The Sage Seed Chronicles: The Unraveling by Holly Barbo Read Free Book Online Page A

it?”, said Nuit in her head.
    “It was the ‘seeker’. He has lost the trail.
My guess is that he has been searching for the last few hours and
was hoping that the light from the second moon rise would show what
the sunset didn’t. But the trail is gone. His rage and frustration
was very loud, even at a distance. The next day or so could be
dangerous for Ree if he should run into her.”
    “I’ll pass the word back through my family.
Meanwhile you need rest. We are watching.” Nuit silently flew off
and Erin fell into a deep sleep. At first she was troubled by
dreams of a shady figure stomping and ranting in a moonlit forest
clearing but those faded and her sleep became restful. Across the
fire Lor lay on his bedroll, seemingly asleep but he had been
watching the mysterious lad twitch in his sleep. When Terran’s
sleep quieted he relaxed his vigil and took his own rest.

Chapter 5

The Guild Train
    Dawn came with the stirring from each wagon
up and down the the caravan train. Erin woke to find that Tempo had
snuggled up to her back sometime in the night. His body warm
against hers. Lor was sitting up and stretching in his bedroll.
Erin had been thinking some and decided that there were some subtle
things she needed to adjust in her disguise. She rolled up her
bedroll and put it back on her pack then left to take care of the
call of nature. While she was in the bushes she took her
handkerchief out of her pocket and tied it around her forehead. It
might keep some of the sweat out of her eyes and would draw
attention to her scruffy haircut. Next she carefully removed the
bracelet from her wrist and with the help of Tempo, who had
followed her, retied it under her bicep and above her elbow. It
looked more like where a cocky lad would wear it and was less
likely to be noticed under the shirt.
    Returning to camp Erin approached Lor. “Can I
continue to help with your horses and travel with you, at least
until I find my Uncle Cron?”
    Lor gave the lad a steady look. “Yes, feed
the horses and I’ll fix us a light meal to start the day. Then put
on their leads, water and harness them. I will put your packs in
the back of the wagon. We need to make up time and get closer to
the front of the caravan. Be off with you lad. Maybe you can ride
in the wagon, for a spell, with me today.”
    Soon they were back on the road. Erin walked
beside the horses for a while. When the sun came up fully from
behind the hills. Tempo came out of the trees and stamped on the
ground as if asking to be picked up. She swept up the little
creature and set him on her shoulder where he soon fell asleep. The
horses didn’t seem to mind the proximity of the skunk and were
pulling well. Erin approached Lor’s side to see if there were
further instructions. Lor patted the seat beside him. Erin put one
hand on Tempo to hold him steady on her shoulder and the other on
the wagon side rail. Timing it just right she placed her foot on
the metal step and swung into the wagon seat. Lor grinned, “Nicely
done. You handled that well and Tempo hardly opened an eyelid.”
Erin smiled. Tempo had dug is claws into her shirt, briefly,
startled with the movement Erin had made but was already back to
sleep.
    “Skunks are nocturnal and he has had to
adjust his sleep schedule being my pet.” They traveled a bit in
silence then Erin said, “Tell me about the Minor Guild. My father
was a weaver and I have never met a miner.” adding with a grin,
“Anything you tell me will be new.”
    Lor laughed, “I’ll respect your trust and not
tell you any tall tales about ferocious legless reptiles that live
in the mines and eat unwary miners. Okay?” Lor winked at the lad
beside him, then continued. “The mining guild deals with precious
metals like gold, silver and rhenon, and other useful metals such
as, copper and aluminum. There are those miners who specialize in
locating, refining and working with metals. There is also the part
of our guild that finds the gem stones