The Mage of Orlon: The beginning Read Free Page B

sleeve.
    “ You need to put this shirt on, it gets cold in the forest at night. ”
    The shirt was rich red with gold embroidered patterns running up both sleeves and on the shirt too. Nate took the offered shirt, and put it on. They both climbed into the small tent. They were separated by only five inches.
    “ Thanks for the shirt, I will try not to ruin it. ” Nate said.
    “ You are welcome Nate. ”
    “ Lela you really are not afraid of me escaping or cutting your hair, or worse while you sleep. ” Nathan asked with a note of incredulousness.
    “ Not at all Nate, oh I almost forgot tianamine! ” The shirt sleeves slung around Nate ’ s body trapping his arms, and the back of the shirt firmly planted itself on the ground. Nate was held tightly in the iron grip of the shirt that had seemed so harmless.
    “ Good night Nate. ” Lela chimed.
    “ I guess I should have kept my mouth shut. ” Nate sighed.
    “ I will unbind you tomorrow morning, so good night Nate. ”
    The morning came too soon, even bound Nate slept deeply. Lela gazed over at Nate, he seemed so peaceful sleeping. Today they would arrive at the castle and his fate would be known. It was strange, but she was going to miss Nate a little. She wondered if his parents were frantically looking for him, or had they given up all hope of ever finding him? It didn ’ t matter, none of it did. She would turn him over to her father and be done with this business. Nate ’ s breathing began to change as he woke up. Lela rolled over on her side and faked sleeping, she could not let him know she had been watching him. For the life of her she couldn ’ t figure out why it even mattered, but it did.
    “ Lela, are you awake? I have to go to the bathroom. ”
    Lela stifled the laugh and smile and stretched like she was just getting up. She turned to find Nate pleading with his eyes.
    “ Cartorm. ” The shirt fell back into place like a normal shirt and released its grip from the ground. “ Nate, go relieve yourself, but do not dally. We are close to the castle. ”
    Nate darted out of the tent to find a tree to go behind. Lela ’ s words sank in from the tent, they are close to the castle. They might have a way back for him, or they might just kill him. Nate decided to escape would be the best choice he had. Nate slowly turned around to find Lela staring at him.
    “ Have you been watching me the whole time? ” He shouted.
    “ You are still my prisoner, and I cannot risk you running off. ”
    Nathan zipped his pants and followed Lela back to camp. With expert ease Lela took the tent down and repacked it. Nathan handed the red shirt back to her, he made a mental note not to put it on again. They began their journey towards the castle once more.
    As the day waned Nate decided to break the silence.
    “ Lela, can you look at my shoulder for a second. ”
    “ Nate I barely grazed your arm, not your shoulder. ” Her irritableness was directed at Nate, but it was getting closer to the castle that soured her mood.
    “ Really Lela, it is starting to itch like crazy, I think I might have fallen into some poison ivy. ”
    “ Nate there was no ivy poisonous or otherwise around where I found you. ” She snapped.
    “ Really Lela, it itches really bad. ”
    With a huff of exasperation she finally answered “ Just my luck you are a pitiful fighter, a horrible liar, and now you think you are having a reaction to a weed you were not near. I should have left you where I found you. ” The ruefulness was thick in her voice.
    “ Yeah well you didn ’ t leave me, so could you please look really it itches. ”
    She stopped so abruptly that Nate almost ran into her. She whirled around; Nate dropped back a little, fearing another kick. In a tone thick with annoyance she said, “ Lift your shirt up, but not off. ”
    Nate complied, lifting his shirt up exposing his shoulder.
    “ Goddess of the forest what have you delivered to us? ” Was all Lela could utter.
     

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