Van Laven Chronicles by Tyler Chase Read Free Book Online Page B

emerging from the brush, he grabbed Vaush’s arm. Was Larrs finally making his play? The two figures staggered out into the clearing wearing tattered, blood-stained clothing.
    Comron glanced at Vaush. “It appears we’re not the only survivors.” Now there would be witnesses to the collaboration between Van Laven and Bastionli.
    “So it would seem,” Vaush replied.
    When she started to rise, Comron seized her arm. “Don’t mention our names, they may not realize who we are.”
    Vaush nodded her understanding and rose to greet them. “Hello, are you injured? We have medical supplies.”
    Comron recognized the middle-aged Ballarian merchant. The heavy-set man’s dark hair was plastered to his brow, his dull gray eyes were haunted and his face smeared with grime. The woman with him still wore her lavender attendant’s uniform, though the left sleeve had been torn away. Her flaxen hair was a horrendous mess upon her head, most of it having escaped the clip that normally held it secure. She wore only one shoe, the heal had broken off. Her expression was equally lost and shattered, though there was some life in her eyes at catching sight of them. Would the two new comers recognize them as well? This could be trouble.
    “Oh, thank Zelo,” said the Ballarian as he let Vaush examine the gash on his forehead. “We were afraid we were the only ones who survived. We ran across a few bodies on the way here.” He shook his head. “It was horrible, just horrible.”
    After saturating a strip of cloth with water from her canister, Vaush glanced at Comron. “I need to clean the wounds. I could use more water, please.”
    Comron hesitated; it was one thing for him to repay his debt to a Ti-Larosian when there was no one to witness the act, but to continue working with her now was a different matter entirely.
    Vaush cast him a scathing look. “Never mind.” She rose and headed off to retrieve it herself.
    Comron sighed heavily and went after her. “I’ll do it,” he said, taking her canister as he moved past Vaush. Given time, perhaps there would be another way to deal with this inconvenience without incurring her wrath. Why should I care what this Ti-Larosian thinks of me?
    “I-I can help,” said the female attendant, hurrying to catch up with Comron. She peered up at him, looking a little less rattled and eager to be of assistance.
    As they made their way back to the creek, Comron considered the implications of the new development. The fact that he and Vaush weren’t the only survivors gave more credence to theory that Larrs Bastionli wasn’t behind this whole mess. Was it all just exceedingly bad luck?
    “I’m Halyn,” said the attendant as she knelt next to Comron, filling her canister.
    Comron glanced at her. Though he mostly saw fear in those clear blue eyes, there was also something else. “Yes, I remember you from the transport. You refreshed my drink.”
    She smiled sheepishly and there was the look – the look most women gave him – the one Vaush had not.
    “I’m glad you made it,” she said brushing a few strands of hair from her eyes and returned her attention to the canister.
    Comron glanced back into the brush and considered how simple it would be to rid himself of one of his problems.
    “What is your name?” she asked, screwing the lid back on the water container.
    Damn it . “Rhence,” he replied, giving his younger brother’s name.
    “Rhence,” she repeated and extended her hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
    He accepted her hand and cocked a brow. “Not the best of circumstances.”
    The sober look returned to her eyes. “I know…I wish I could have done more to help the others. It all happened so fast.” She shook her head and gave him a look of utter helplessness. “They trained us, but I wasn’t prepared to deal with anything like this,” she fretted.
    Thank goodness you weren’t the one who happened upon me, he thought. Only then did it occur to him how greatly Vaush differed