The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) by Nicole MacDonald Read Free Book Online Page A

around a month of walking to reach the castle. You must make sure to stock up well at each village.'
    Loi gave me a look of concern at that. I pressed my lips flat and shrugged.
    One month of walking.
    Damn that's really going to suck. I hope there are plenty of villages in between here and the castle.
    Kassie listened hard while she pretended to focus on Lucky.
    One month to the castle, she thought in despair, with elgrids about and likely other creatures too. She pursed her lips, trying to think of another solution. Nothing presented itself. She lifted her head and stared at the man who had spoken to them before.
    'Yes?'
    'I was just wondering what other creatures we should watch out for, ah…' Kassie gestured at him.
    The man looked at her sharply, then after a moment gave a slight nod.
    'I’m Wrenwick.'
    'So, what other creatures can we expect on our journey, Wrenwick?'
    Wrenwick frowned as he thought it over.
    'When you reach the woods you may have to watch out for gragnolls, though I haven’t seen many lately, what with all this craziness going on in the South. It appears to be attracting them in hordes. We haven’t had many issues with uglies lately. Those elgrids that followed you are the first we’ve seen in weeks.'
    Henja interrupted, 'You’ll need to watch out for the leeni too.'
    She nudged Wrenwick in admonishment. 'And of course dragons.'
    Sian’s head snapped up at that.
    'Dragons?'
    'Ooooh yes,' Gran Nina looked amused at Sian's shocked expression. 'We do get a few around here, though they tend to go for the cattle not wee scrawny girls.'
    Curious, I asked, 'How big do the dragons get? And do they breathe fire?'
    Wrenwick spoke up, glaring at Henja and Gran Nina for butting in.
    'The biggest dragons can be the size of a large barn with a wing span four to five times the width, but they don’t breathe fire. At that size there isn’t really any need. It’s the little dragons, around your dog’s size, that breathe fire. They are usually rather civil and most castles employ one or two for keeping their fires going.'
    I could see Sian was fascinated, at home her favorite mythical creature was the dragon. Mine, I guess, would be the Pegasus or unicorn; an off shoot from my, My Little Pony days.
    The sudden thought of a My Little Pony doll prancing around in real life was somewhat unhinging.
    We wandered in the direction Henja had sent us and studied the village. There must be around one to two hundred people living here, many more than I first thought. Locals watched us curiously from their doorways and I made an effort to smile at them. Apparently we didn’t fit in that well.
    Loi noticed it too.
    'Center of attention much,' she muttered.
    'Look. We’re nearly at the Inn,' Kassie sounded relieved.
    'Girls,' Henja called out, delighted as we pushed through the front door. 'Come on in. Quick, quick, dinner will be ready soon and your baths are waiting out the back.'
    Loi’s eyebrows shot up when Henja said "out the back" what did that mean? Henja ushered them out the back of the Inn, past the tables and more staring people. Audi snuck along behind and scooted through the door before it caught her tail.
    There, in a concealed courtyard, were four iron baths lined with sheets and filled to the brim with hot, sweet smelling water. Tiny coal fires burned underneath to keep them warm. The girls grinned at each other and Loi felt some of the tension in her shoulders evaporate at the sight.
    We thanked Henja profusely and she flushed with pleasure.
    'No, not at all, Sian paid generously for your stay so I want you to enjoy it,' she paused. 'And if you could mention it at the castle when you get there…'
    'Of course we’ll give rave reviews about you, Henja, how could we not?' I gestured at the private little courtyard, it was gorgeous.
    She gave us another wide smile.
    'You can lock yourselves in, see? There is a key in this side, so no one will bother you. When you are done let me know and I will bring your