Free Blood Of The Wizard (Book 1) by Thomas Head Page B

a tree, curling twice around a sturdy branch.
    She was soon free , though, and in the next instant she was running after me.
    “ Thief!  Devil!”
    “ I am sorry, good sister!”
    And so I was on her large black horse, scrambling through the city’s ramparts.  Then I was down the bank’s farther side into the streets.  The way led through a side entrance in the city walls, then the alleyways and outskirts beyond.  In the next instant, I was cutting through a dense thicket of pines with ferns the height of a dwarf. 
    Here, o nly dim light penetrated the maze of foliage, and the trail led the horse and I at least a mile away from the river.  Little Fellow , as I called the enormous steed, was trotting hard, but with controlled glee.  We both glided through the brake without disturbing a fern branch, while I—after the manner of humans everywhere—seemed to catch every twig in the forest with my face.
    The horse seemed to know what I wanted though, as only the finest steeds can do.  Twice I felt Little Fellow pull up abruptly.  He would look warily through the cedars on one side.  Once, he stooped down and peered among the fern stems.  Then he silently whinnied back toward the river, galloping through the undergrowth again without explanation. 
    I looked back.  At first I could see nothing, and regretted being led so far into the woods.  I was about to reign him back onto the trail when Little Fellow pricked his ears again and halted. 
    It was as if he feared to move.
    For the fourth time , we came to a dead stand.  Now, I also heard a rustle.  I saw an elusive, sinuous movement, distinctly running abreast of us among the ferns.  When we stopped, it ceased for a moment.  Then it wiggled forward like a beast or serpent in the underbrush. It did not move far.  But I could never discern what it was. 
    Little Fellow eased back .  We stood noiseless, until by the ripple of the green, it seemed to scurry away.  I suspected an amber wyvern, though I had no idea they could remain so nondescript amid the green, and the thought was terrifying.
    I shuddered atop Little Fellow, before urging him along.  Then at last, I saw them. 
    My merry band of old lads.

 
     
                                Chapter 12
     
     
     
    Just before the river narrowed to series of rapids, I called out with a series of three bird whistles. 
    My dear little Jickie, whose cunning eyes seemed to gleam with the malice of a snake, silently twisted in the vessel.  He turned to the bank.  Then he shook his head and motioned for the others to row ashore. 
    The swish of waters rushing past, I gave the horse a drink and set him on a course back the way we came. 
    Wrapping my half of the plaid tartan around me, I propped my arse on the gunwale and slid into my place among my fellows.  When we were midstream again, I felt the heat of their silence.  Half dazed by the wonder of my night and half shocked still by the unexpected, unexplained flight my lads had taken from the war-maids, I just breathed the clear air, and began rowing.
    All I had seen and heard during the day still floated in my mind like a sigh of wind through the forest, and I was only half-conscious that cedars, pines and cliffs were engaged in a mad race past the sides of the canoe.  During all this, I tried not to notice their lack of attention.  Dwarves, I can assure you, are rarely so silent.  I dared not pierce their quiet anger with any questions.
    I just yawned and kept rowing.
    Which was more less when my uncle cuffed me across ear, to an uproar of laughs from the lads.
    “ Sacred thunder!” he screamed.
    “ Oh, now!  What’s all this?”
    “ Oh now what’s all this indeed!” Halvgar roared, silencing all onboard.  “How dare you, sir!”
    I turned to look at him.
    “Little brother, you make off with a ripe human maid, and you dare not tell an old dwarf all the details?”
    At which , Frobhur, Kenzo, Gilli, Delthal, and