Free Sword of Light (The Knights of the Golden Dragons - Book One) by Troy Reaves Page B

understand?"
                Gregor
felt he was doing well not to fall off the tree at that moment, so she didn't
have much to worry about. Still, there could be no harm in reassuring her.
"Yes, ma'am, I understand.” He brought his hands up slowly to show he was
more than willing to comply.
                "Bring
your chin up. I want to see your face while you tell me exactly why you are in
my forest and where you are headed. You will also tell me exactly who you are,
and why I should care. Watch him, Fang."
                Gregor
brought his chin up as instructed, and was struck silent. The woman before him
stood a bit taller than he, and was exquisitely formed from her life in the
forest. The muscles of both her arms were taunt with the pressure applied to
her drawn bow. He had no desire to taste the sting of the arrow she held nocked
and ready. Her green eyes glittered with intensity even at this distance,
though a nonchalant look colored her features.   It appeared she had pretty much planned this meeting as just another
part of her daily routine, and was ready to be done with it. If she had any
hesitation about firing, Gregor could find no indication of it.
                The
woman drew the bow away slightly from its sighting position, addressing him
before assuming a proper targeting stance once more. "Are you going to
start talking, or am I going to shoot you? Let me make it easy for you. What is
your name?"
                Gregor
decided after only a moment's deliberation that the truth would serve him best
once again. He raised his voice so that it would carry unhindered to her,
finding strength in it he had not noticed until now. "I am Gregor, honored
with the title of weapons page to the Knights of Bella Grey until they were
destroyed. Lord Galant Silverwing was my mentor and now has sent me to Nactium
for education with the priests at the Temple of Light within its walls. The
blades I carry are those of my mentor. He was wounded in a melee with bandits
and, fearing more would come, he sent me through the wood toward the city of
Nactium following a path west."
                A
smile crooked her mouth as Tana answered the voluminous information she
received. "Well, that was a bit more than a mouthful. Do you always share
your life story with strangers, or has the potential bite of both my bow and my
companion influenced you? No answer required, as the positive influence is
obvious. It was more of a rhetorical question than an actual inquiry. Why do
you want to go to that city anyway? Your armor and stance show training as a
warrior, not a priest. I doubt there is much the temple priests could share
with you in the area of martial pursuits."
                Gregor
took her pause as an invitation to continue his story. He noticed with some
amount of relief that her bow was lowered slightly, and no longer at the ready,
though the lady before him still kept her arrow nocked.   "I believe I am to be educated in many
things within the temple. My knowledge of the God of Light is limited, and my
healing abilities are lacking. Master Silverwing indicated that the priests of
the temple would be able to complete my training and allow me to more fully
enter into the service of the God of Light.   The sword hands of the Light have been severed. It is my hope to number
among those that are to serve as protectors of the common peoples and slayers
of the evil forces that have grown so numerous in recent days." Gregor
felt himself come to his full height as he spoke. He did not know where the
last words had come from, but he felt the truth of them bring him strength. The
statement brought him something else he had not expected; something he had not
really felt since the terrible dream he had experienced in Dakin's home. Hope,
pure hope that could not be shaken by doubt about his own abilities or fear of
the unknown trials that he would face. Despite his current