The Swans' War 1 - The One Kingdom by Sean Russell Read Free Book Online Page B

sudden cares.” Gather up your belongings," he said, pushing a pile of clothing toward Fynnol with his foot.” The others will want to hear your story.""Perhaps we will do as you suggest," Tam said, "and search downriver. As you say, our boat might have run up on a gravel bar. Stranger things have happened.""Take my bow," the Fael said.” Who knows what might still be lurking in the forest."

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    FIVE HOURS OF FIGHTING THROUGH THICK UNDERWOOD CONINCED them their boat was gone. Just a league away lay the Five Gorges, and without steady hands to guide the boat, the rocks would have it. Their precious cargo, the fruits of all their labor, would go to the bottom, never to be seen again by men.
    "I still don't know how Alaan managed to get from the ruin to the bridge without us plunging over a cliff," Fynnol said. It wasn't the first time he'd returned to this topic.
    "It was dark and we were all frightened and half asleep," Baore said.” We must have come closer to the road than we realized."Fynnol shook his head.” No, we went out the east window, toward the river. We couldn't have been that turned around." He looked to Tam for support.
    "You're right, Fynnol. We escaped out the east window, but we must have gotten confused in the dark. Either that or there is a path down the cliffs that we've never found, and a surprisingly gently sloped one at that." The walk back to the bridge was completed in silence, and it was near to evening when the Valemen made their way into the camp of the Fael. The wanderers looked up as the outsiders appeared, and then whispered among themselves.” Perhaps we shouldn't stay here this night," Fynnol said, and Baore nodded his agreement.” Let's find Tuan and talk to him a moment," Tam said.” If we don't sleep here, we're left with the open woods or the ruin. Neither appeals." Memories came back to Tam of the family of black wanderers who'd spent the winter in his grandfather's hayloft. He remembered going out there of an evening, clutching his grandfather's hand, curious and frightened, as though they were visiting a family of bears. The Fael seemed to have burrowed a home out of the golden hay, sleeping in the loft and living on the wooden floor beneath the massive old beams. Someone called his name, and there, among the hostile faces, Tam saw one smiling and familiar: Aliel. He felt oddly embarrassed, uncertain if she would greet him as a friend or treat him as the Fael treated outsiders.” Look!" Aliel said to no one in particular.” See what happens when Vale children escape being eaten by the Fael. They become giants!" She waved a hand at Baore. Aliel embraced Tam and left a soft kiss on his cheek,