The Exodus Sagas: Book IV - Of Moons and Myth by Jason R Jones Read Free Book Online Page A

table.
    “Hah! What a family I have then, eh elf?”
    “Indeed.” Shinayne smiled.
    “Ye’ know he wanted to kiss her, right?” Zen looked to the elven beauty beside him.
    “ Yes, I have known for some time actually. I am over twice your age , remember? An elf does not need eyes to see such things, my bearded friend.” Shinayne patted Zen on the shoulder.
    “Now yer’ just tryin’ to be all competitive.”
    “No, but I knew back before Deadman’s Pass, I felt it.”
    “Aye?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well I knew before that, in uhhh…in Bailey with the dragons.” Zen bluffed.
    “No you didn’t, it wasn’t there yet.” Shinayne smiled.
    “No?”
    “No.”
    “You elves is too connected to all that love stuff , how is a dwarf s’posed to compete with all that then?” Zen went back to his meal.
    “You cannot. See you at the north bridge?” Shinayne smiled and got up to leave the table.
    “Aye, need a few moments. Keep the others quiet, for me and all.”
    “Of course, what is family for ?”
    “Vundren bless ye’ Shinayne, may he bless all of us , especially now .”
    “And Siril bless you, my devout priest. See you there .” Shinayne bowed to the knights, the minstrels, and headed out the doors.
    “A song before our travels, Lord Thalanaxe?” Tubrey o’ Tarnobb piped up over the ever quieting room.
    “Sure little man, go ahead then. Know any dwarven songs?” Zen smiled as he ate, receiving puzzled looks from the little band gathered around the room. The y all looked to each other, shrugging, trying to think of any ballads from the men of the mountains they had heard. They hung their little heads, realizing they knew none.
    “Tell ya’ what then, I’ll sing one out, ye’ and yours put the music to it. Ready?”
    “ Yay! ”

Kendari IV:I
    Central Plains, Shanador
    The sun stroked down, hour after hour, unrelenting on his black clothing, atop a stolen black steed, in layers of chain and leather armor , black as pitch . The breeze, if there was one in the barren plains of grass and brush, did not assist in the slightest. Only the strong gallop of the stallion , reaching top speed and gracing under the occasional grove of trees, gave any relief to the cursed Nadderi elf. His white pale skin burned in the harvest sun, his bl ack swirls and hair soaked in the heat , only the young deer that ran alongside seemed content with the journey.
    Kendari had passed through the Gimmori Mountains in Kivanis, taken a horse in the night from a small stables, saddle and all. He left a handful of platinum and gold in a p o uch where the saddle was hung, as he was no petty thief. The deer would not leave his sight, never more than a few hundred feet ahead or behin d, its small horns bounding up from the tall grasses as it ran along. The cities of Pellan and Fort Shad yre had passed by, far to his north. Yesterday, Acelinne was to his south. He kept his westward charge through the lonely plains, stopping only for water, rest, and the avoidance of sporadic packs of nomadic hunting lewirja and suspicious centaur tribes . The elven swordmaster would buy his food from traveling merchants on the central Shanador tradeways, at night, in the cover of hood and shadow only.
    Passing the lonely bridge of stone and oak in early evening, Kendari of Stillwood slowed his pace. The Garalan River was rushing south toward the Misathi, tents dotted the landscape of small hills and sparse fir trees, and he felt the need to rest himself and the horse. For the deer, he could not have cared less.
    “So, you are indeed reincarnated from the bowels of Seirena, we have attained that much.” He looked to the deer that waited a few feet away.
    The deer nodded, growled, then looked to the river. Its brown fur and small white tail seemed to tremble when Kendari spoke to him.
    “Laedury, the river elf of the Hedim Anah I killed back over three centuries ago? Is that you then? ” Kendari tied the reins to a browning fir branch and walked