The Quest for the Trilogy: Boneslicer; Seaspray; Deathwhisper by Mel Odom Read Free Book Online Page A

glanced at the page number to memorize it just in case before putting it into his book bag. The memorization was a practice he’d made a habit of when he’d first gone to the Great Library as a Novice. Then he slid out of the booth, straightened the lines of his Librarian’s robe—now gray with dark blue fringe, changed from white to denote his promotion—grabbed the straps of his book bag, and headed for the main room.
    The room was packed with sailors and cargo handlers. Lanterns filled with glimmerworm juice glowed softly blue in sconces. Several others hung from ships’ wheels suspended from the ceiling. A number of patrons gathered around the fireplace at the other end of the room. Humans and dwarves sometimes mixed, but the five elven warders in from the forest to trade for goods they couldn’t get on their own in the wild sat by themselves.
    â€œâ€”’Twas Oskarr what betrayed the alliance at Painted Canyon,” a human at one of the tables declared. He was easily six and a half feet tall, almost a giant. His shaggy blond hair trailed down to his shoulders and matched the full beard he sported.
    â€œNo!” Hallekk bellowed, standing at the bar with his fellow pirates from One-Eyed Peggie . He was tall for a dwarf, and an axe handle would be challenged to span his shoulders. His dark brown beard was braided with yellowed bone carved into fish shapes. A bright kerchief bound his head and gold hoops danced in his ears. He wore a seaman’s breeches and shirt, and held his great battle-axe casually at his side.
    In Wick’s opinion, One-Eyed Peggie ’s first mate didn’t look like a dwarf anyone would want to rile. Unless, of course , he amended, you’re a human giant and you’ve had too much to drink . Wick could see at once that the situation could easily get out of control.
    â€œNow I’ve kept a civil tongue in me head while ye’ve been blatherin’ on about what happened back then,” Hallekk roared loud enough to earn the attention of everyone in the tavern, “but I’ll not have ye besmirchin’ the name of Oskarr.”
    â€œDon’t let him talk to you like that, Verdin,” one of the other human sailors piped up. “Stupid dwarf is thick everywhere else, ye know he’s gotta be thick in the head, too.”
    Hallekk bristled at the insult.
    Verdin’s eyes narrowed as he strived to look even more fierce and threatening.
    â€œYe better not be a-glowerin’ at me,” Hallekk growled in warning. “I don’t take kindly to such intimidation.”

    â€œGo on, Hallekk!” a shrill voice called out. “Poke him in the eyes! Tweak his nose! Pull his hair! Thump him till he rings like a drum!”
    The voice drew everyone’s attention to the rafters above the counter, for the moment silencing the verbal sparring between Verdin and Hallekk. A rhowdor stood on the rafter, dressed in bright plumage that began with an explosion of red on its chest and wings with a few scattered patches of yellow. The ends of the wings and the tail feathers turned green that was so dark it looked blue and black. The bird flailed his wings, shadowboxing unsteadily on the rafter and breathing in short gusts through its curved beak.
    Little more than a foot tall with twin pink horns jutting from above its hatchet face, the avian peered down with its one good emerald eye. A black leather patch that bore a skull and crossbones made of studs covered the other eye. A golden hoop earring dangled from one ear tuft.
    The rhowdor was intelligent, capable of speaking the common language as well as any others it learned. There were few of the creatures in the world these days. This one was named Critter and crewed aboard One-Eyed Peggie .
    â€œWhat are ye a-lookin’ at, ye daft idiot?” Critter called out, taking a break from matching skills with its imaginary opponent. “Ain’t ye ever seen a talkin’