Free AutumnQuest by Terie Garrison Page B

which felt comfortably warm despite the chill in the air. I rose carefully, trying not to wake her. First thing, I took another long drink of water, then found a likely spot to relieve myself.
    By the time I’d built a small fire and put some dried meat and water in the saucepan to simmer, Xyla had gotten up, had a good stretch, and disappeared to hunt for her own breakfast.
    When she returned, she offered a hare to add to my stew.
    “Thanks, but I don’t have any way to skin and dress it,” I said, so she ate it herself. “Speaking of which,” I muttered to myself, “I need to get my hands on a knife. I don’t ever want to be that defenseless again.”
    “You have me now.”
    I smiled and reached out to stroke her head. “I do, now, but not always.”
    “You do not like me?” Her voice in my head sounded hurt.
    “Oh, no, it’s not that. It’s just that we won’t always be together.”
    Xyla made a noise that sounded for all the world like a hrumph, then flipped her wings back and curled up near the fire.
    After last night’s mucking about on the ground, my clothes were a mess. I brushed off the earth and bits of leaves from my leggings as best I could. The shirt reeked of sweat and fear, so I peeled it off and washed it in the stream, then spread it out on some bushes to dry in whatever sunlight might make it through the treetops. I wrapped up in my cloak, content to sit by the fire drinking my fill of water, watching the sleeping dragon, and thinking.
    Now that my head was clear, it occurred to me for the first time that I’d been talking to a dragon. As if she were a person; as if she were a friend. Maejic. What Papa had said was so wrong, but what Oleeda said was right.
    I didn’t want anything to do with it.
    But Xyla had saved my life. I couldn’t just stop communicating with her, could I? Should I? Perhaps I could just make an exception. She did deserve my friendship, after all. Besides, it wouldn’t be for long. Once I explained to her about finding the mages, she’d go her way and I’d go mine. I would continue my journey to find the evidence I needed to save Breyard. And I’d never talk to another animal again.
    From what Nevis had told me, I felt I understood why the old carter had lied to the Royal Guardsmen about Breyard stealing the egg: simple fear. His lie certainly hadn’t done him any good, and there was no point now in searching for him. Chances were good he’d died, as did many people who had their tongues cut out. I didn’t have the time to waste to find out for sure.
    Nevis had said that the egg had come to his father in a cloth shipment from the merchant Dallon in Hucklow. Obviously, that’s where I needed to go now.
    But, I argued with myself, maybe I should take Xyla to Crowthorne. No, that would only delay me, and I’d never get to Penwick in time to save Breyard. I must stick to my original plan.
    Tomorrow. My body was still too bruised and sore from yesterday’s ordeal. Surely one day’s delay couldn’t hurt.
    I got the meditation candles out of my pack and went through the usual routine. It was more difficult than before, probably because fear and panic still swirled around the edges of my consciousness. I found my calm center, but seemed to lack the concentration to hold it for long. Yesterday’s pleasant noises of forest life—the wind, the birds, the trickling water—now conspired to be effective cover for sounds of danger.
    I sighed as I blew out the candles.
    “That was lovely.”
    I looked at Xyla to find her watching me with half-lidded eyes, head propped up on her crossed forefeet. I smiled. “I usually do better than that. Too many distractions.”
    “It generates beautiful vibrations. Soothing.”
    “Well, I’m glad it felt soothing to someone. Didn’t seem to do me much good.”
    I ate some dried meat and fruit for lunch, then checked my shirt, which was sufficiently dry. I shrugged out of my cloak and put the shirt on.
    “We move on?” Xyla