kissed him as her feet hit the ground; they embraced for a time and then stood right on the edge of the mighty cliffs gazing out over the plains, and happy beyond words.
    ‘Take care,’ he had said, ‘For I cannot lose you.’ She smiled back.
    ‘I will be safe. You too must take no risks.’ She had given him a simple gold ring which was inscribed in the old Revelin language, Infini amoran, which means ‘forever my love.’ And so they had parted.
     
    Rema lay on the soft straw mattress and remembered. He missed her so much and now with all that had happened he was deeply worried for her safety. The dying Wolver had breathed her name. This was incomprehensible. Something serious was unfolding. He played unconsciously with the ring of gold on his right middle finger and vowed soundlessly upon it that he would make right whatever had befallen her.
    The news that his cousin Serenna was in trouble had not surprised him. She was always getting herself into difficult situations, They had grown up together high in the Mighty Mountains in the remote village of The Safeness. They had chased the swift Orax mountain goats together, mimicking the nimble, quick and surefooted creatures until they too could fearlessly roam the mountain slopes in safety. Serenna was older, taller, possessed a flaming mass of red hair, and was absolutely fearless. He had lost count of the number of times she had broken a bone or sprained an ankle. Once she fell from a cliff and was only saved by clinging to a stunted bush on the very edge of a sheer drop into a raging stream. It had taken all of Rema’s skill to throw a rope and secure her and help her scramble to safety. She had just laughed in exhilaration and then kissed him full on the lips in a simple show of young affection which had at first embarrassed him. They had grown to be soul mates and he would always forgive her while others condemned.
    Her behaviour became more reckless as she grew older and she fought with everyone. Only Rema remained her friend; and finally as though