The Mage of Orlon: The beginning Read Free Page A

inject me with venom. I will not be killed so easily! ” She cried nearly in hysterics.
    The arrow released, at the same time Nathan flinched. The arrow hit the ground with a solid thump, and Nathan ’ s shirt was sliced and a small scratch welled up with blood.
    “ It ’ s red. ” Lela stated in near shock.
    The shock of being kicked in the face and then grazed by the arrow left Nathan petrified with fear, until the dull throbbing in the cut began. Terrified of what she might do next Nathan began to back pedal until his back slammed into a tree.
    “ You shot me with your bow! ” The sound of fear laced his voice.
    Lela began to approach Nathan slowly, a thousand words on her tongue, but not one was strong enough to apologize for the injury she just inflicted. The questions had unnerved her, this whole situation had unnerved her. First finding Nathan, then the near miss with the splintered, and the questions he had been asking, all of it had her shaken. She tried to get closer to Nathan, but he was on his feet hiding behind the broken tree he had scooted into.
    Nathan kept the tree between the two of them, for protection, he thought they were getting closer, but she had actually shot him, and without a second thought.
    “ I am sorry I grazed you with the arrow, but you scared me with all the questions Nathan. ” She explained.
    “ I didn ’ t think you would do it. ” He whispered from behind the tree. It had never occurred to Nathan that he could die, really die in this forest and never be heard from again, until Lela had grazed him with the arrow.
    “ Nathan. ” She couldn ’ t think of anything to say that could make this situation better. Finally the frustration blocked out everything, what she said next wasn ’ t meant to soothe or comfort.
    “ If you do not come out from behind that tree I swear the next arrow will be in your chest, and I will leave your body in this forest for the scavengers! ” The biting snap of her voice made Lela flinch, and she had been the one to say it! What was wrong with her? She was normally in better control of her emotions. It had to be something with this boy, he must have done something to her when she wasn ’ t looking, a spell maybe? Ezra, her best friend would know, she was a priestess in training and the only friend Lela had. But first she had to get this foolish boy out from behind the tree.
    What was it Ezra used to do with her little sister to get her to come out from hiding when they had chores to do and Chloe decided to hide? Finally she remembered.
    “ Nathan, listen you scared me with the questions, and this is a dangerous part of the forest. If I leave you here alone you will not see the next morning, please just let me take you to the castle. We have magic users there they might be able to return you home. ”
    The mention of home brought Nathan out from around the tree. The wound had already stopped bleeding and had begun to settle into a dull throbbing. Still holding his arm he slowly came into sight, the look on his face said he didn ’ t trust Lela.
    “ I will walk behind you, I don ’ t trust you not to shoot me again. ” his voice lacked any emotion. “ I just want to leave, that is all. ”
    They walked in silence for most of the evening; the silence was broken by Lela at dusk.
    “ Nathan we have to stop and make camp for the night, or we risk hurting an ankle in the forest. ”
    “ Fine. ” It was the most he had said to her since she grazed him with the arrow. They began to set up camp, Nate finally broke his silence.
    “ We only have one tent, where do I sleep? ” Nate asked cautiously.
    “ We will sleep in the tent, unless you plan on sleeping with all the creatures in the night. ” Lela said with a smirk.
    “ Aren ’ t you afraid I will try to escape, or get even with you for shooting me? ” he asked returning her smirk.
    “ Not in the least Nate, I trust you. ” The look in her eyes said that she had something up her