The Quest (The Hidden Realm Book 5) Read Free Page B

chestnut trees that closed in on both sides of the road, covering it with their branches. When the carriage reached the upper slopes of the mountains that rose up beyond the foothills, the hardwoods gave way to a thick wood of enormous pine and fir trees. Here Ascilius and Falco traded places. Feeling safe from prying eyes in this remote place, Elerian dispensed with his Dwarf illusion after he followed Falco to the driver’s seat, resuming instead the appearance of a tall, weather-beaten man with dark hair and gray eyes. Looking eagerly to the right and left at the primeval forest surrounding him, Elerian breathed deeply of the sharp, pleasant smell of resin that permeated the air
    “Would that I had time to explore these groves,” he thought regretfully to himself. “Who knows what might be concealed in this ancient wood where the mighty roots of the trees reach far into the past.”
    When the carriage finally stopped in a small, turf-covered glade just large enough to allow Falco to turn the coach around, Elerian wondered how much farther it was to their destination, guessing that it would be three hours yet before the sun rose. The coach door opened then and Ascilius climbed out, his hair and beard braided as if in preparation for battle and his craggy face now wearing a serious, earnest expression.
    “Wait here until midday,” he said quietly to Falco. “I do not expect that we will return, but if for some reason we must come back, I would rather not walk to Iulius.”
    At first Elerian kept a wary eye on Ascilius after he leapt lightly to the ground, but he relaxed his guard when he saw that the Dwarf’s mindset had changed to match his warlike appearance. He now seemed intent only on the serious business at hand. After retrieving his treasure bags from the interior of the carriage, Elerian joined Ascilius at the rear of the carriage, both of them taking their packs and other gear from the luggage compartment.
    “Luck to you both,” said Falco quietly when their preparations to leave were complete. His normally cheerful face had taken on a somber cast, a visible sign of the melancholy he felt at parting with his companions. After clasping forearms with Ascilius and then Elerian, he stood and watched them disappear into the forest with a downcast look on his face.

 
    THE PASS
     
    “Once more I remain behind and act the part of the dutiful companion,” thought Falco with a sigh when he was alone. “I know that there must be gatekeepers in order for the heroes to have their adventures, but I cannot help but wish that I could follow those two out into the wide world and share in their undertakings. I cannot imagine Elerian living peacefully in Tarsius for long,” he thought shrewdly to himself. Releasing the ponies from their traces, Falco hobbled them before placing feedbags full of grain on their heads. As they ate, he groomed the pair of them, putting the requirements of his beasts ahead of his own need to rest.
    As Falco tended his team, Ascilius led Elerian up a narrow footpath that wound through a dark wood comprised of enormous fir trees, a tiny mage light hovering, like a firefly, above the steel cap he now wore. Its faint rays, which provided all the illumination the two companions needed as they climbed steadily higher in an easterly direction, revealed that the Dwarf’s craggy features were drawn into a vigilant expression. His dark eyes continually probed the shadows ahead and on either side of him, and he kept a ready grip on Fulmen and his shield as if he feared that something dangerous might suddenly spring out of the dark wood that surrounded him. Elerian exhibited less caution than his companion, for his thoughts were now chiefly on Anthea rather than his surroundings. He carried his shield on his left arm like Ascilius, but his sword was still sheathed and riding on his back, for his right hand was occupied with steadying the heavy saddle bags full of treasure that rode on his right