Free The Song of Eloh Saga by Megg Jensen Page A

Ivy crawled across the bed to the window. She peeked behind a curtain and then pulled back out, a pout on her face. “It’s started raining.”
    “That’s okay,” I said. “We’re inside.”
    “No, I just wanted to show you the sun. Since you hardly ever get to see it, you know.”
    I hugged Ivy and then pulled the curtain wide, taking in the scene before me. The rain fell lightly against the window pane, picking up speed with every drop. Thunder rolled in the distance as the sky grew grayer.
    “It’s lovely,” I sighed with a smile. “I’ve never seen a rainstorm before. When I was allowed outside or at a window it was always sunny with big, puffy clouds. I’ve heard the storms but never seen them. It’s almost a bit overwhelming.”
    As I turned to look out the window again, a flash of light snapped through the hazy sky. I screamed and jumped back from the window.
    “What was that?”
    “Lightning,” Ivy laughed. “I’ve told you about it before.”
    I tried to compose myself, but a nervous giggle slipped through. “I guess I never expected it would be so,” I paused, “bright. It’s amazing the way it appeared out of nowhere. No warning, nothing. This is so much better than a boring, sunny day.”
    I glanced back at the blonde fuzz on Ivy’s head.
    “Does it itch?” I asked.
    “Yeah,” Ivy said, rubbing her head, “a bit. It’s just weird having it there at all. Honestly I had to resist the urge to shave it this morning. It’s a hard habit to break.”
    “I can’t wait,” I said. “I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have long luxurious hair. Like those women who visit for the branding ceremonies. Their hair is so beautiful.”
    “They put bird nests in their hair,” Ivy giggled.
    We collapsed on the bed in a fit of laughter. Just a few hours earlier I’d been scared out of my mind and now I was free. Away from the drudgery, away from the confinement, away from Kandek. It was almost too much to handle. But rest was soon to come and then the beginning of a new adventure with my best friend.
    We huddled together on the bed, not even noticing that Tania had left the cottage until she flung the door open and shook out her wet cloak. She was followed by a tall man I assumed to be her husband, Jon.
    “Girls,” Tania yelled as she climbed up the ladder, “you need to go. Now. The guards have been dispatched.”
    She turned and stared at me with a frown.
    “They are looking for you. Why? They’ve never dispatched this many guards for a missing slave.”
    “I don’t know,” I stammered as Ivy and I climbed down the ladder behind Tania. “I’m so sorry.”
    “We can’t risk being discovered. We’d all be tortured and forced to reveal our secrets and then probably put to death,” she said handing each of us a pack. “Let’s see, there’s food in each pack, along with a change of clothes. Thank Eloh I packed them earlier today. Here are a couple of wigs.” Tania tossed us each a wig. “Put them on and get going.”
    We jumped to action, equipping our packs and fumbling with the wigs.
    “Here’s a cloak for each of you. Make sure you keep the hood up in this wind or your wig might fall off.”
    “Tania, I’m sorry if I’ve caused you any trouble,” I said.
    “Oh honey, our lives revolve around danger. I just never expected one master to care so much about one slave. You must be something special.”
    “She is,” Ivy said. “I told you I wouldn’t leave without her. You have no idea how special she is.”
    We finished getting on our gear while Jon gave us directions. Then we gave Tania one final hug and raced out the door.
     

Chapter Five
    “Jon said to head to the east and to stay under the canopy of trees, so let’s walk near this path.” I pointed to a pebble-strewn path off to the left, hoping that was east. It was raining and the sky was covered in a dark haze. Without the sun to guide us, I couldn’t be sure. This was the way Jon had pointed when