Awakening (Telindell Book 1) Read Free

will die in agony, all alone.  Not so different than the night you were left--” 
    “That’s enough,” shouted Eva, interrupting Alrad’s hateful words.  “You will put the boy down, and no harm will come to him.”
    Alrad turned his glare toward Eva. “And what are you going to do about it, you old wench?” he asked through gritted teeth. “You had best mind your words.  No meat left on them old bones, but I’m sure something in the forest would like to gnaw on them!”
    Miss Eva snarled towards Alrad.  She clenched her staff and raised it.  The slight breeze instantly turned to a gust as Eva slammed her staff to the ground.  “I said enough!”  Eva commanded.
    Alrad’s eyes widened a bit.  He wasn’t sure what he had just seen, but there was no denying the unshakeable sensation of terror coursing through his heart.  Alrad lowered Lian to the ground and released him. 
    Alrad looked down to Lian. “Off with you both before I kill you here for the whole village to see,” he said as he began walking back towards the healer’s hut.
    Lian glared toward Alrad. “Bastard…” he mumbled as he turned and ran back to Eva, who smiled kindly at him. 
    “Now come, Lian,” she said.  “I got a special treat for you today.”
    Lian grasped her hand, returning the smile.  Rare feelings of excitement and joy began creeping into his heart.  “A special treat just for me?  I wonder what it is…” thought Lian.
    The pair came upon Eva’s modest home, a building crafted of crude stone bricks ages ago.  There were cracks in the mortar large enough to see inside her house, but fortunately, green vines and moss covered most of them.  The straw roof looked as if it hadn’t been tended to for over a decade but was still serving its purpose well enough.  Eva pulled an old rusty key from her robe and unlocked the large wooden door.  Lian followed her inside, feeling the cold wooden planks beneath his bare feet.
    Eva approached her old rickety table. “Now, you come right over here and eat this sweet loaf… It isn’t exactly a birthday cake, but I think you will enjoy it all the same.”
    Lian rushed over to the table and grabbed the loaf.  It was nothing more than an old lump of bread covered in an icing concocted of flour, milk and sugar.  He quickly took a bite, getting choked slightly.  Finally, Lian got the bite of food into his belly.  It had been empty for going on two days now. 
    Lian looked up to Eva and smiled. “Thank you so much.  I was so hungry!” said Lian with joy.
    Eva smiled back at the boy. “You are always welcome here child, you know that!” 
    Lian grinned from ear to ear.  “This is the best special treat ever!” said Lian enthusiastically. 
    Eva chuckled slightly. “No, no, this isn’t your special treat, that comes later.  Now, you finish eating. I’m going to start warming your bath.”
    Lian smiled, nodded, and continued eating.  Eva walked into the next room and lit a small fire under a black metal caldron hanging above it.  She had drawn the water for Lian earlier that morning, planning this all along.  Lian finished his sweet loaf and walked into the room with Eva. 
    Eva looked at the approaching boy.  “Sit Lian, the water will need a few more moments before it’s warm enough.”  Eva sat on an old worn stool.  Lian sat at her feet, listening as the small fire crackled under the caldron.  “You have had a dreadfully exciting birthday so far haven’t you?” Eva said softly.
    Lian looked at her sadly, the thoughts of everything he had heard about his mother plaguing his mind.  “Is it true…?  Miss Eva?”
    Eva studied the boy’s sorrowful expression for a moment. “What are you talking about, Lian?” 
    Lian looked at the floor. “My mother… is it true?  That she just abandoned me here and left and the wolves ate her… everything except her face ‘cause she was that ugly?”
    Miss Eva looked at the young boy, sensing the sorrow in