Taylon Read Free

I say is
true. The tone cut deep into him, making him very afraid as he
followed the advice.
    “Yes...yes it is true.” The elf’s hands
slowly released him.
    For the first time today, Fret saw Kerlick
smile.

Chapter Two
     
     
    “I think the wizard’s getting stressed
lately,” Snow said as she climbed a small rise.
    Ra’na and Snowbell talked as they made their
way through the forest. They had gone to pick up some supplies for
an afternoon meal, and now headed back to Ynob’s tree. The forest
was unusually quiet for such a beautiful day. When in the company
of the others in the group, a serene walk would be out of the
ordinary. But snow sensed something was a tad peculiar.
    “Stressed? I thought he always seemed
stressed. Or annoyed,” Ra’na jokingly stated. Snow glanced at Ra’na
over her shoulder.
    “No, really. I think all this pouring over
Guilaud’s diary, or whatever, is wearing him out. I am glad Lourak
decided to leave for the week. He was really getting under Ynob’s
skin.”
    The dark elf laughed. “That’s Lourak for
you—crude, rude, and sometimes foul. But he is very handy to have
watching your back.”
    They were almost back to the tree. Snow hoped
Gantha and the wizard would not be fighting, again. She enjoyed
these moments with Ra’na, out in the woods. Life had been so
different before that human girl came along. Kara. How long
ago that seemed.
    But then, she recalled that night and Dante
and Grace. Had she almost forgotten about them?
    “Snow?”
    “What?”
    “I was saying… Are you alright?” Ra’na
paused, taking a hard look at the girl.
    “Yes…I was thinking how different life has
become ever since Kara.”
    Ra’na nodded. “Hambone still talks about her.
Must have been a special human. Pity I did not get to meet
her.”
    Snow looked at her. “You still can. It’s not
like she died or anything…” But Dante and Grace did. Sadness
filled her eyes and threatened to spill over. She looked away and
began to move.
    Ra’na seemed to sense Snow’s anguish and
placed a hand on her back. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to dredge up
the past.” Snow spun and hugged the elf tight.
    “I miss them so much. The way they made me
laugh…” Tears fell, and Ra’na squeezed tighter.
    “Grace and Dante were the best.” And the two
stayed like that, lost in their memories of dear departed
friends.
    CAW! CAW!
    The sound made them both jump. When they
realized it was a crow sitting in a nearby sapling, Snow began to
laugh. Ra’na soon followed, all tears forgotten.
    “Let’s get…” Ra’na began, before an avian
call cut off her words.
    CAW! CAW!
    Snow looked at the bird. It stared back with
beady black eyes. “What a rude little….”
    CAW! CAW!
    Ra’na looked at Snow and then back at the
animal.
    “It’s a carrier crow. But who would be….”
    CAW! CAW!
    “Alright already!” Ra’na screamed at the bird
as she approached. When she neared, the crow jumped onto her arm.
Carefully, Ra’na extracted the note from the compartment on the
bird’s leg. As soon as the message was out and the container
closed, the bird flew off.
    CAW! CAW!
    “Good riddance to you as well,” Snow said in
reply. “What’s it say?”
    Ra’na unrolled the paper and read. “It’s from
the council. They are looking for a report from Gantha. He needs to
return immediately.”
    Snow looked down at the message. “I wonder
why it was sent to you.”
    “Maybe the crow couldn’t find Gantha or
Da’Lynn.”
    “Heck, we can’t even seem to find
Da’Lynn,” Snow said, but then noticed the look that came over
Ra’na’s face. Almost similar to the one she herself had a moment
ago.
    “Come on. We better let them know.” And the
dark elf was walking again.
     
    ***
     
    “Finally, will you tell this imbecile that I
know what I am talking about?” Ynob greeted them at the door this
way, followed by Gantha who was ready to chime in to defend
himself.
    “All I am saying is