The Guardians: Book One of the Restoration Series by Christopher Williams Read Free Book Online

water, where she finally stopped. Flare let loose of the sword, and he pulled himself to his knees. He kneeled there trying to catch his breath. He unwound the reins from his left arm, and slowly massaged his hand trying to get the blood to circulate. Finally, he stood up and kissed his mare on the forehead, immediately becoming concerned with the poor horse. She was standing there with her legs spread open, head down, gasping for breath. He had never heard of a horse dying from fear, but he began to think his horse might be the first.
    “It’s okay, baby,” he said, stroking her neck. He was also breathing hard, but from the excitement, not the exertion. He continued slowly talking to her, until she started breathing normally. Then, and only then did he wrap the reins around a tree, and tend to his leg. It was bleeding, but not gushing. The gash had missed the arteries, and the blood was only trickling down his leg. After bandaging the wound, he walked back down to the shore.
    Looking out over the water, he could see the tip of the creature’s head as it swam back into the lake. He had believed that most of the rumors about the eternal forest were told to scare children, but he promised that he would pay more heed to the stories in the future.
    Flare looked back toward the right, toward where Lenturin had been standing. He was still standing on the shore, with his hands on his hips, looking across the river. When he saw Flare looking at him, he cupped his hands to his lips, and shouted, “You’re ...........uckiest son of .........itch. I ha.....ver.....een.”
    In return, Flare hollered back across the water, “Come on across, the water is wonderful.” After a short pause, he continued. “I beat you! You failed. Tell Yolstice good-bye for me.” He was grinning ear to ear, and felt like he was unbeatable at that moment. Lenturin was too far away for Flare to make out facial features, but Flare hoped that he was furious.
    “You don’t actually believe that you beat us. Do you?” Lenturin replied, louder than before.
    “By the time you warn the elven guard, I will have at least a four day head start. I doubt seriously they can catch me.”
    “Don’t worry Flaranthlas. I can guarantee you a six day head start.”
    The response confused him. He had expected Lenturin to curse or threaten, but not agree with him. Flare was still frowning as he asked, “What are you talking about? Six days? Are you trying to help me get awa...?” He couldn’t even finish the sentence, before a frightening thought occurred to him. Perhaps, his uncle wanted him gone. There was a note of panic in Flare’s voice as he said,” Lenturin, are you trying to help me get away?”
    “Very good, Flare . Prince Yolstice had guessed your plan ever since the meeting with King Feilolas. I was supposed to make sure you escaped.”
    “Why? Why send you with me? Why did you follow me to Tranquility Lake ? If you wanted me to escape, then you shouldn’t have pressured me.”
    “I was sent to make sure you left, one way or the other.”
    Flare didn’t like the sound of that last comment. His elation at escaping the forest was quickly turning to dismay at being manipulated so easily. “Are you saying that you would have killed me?”
    “I am not saying anything like that. But, a human bastard hanging around the elven court is an insult to all elves. Now, enough talk. You had better get moving. It is already afternoon, and you have to find a place to make camp.” Lenturin turned and started to walk away, when he stopped and turned back. “If I were you, I wouldn’t try to come back.” With that, Lenturin mounted his horse and rode away.
    Flare was crushed. He had believed that he was in charge of the whole situation. In reality, he had been manipulated from the very beginning. It was a strange feeling to know that somebody else had that much control over him.
    He slowly walked up the river bank feeling dejected. For the first time, since