Valour and Victory by Candy Rae Read Free Book Online Page A

desertion and the life of everylarg in the pack was
forfeit, young and old.
    “There is no
way we can do anything to stop the kohorts,” Zaoaldavdr announced.
“He has called to his side every warrior in Larg. He believes
victory is certain.”
    “But we cannot
just hide,” protested Anavdr. There were growls of agreement.
    Zaoaldavdr
nodded. “We are Avuzdel, sworn to protect and so we shall. There is
a Kranj of human and Lind who will travel into the desert nadlian
to seek out that what must be found. The Susalai has spoken to me.
Only with this thing can the Dglai be destroyed. Without our help
they have little chance. Are you with me?”
    “I am,” barked
Anavdr and the others.
    Zaoaldavdr
nodded again as he settled his considerable bulk down on the rocky
floor of the cave where their conference was being held.
    He stretched
out his legs and extended the talons on his front paws,
contemplating them as his brain worked out the details of what his
kohort could do to help. His talons retracted with a snap and the
hairy brown heads around him looked up.
    “We leave for
the dry nadlians with the sun,” he announced.
     
     
    * * * * *
     
     
    Danal and
Tala
     
    The group
Zaoaldavdr was talking about had reached the edges of the
desert.
    The initial
part of their journey through the Duchy of Graham had been
uneventful. Philip’s cousin had provided an escort and plentiful
provisions (once he had got over the shock of four Lind arriving
unannounced on his doorstep).
    They had
decided it would be best to make for the eastern tip of the Duchy
then travel due south from there. It was a barren area, scrubland,
with few water holes.
    Their escort
took them a day’s ride into the desert and to the Duke of Graham’s
hidden supply dump where dry provisions and water were kept. The
northerly dukes were canny rulers and as Philip Ross informed them,
they did travel into the desert on occasion.
    Inalei had been
in the desert before. The Avuzdel had sent him on a task. He told
them about the scrubby desert bushes whose prickly leaves retained
moisture and which could be sucked if a traveller’s water ran
out.
    “We have to
cross over the route the Larg will take as fast as we can,” said
Danal as he helped the others cover over the supply dump with waxed
sackcloth and sand. “We must not be spotted, which is why we’ll be
travelling at night and no cook fires. Trail rations only. The Larg
have keen eyesight and they can spot a plume of smoke for miles.
They’d run like the very devil to catch us. Any waste must be
buried, covered with dry sand and the top sprinkled with the
crystals we’ve been supplied with.”
    “Why?” asked
Tala.
    “The Larg smell
real good,” he answered, “the crystals are odourless in themselves
but they absorb the smell of any organic waste. If the Larg pick up
on our scent they’ll hunt us until they drop.”
    The Ross
retainers wished the eight good luck before departing homewards. It
was obvious that they believed the eight more than a little mad,
travelling into the desert in the middle of the southern summer,
especially with a Larg army on the move.
    “Point taken,”
said Tala, a knot of nervous apprehension appearing as if by magic
in the pit of her stomach, no it wasn’t apprehension. Admit it
my girl. You’re just plain terrified.
    “Time to be
off,” said Danal. “Mount up everyone.”
    Danal and Asya
led the way, Tala and Inalei by their side and were followed by
Philip and Jilsei with Derek and Denei into the dusty desert.
     
     
    * * * * *
     
     
    Hilla and
Rilla
     
    Once Rilla and
her Lind Zawlei had arrived at the woods above Settlement with the
other Vada Cadets she decided that she must see if she could
find Hilla. They hadn’t seen each other for over a year.
    “You seem to be
making a habit of this,” Jilmis contented himself by saying when
she appeared with her request.
    “Weaponsmaster?”
    “Visiting
sisters,” he replied with a chuckle. “There was