The Glass Prison by Monte Cook Read Free Book Online

was nothing to underestimate, and he already doubted his own power and skill. The sky, empty of its rain, grew dim as the day drew to a close.
    His driven pace took him away from the ruins without so much as a look back, which is why he never saw the enigmatic smiles on the faces of Gyrison and Arach turn more sinister. Nor did he notice that the Taint had formed a wide-mouthed face on the back on his hand, a face that bore the same wicked smile.

Chapter Three
    Melann felt much better, having spent some time around those whose faith was so strong and whose devotion was so great. The Abbey of the Golden Sheaf was filled with wonderful growing things and those who truly cared for them. Its stone walls surrounded many plots of ground dedicated to various cultivated fields, gardens and orchards, all larger and more important than the abbey structure itself. She’d never seen such beautiful flowers or such vibrant gardens of vegetables, fruit, and all sorts of wondrous plants. The soil was black with richness and well tended. Even the smell of the abbey gladdened her heart and gave her peace. Despite the importance of the task at hand, she was loathe to leave the abbey and did so only at her brother’s repeated urgings.
    Her problem, Melann decided while happily joining in the toil of weeding and watering an expansive and robust patch of strawberries, was that she’d been too focused on their quest. While finding the key to ending her family curse and saving her parents was obviously very important, her meager, mortal concerns were nothing compared to the divine nature and endless toil of Chauntea. Melann now believed she had to focus on the teachings and responsibilitiesof the Mother of All and the duties that fell on her as a servant and representative of that power in the world of men. From now on, she wouldn’t let a day go by without nurturing a growing plant. She needed to become her goddess’s tool in the world, to help bring forth fruit and abundant life.
    Melann had to admit, however, that accomplishing that goal, being true to her beliefs, and being the sort of servant she felt Chauntea wanted her to be might be more of a challenge than she was prepared to face alone. In the abbey, surrounded by the other Watchful Brothers and Sisters of the Earth, staying faithful was simple—she was eager and happy to do nothing but think of Chauntea, and little of herself—but out here on the road, she found herself thinking more and more of her failing parents and the urgent need she felt to accomplish her personal goals.
    She couldn’t speak of this problem to Whitlock. Melann loved her brother, but she knew he wouldn’t understand.
    “It’s good to be back on the road,” he said.
    “You didn’t care for the time we spent in the Abbey of the Golden Sheaf, did you?” Melann asked.
    Whitlock didn’t answer. He hadn’t cared for the Elven Woods at all.
    Traveling westward on a road known as the Moonsea Ride, they kept their backs to the sun throughout the morning. It would probably take them four days to reach Tilver’s Gap, and five more to Tilverton. The well-traveled road brought a few other wayfarers past them: merchants with wagons of goods and produce, messengers on swift horses, simple travelers alone or in pairs—even an adventuring company or two. Whitlock, of course, examined each of the people they encountered suspiciously.He warned her about bandits who posed as travelers to mislead the unwary—but Whitlock was never unwary. Melann, however, couldn’t help but think he eyed the approaching adventuring companies with a bit of envy. She knew Whitlock wanted to believe their exciting, adventurous life had been
his
destiny too.
    The brothers and sisters at the abbey had been unable to provide any real information regarding their goal other than further news of gathering monstrous humanoids in the direction they rode. Whitlock didn’t hide his displeasure over heading directly into such obvious