The Coastal Kingdoms of Olvion: Book Two of The Chronicles of Olvion by Larry Robbins Read Free Book Online Page B

able to shop in the city markets for goods.  Her mother had made a list of items for her to bring back.  That was all well and good, but there was also the unbelievable opportunity for Toria to spend several days in the company of The Legend.  That would be a story that she would be telling when she was old and withered.  How many people in this world would be able to tell such a story? 
    Of course there was another reason for Toria to be so excited.  She had always been intrigued by the thought of meeting Tinker, the white Mountain Child.  To see any Mountain Child was an event that occurred in the lives of very few people.  To see Tinker, however, the very creature who had helped to rout the Grey Ones and save the kingdom of Olvion was an event for which she would gladly trade three fingers.  Yes, she knew that there were no plans to seek out the wonderful animal, but who knew what the sudden reappearance of The Legend might lead to?  Maybe Tinker would seek him out so that the two could be united again.  The stories that had gotten through to her family before leaving Archer’s Gate were that the Mountain Child had stayed with the Healer Dwan for months until she decided to go to the coast where she could try to recover from the pain of her loss. 
    That thought stopped the train of imagination that was rolling through the young woman’s head.  Would she be able to talk with him about Dwan along the way?  Perhaps find out the true story there, would he try to find her, fight his way through walls of evil Grey beasts to get to her side?  She could not imagine a more romantic event.  Would he let her help find his love?  Would Toria’s name be spoken around fires in the years to come as part of the story of their reuniting?  It all seemed so wondrous to her.
    And so it was that she had gone to bed anticipating disappointment as her mother overruled her father’s plans, but, mere hours after her waking, was now standing with a pack on her shoulders and preparing to embark on what would probably be the most important journey of her life.  For a person with such an excitable personality it was almost too much for her to bear.  The morning was perfect, clear and cool while awaiting the full arrival of the sun.  Birds fussed overhead, and the night insects were getting in their last chirps before hiding from the day.
    She heard her mother speaking to her, no doubt listing the thousands of things that she should not do while she was gone.  The words were lost somewhere in her mind among her fantasies and imagined adventures.  It wasn’t until her father spoke that she snapped her attention forward.  Father was not one to ignore. 
    He hung a beautifully carved whistle about her neck.  It appeared to have been whittled from bone.  “This is to be used only when you are in danger.  I have told Tag-Gar that you will only use it when your situation is grave.”  He reached into a bag and produced a pair of fingerless gloves.  They were also beautiful, made from a soft brown leather and decorated with colorful beads.  “Your mother made these for you last night.  She had been saving the leather for some work gloves, but these will serve you well when you practice your tooth and claw.”  Toria reflexively moved her hands to the two knives she wore on her belt.  Her father had acquainted her with the weapons when she was ten summers.  Mattus, being a warrior, had made certain that all of his children were able to contribute to the defense of the family. 
    Toria slipped the gloves on while watching Mattus speak to Tag-Gar.  She was literally hopping up and down in anticipation.  Markh, watching from the side of the yard, pointed at her and laughed, making a comment into the ear of his older brother.  Toria didn’t care.  She looked to her mother’s face again.  There were tears in her eyes.  Toria’s heart melted a bit, but she was far too excited to go over to her and get her started on