Free The Gems of Raga-Tor (Elemental Legends Book 1) by CA Morgan Page A

. Eris smiled. The spell he had traded something quite valuable for was working perfectly. It was a spell that would hide and protect the gem from the probing magics of any sorcerer, and from the eyes of all men except himself. As much as he loathed sorcery, in this instance, it turned out to be a necessary evil.
    “No, I didn’t lose it. It’s quite safe. Trust me, Raga, trust me,” Eris assured, giving Raga a most beguiling smile, though he wasn’t aware that he had done so.
    Raga nodded and pulled the door open to return to his own room which was only a few doors away.
    “You know, it really is too bad it’s you inside that incredible body,” he sighed with a wink. “I really would like to find out what happens.”
    Eris grabbed one of the daggers lying on top of the blanket. Raga rumbled with laughter and pulled the door shut just as the hurled weapon flew by.
    It struck the wall, hung for a few quivering seconds, and then fell to the floor with a heavy clatter.
    “Damn you,” Eris mumbled hazily and fell back onto thick pillows that materialized behind him. Hearing Raga’s laughter echoing in the hall, Eris was compelled into a deep, dreamless sleep.
     

Chapter 2
The Road to Reshan
    Along the high plateau of the Rennas Escarpment stretched a wide, and for the lateness of the year, nearly deserted road that connected the northern most edge of the Isthmus of Magir to the continent.
    It was the fastest north-south route into and out of the port city of Rennas Baye, and the great bay that was the size of an inland sea, owing to the leagues of flat, desolate gray rock that formed the road across the escarpment. Except for a few scrubby pines growing in strangled stands, or a blade of grass peeking up through the fissure of a rock, the plateau was mostly void of plant and animal life.
    Now that summer was ended, the chill autumn winds began their whirling in mid-afternoon and continued through the night. In the early days of winter, only those whose wagons were light dared to cross the barren plateau where sudden, freezing black storms reigned; when the wind howled and sleet scoured all traces of summer passages from the rocky face.
    Eris and Raga, cloaked against the chill wind, rode swiftly across the plateau in an effort to reach the downside forest by nightfall.
    The forceful winds suddenly died down across the escarpment. Both felt as if a great burden lifted from their shoulders. Their ears rang in the sudden, overpowering stillness.
    Raga felt a certain tenseness leave him and adjusted himself in the saddle before turning his attention to Eris.
    “It’s five hundred leagues to Reshan’s capital city, you know.”
    Eris inclined his head, but didn't speak.
    “Five hundred leagues is a long way to go, and even more so if I have to talk to myself the whole way. It’s been two days now since we left Rennas Baye and you’ve hardly said a word.”
    Eris pulled a small, sharp knife from a sheath concealed within his saddle. “You should have thought of that before you did what you did,”
    “So what would you have me do? Apologize all the way to Reshan?” Raga asked. “I thought a little sleep would do you good.”
    “A little sleep I might have overlooked.” Eris pointed the blade at Raga. “But, Verin’s eyes, you put me to sleep for two days. I thought we needed to hurry. How do I know what chicanery you were up to?”
    “I thought if you woke up as a man again you might be in better humor. Obviously, I was wrong.”
    Eris glared at him.
    “Believe me, I did nothing but make preparations. I only used the gold you took from that bastard on the wharf, and not even all of that. I didn’t touch your things, or come near you. You saw that much when you awoke,” Raga explained truthfully.
    “So you say. On your honor, no tricks?” Eris rubbed a hand across his chin. A shave was definitely in order. That was a stupid question. None of them have any honor.
    “You have my word. Besides, in a strange