The Circle of Stone (Darkest Age) by A. J. Lake Read Free Book Online Page A

generous host, and the destruction of his home. She was about to say something sharp, but Cluaran nudged her.
    ‘These children are tired,’ he announced to the travellers in general. ‘We need to stop here for the night. I thank you all for your company.’
    Their recent companions were horrified at the idea, and begged him to reconsider – especially Menobert. It was so close to the forest, and bandits could be in there. There was only another league to go to Eikstofn, the next village, one of the farm-women said, and if there was no lodging there, they could give the poor children a bed at their farm, half a league further on. But Cluaran was adamant.
    ‘Thank you for your kindness,’ he said. ‘It’s generosity to strangers that gives all of us hope, in these strange times. Maybe we will meet again on the road – but we must stay here tonight.’
    He put his hand on Elspeth’s shoulder, and she tried to look as if she was too exhausted to walk another step. The other travellers set off again, with many waves and backward glances from Menobert and the two women. Cluaran watched them out of sight, then briskly shouldered his pack again.
    ‘We passed a track into the trees, not a hundred paces back,’ he said. ‘There will be charcoal-burners, not a doubt of it; and they’ll be able to tell us more about these fires and whether they were started by bandits or lightning. Loki could still be behind either. Come on!’
    He was already striding back along the road, and Elspeth made haste to follow him.
    ‘Wait!’ Edmund called. ‘What if the fire’s still burning?’
    ‘All the more reason to help anyone we find in its path!’ Cluaran replied without turning his head.
    ‘We’ll more likely find those it’s left behind,’ Cathbar growled, but he and Edmund followed, leading Eolande between them.
    It was not yet evening, but the sky had been grey all day, and once among the trees it seemed almost twilight. These were not the conifers of Fritha’s forest home in the Snowlands: Elspeth recognised oaks, elms and lindens, although all the branches were still in bud; the old leaves reduced to mulch underfoot. The path that Cluaran had found was no more than a winding track through the trees where the leaf mould was slightly flattened. But he moved confidently, and once when he turned to check that they were all behind him, Elspeth was sure the minstrel had a look of contentment on his face, as if he were happier in these dreary surroundings. Eolande too, she saw, was showing more animation than she had done for days, not speaking but looking about her with something like interest. Cathbar was still leading her by the arm, but she walked with a firmer step now, and after a while he allowed her to follow on her own.
    Cluaran led them on and on through the featureless trunks. Elspeth thought the ever-present smell of smoke was growing stronger, but there was no haze in the air, and no sight or sound of burning. There were no sounds at all, in fact. Menobert had assured her that the forest was full of bears and wild boars, but she could not even hear birdsong.
    ‘Can you find any animals?’ she asked Edmund quietly. He had been walking for some time with the abstracted look thattold her he was casting his mind around, feeling for other living things whose eyes he might borrow.
    ‘None near us,’ he said. ‘Some further off that aren’t threatening – deer, I think. But they’re scared, Elspeth. Wherever the fire is, it’s frightened them badly.’
    ‘It’s not animals I fear.’ Cathbar had caught them up, and Elspeth saw he was holding out the long package he had bought at the market in Alebu. ‘It’s very likely there are bandits in these woods and it is no coincidence that these bands of marauders have sprung up like weeds with Loki abound once again.’ Elspeth’s heart began to thump as she guessed what was coming. ‘I know you’ve no weapon now, girl, but you’re a fair fighter – I saw you