The Calling (Book 7 of The Blood & Brotherhood Saga) (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) by Jeremy Laszlo Read Free Book Online

what they might encounter on the road these days. In the last months he had seen the impossible—blood drinking monsters, flying men, and mutated warriors to name just a few. He wasn’t about to take any chances with Garret’s life. More likely than not, there were some who might use this time of weakness and confusion to try and assassinate the king. Not on Zorbin’s watch though.
    Snatching up his helm and saddlebags, Zorbin exited his room within the knights’ barracks and stalked down the hall with Xanth on his heels. Reaching the common room he pressed the immense door open, allowing Xanth to exit before him, before stepping out into the morning himself.
    From across the courtyard a booming voice called out to him and immediately he recognized the king. Turning towards the source of the sound, Zorbin watched as Garret thundered across the cobblestones at breakneck speed atop one of the realms royal stallions. Taking the hint, Zorbin slung the bags he carried across Xanth’s armored back and leapt onto the giant wolf in a single movement. Leaning low and holding on tight, he didn’t even give a command before Xanth was off. Tearing across the stones after the king, Zorbin Ironfist grinned through his beard. It was going to make for an interesting journey. Of that much he was certain.
    Winding around one corner and the next, Xanth nimbly guided them around bystanders in the street, sometimes scratching and clawing to change direction at the last moment. Though there were some whom they startled along the way, he dared not let the king out of his sight ahead. Finally reaching the main avenue that would lead them all the way to the southern gate, Zorbin let loose his reins and let Xanth run free. Loping with unimaginably long strides, the giant wolf carried them down the gentle slope towards the outer city wall like a bird borne upon the wind. With Zorbin’s braided hair and beard flapping behind him, they gained on the king’s steed until at last gaining his side.
    “Do we hurry, my king?” Zorbin shouted.
    “Only if you find this too fast, my stout friend!”
    Onward they raced upon mounts with pounding hooves and paws. Reaching the gate they didn’t bother to slow, as pedestrians leapt aside to permit them. It wasn’t until they were more than a hundred yards clear of the city when Garret reined in his mount, as Zorbin followed suit. It was good, this carefree and joyous behavior by the king. Perhaps he had finally made peace with all that had befallen him.
    With his thoughts cut short, the sounds of pursuit lent themselves to the air and Zorbin looked back over his shoulder to see another royal stallion thundering from the city to intercept them. From atop the beast, white robes whipped and snapped in the air and Zorbin turned to face the king once more with one bushy eyebrow raised.
    “It is Ashton, the healer I traveled to the Choosing with,” the king explained.
    “Tis a wise decision to bring a healer in these perilous times,” stated Zorbin.
    “True, his skills may come in handy, but I’ve brought him as a friend, rather than ally.”
    Either way didn’t matter to a mind such as Zorbin’s. With talk of women giving birth to beasts and demons, who knew what evil and witchery they might come to face? Even with the king’s and his own blessing, they were still susceptible to injury. Druids were peculiar people as it was. What kind of sane person danced around in the woods naked singing songs to the moon and feeding wild animals?
    Shaking his head as the healer approached at a reduced pace, Zorbin turned his attention back to his friend.
    “What of us, then? Do we go with all haste, and ride straight through, or stop along the way to see what tales we might hear?”
    “We’ll ride through. Once we’ve seen for ourselves whether or not the rumors are true, then we can return at a more leisurely pace. Zorbin Ironfist, I’d like for you to meet Ashton Rayne,” Garret introduced.
    With