Shadow Tree Read Free Page A

– as long
as he left behind the Jasber ash.
    â€œAnd you’re just going to plod on by yourself – totally blind?” asked Kiril. “No, no, no, that won’t do – and we both know it.”
    For a moment, Kiril grew silent. However, Bilblox’s hearing was excellent and he could discern the sound of Kiril returning the knife to its scabbard, and then fidgeting with his belt, unfastening a hook on a pouch or a pocket, grabbing something with his fingers, rubbing his hands together and sighing deeply. This whole episode lasted no more than five or ten seconds. It was a ritual of sorts, one that Kiril had performed once before while they were out on the Sea of Clouds.
    â€œFeel better?’ asked Bilblox.
    â€œMuch better,” said Kiril, though his voice revealed just the slightest hint of surprise – as if he hadn’t thought Bilblox had any idea what he was up to. But Bilblox knew. He had guessed correctly that Kiril was using the legendary green ash from the Founding Tree of Jasber.
    â€œI’m not going with you,” Bilblox declared sullenly.
    In three or four steps, Kiril was at Bilblox’s side. The Jasberian dagger rested on Bilblox’s neck.
    â€œJust going to let me walk away then?” asked Kiril jauntily. “Strange. I never saw you as the sort of chap to give up and die alone in the wild – blind and bitter – but then again you aren’t the same man you once were.”
    â€œYou never knew me,” growled Bilblox.
    Kiril felt a sudden urge to slide the blade across Bilblox’s throat and be done with it. After all, it made no sense to keep Bilblox around. It was like keeping a wild tiger chained to a tree in your backyard – sooner or later the tiger will attack.
    Kiril pressed the point of the dagger at an area of Bilblox’s cheek just below the ear, and paused. He stared at Bilblox’s hands. They were trembling, and what’s more, thick beads of sweat had begun to form on his neck. This wasn’t fear of the blade. It was something much more powerful. Suddenly he realized the man was in the awful pain of withdrawal. His body was craving the Ash. Seeing this gave Kiril pause. Perhaps Bilblox could be broken. This thought appealed to Kiril for a number of reasons. Kiril slid the dagger back into its holder and began unloading the rowboat. Within minutes, he had built a small fire on the beach and had begun to make tea.
    Just as the tea kettle had begun to whistle and Kiril searched for some wild mint, he saw something that caught his attention. It was
a gray bird with three dark green feathers on its tail. Kiril did not recognize the breed. It wasn’t ideal, a bit too small – an eagle would have been ideal – but this one would do. Kiril crept up to the bird from behind and in a blur of motion, grabbed it by clasping its wings together.
    â€œEasy now my little friend,” whispered Kiril. The bird was struggling mightily, using all of its strength to thrash about and peck at Kiril, but it could not escape his grip. Kiril used his other hand to reach into his coat pocket and pull out the silver ring with the false ruby. This time, he pressed directly on the ruby without squeezing the sides. The ring sprang open into two semi-circles. Kiril snapped the ring around the bird’s foot. Still holding the bird securely, he took a small black handkerchief from his jacket pocket and placed it upon the bird’s head. Instantly, the bird, which had been struggling, became calm and focused.
    Kiril drew close and whispered, “To Dargora.” His warm breath caused tiny water droplets to appear on the handkerchief. The bird trembled, but remained calm. Kiril opened his arm
and removed the handkerchief. For a few seconds, the bird sat quietly on Kiril’s open palm. When Kiril began lowering his arm, the bird flew up in a steep climb. Within a minute, it had disappeared from sight.
    Kiril returned