The Troven (Kingdom of Denall Book 1) Read Free Page B

of natural colors.
    A movement near the tree line outside the village caught Kaz’s attention, and he focused his sight, the four maroon dots near his left eye standing out as he did so. The leaves of an oak sapling shimmered in the breeze, and the shadows along the edge of the woods danced in the morning sun, but he kept a close watch on the spot where he had seen an unnatural movement. Something was there, just outside of his view, and when it moved again he would be ready. He shrugged his bow off his shoulder and eased an arrow to the tight string. Another scamper of movement to the left, then to the right, made him dart his gaze back and forth. What are you?
    Without warning, a bundle of hay flew out of the woods over a thick wall of thorns. Kaz drew his bow and released an arrow. His broad head arrow pierced the hay just as it hit the ground. “Nice try!” Kaz called out through cupped hands, though he wondered if the men in the woods could hear him.
    From the woods emerged two members of the town council, the inn keeper, Barrels, and the owner of the general store, William. Barrels carefully pulled Kaz’s arrow from the hay and nodded in approval as William took dutiful notes. Always keeping the watchman on high alert, even though there hasn’t been the slightest bit of excitement in years. He understood the need to keep the men sharp, but sometimes the town council’s tests seemed absurd.
    Kaz climbed down the ladder from the roof far enough to take his arrow from Barrels’ outstretched hand.
    “It’s a beautiful morning for a walk in the woods,” Kaz said, knowing that their test of his skills had probably taken them on a mile long hike through the dense forest to ensure they stayed out of his enhanced sight.
    “It is a nice sunny day, and the woods were pleasant,” William replied in a monotone voice that sounded like he was bartering a deal in the general store. Sarcasm is lost on that one.
    “You do understand why we’re out here, don’t you?” Barrels asked.
    “To keep the village safe from bears and drams and…”
    “Partly,” he interrupted. “However, it’s also to keep you safe. In just a few days you’ll be out there,” the large inn keeper pointed out of town to the east. “Your eighteenth summer is upon you, and your Troven will begin soon. You’ll need your sharp eyes, your fast hands, and your keen wits.” Kaz looked down at the ground, scrunching his eyebrows in concentration. It had never occurred to him that all the tests over the past several months were all to help him. The inn keeper tucked his hand under Kaz’s chin, lifting his gaze until they met. The older man smiled broadly and nodded at Kaz in a fatherly way. “You’ll do just fine. You’re a good lad.”
    Barrels and William continued on their survey of the village, Barrels greeted people fondly while William paid more attention to his book of notes than the people he passed. When they were out of sight, Kaz climbed back up and sat down on the roof, taking a drink from his water skin as he watched the villagers go about their business. He wondered how many of them had played a part in his ‘training?’
    The cooper took some cured wood from the lumber mill and the baker's son pushed a small cart filled with clay pots down the main street. He kept looking back and forth between the packed dirt streets of Dungan and the distant forest until Herleva came into view. The most beautiful woman in the village! It’s just too bad she got hitched before I could finish my Troven!
    Kaz kept his eyes locked on her until she passed by the inn and disappeared behind the blacksmith’s shop. Seeing her pass by was the highlight of the morning. With the streets now empty, Kaz looked out past the village limits to Tunkin Lake. He knew there was a fish or two waiting for him there as soon as his shift on the roof was done.
    After several more hours of observing familiar people pass through the streets of the quiet village, Kaz