Free The Elder Gods by David Eddings, Leigh Eddings Page A

before. When this particular native wanted something, he would almost certainly go to any lengths to obtain it. Sorgan was fairly certain that it was time to walk very carefully.
    “What do you want?” the stranger asked. He didn’t sound particularly belligerent, and Hook-Beak took that to be a good sign. He was just a bit surprised that the other man spoke the language of the Maags. That should make things a lot easier. “We aren’t here to cause any trouble, friend,” he said. “We’re strangers in these parts, and we don’t know exactly where we are.”
    “This is the Land of Dhrall,” the other man replied, “and this is the Domain of Zelana of the West. Does that answer your question?”
    “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of Dhrall before,” Sorgan said. “Of course, we’re a long way from home, and that might explain why. Is this Zelana your king, or something along those lines?”
    “Not exactly. You’ll be meeting her before long, I expect. You’re Sorgan Hook-Beak, aren’t you?”
    “How did you know that?” Sorgan was startled.
    “Zelana of the West told us that you were coming. She said you wouldn’t really know much about Dhrall, so I’m supposed to answer any questions you might have.”
    “How could she have possibly known that we were coming?” Sorgan demanded. “We certainly didn’t
intend
to wander off this far from the Land of Maag.”
    “But a sea current caught you and brought you here. Wasn’t that what happened?”
    “You seem to know a great deal about us, stranger, and I don’t even know your name yet.”
    “I was just getting to that, Sorgan Hook-Beak,” the tall man said. “I am Longbow of the tribe of Old-Bear, and Zelana of the West instructed me to direct you to White-Braid, chief of the village and the tribe of Lattash. There are three tribes between here and Lattash, and they’ll build fires on the beach to guide you. You
can
count as far as three, can’t you?”
    “Of course I can.” Sorgan was more than a little offended. “How is it that you came by the name ‘Longbow’?”
    “I’m somewhat taller than the other men of Old-Bear’s tribe, so my bow’s longer.” He held up his bow to let Sorgan see it. He didn’t move it very fast; there was no arrow anywhere in sight, and he was not holding it as if he intended to use it. Both Longbow and Sorgan were being careful not to make any quick moves, since there were probably several dozen arrows pointed at them right now.
    “Nicely crafted,” Sorgan said.
    “It does what I want it to do,” Longbow said modestly. “It hasn’t yet missed at any range.”
    Sorgan assumed that the blond man was boasting, but he sounded so sincere that Sorgan wasn’t entirely certain. “Just how far south is this Lattash place?” he asked.
    “As far as a man can walk in ten days,” Longbow replied. “After you pass the fires on the beach, you’ll come to a narrow inlet that leads on into a fairly large bay. Lattash stands at the head of that bay, and Zelana awaits you at Lattash.”
    Sorgan squinted at the water, making some calculations in his head. “I’m just guessing, but I’d say that the
Seagull
—that’s my ship over there— should make it in three days.”
    “I wouldn’t take much longer, if I were you,” Longbow advised. “Zelana’s impatient, and you don’t want to irritate her. I’m supposed to ask you if the word
gold
has any meaning for you.”
    “Oh, yes!”
Sorgan replied fervently.
    “I wouldn’t know myself, but Zelana told me to say ‘gold’ to you. Have you enough food and water for three days? I don’t think Zelana will let you stop again on your way south.”
    “How’s she going to stop me?”
    “I don’t think you really want to know, Sorgan Hook-Beak. We’ll probably meet again, but for right now you’d better move along as quickly as you can. Things will go better if you do.”

3
    D id he have any weapons aside from that bow, Cap’n?” Ox asked when Sorgan