Free Ravenwild: Book 01 - Ravenwild by Peter Plasse

patted her on the neck, giving her another treat. “And secondly, there is no such thing as being completely safe here in Ravenwild. Not that you are ever really unsafe, because you can always get out of anything by saying what you need to say and, poof, you’re gone. But the plain truth is we are a nation at war. And we have always been at war, with two nations much larger than ours. They are called Slova and Vultura, and even though we are in the very middle of Ravenwild, and as safe as it gets with only a short ride to our capital city of Belcourt, there are always a few spies about, either Gnomes or Trolls, and you never know when you’re going to have to either defend yourself or outrun someone.”
    “Come on,” said Stephanie, as they moved towards the hut’s entrance. “Real Gnomes and Trolls.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    He noted Stephanie’s look of incredulity and added, “I’m not kidding.”
    He helped her put on her broadsword. The baldric slipped over her shoulders and fit perfectly. The sword was now mounted on her back, which would allow her to draw it easily even while she managed the reins. He also showed her how to fasten her longbow on her right hip with a fastener that was part of the saddle, and her quiver of arrows on her left. In no time, they were mounted and ready to ride.
    “How do I look?” she blurted out awkwardly.
    He laughed that easy, relaxed laugh of his and said, “It is impossible for one to look any more like a warrior princess than you do right now. Okay, my warrior Princess. Follow me. And remember to keep a sharp eye out.”
    “Right,” she thought, “For Gnomes, and Trolls. Yeah, sure …”
     
     

Chapter 5
     
    Blake and Orie were sitting with Hemlock in the kitchen. They, unlike Stephanie, had slept through the night. Orie was speaking.
    “So, you’re telling us that we can journey through time to anywhere, and be gone for as long as we want and, when we say we’ve had enough, we will be transported right back here only one breath older than we were when we left, and everybody else will still be right there in bed, and the next morning we will wake up normally, all together.”
    Hemlock, although he had explained the concept several times now, showed no sign of impatience and merely said, “That is perfectly right, my boy. Perfectly right.”
    Orie glanced at his father, the look on his face saying he didn’t believe a word of this.
    “This is too unreal to be even close to true. What are the chances? Dad, tell me what’s going on here.”
    “Son, I’ve been a lot of places and seen a lot of strange things, but this redefines the concept of strange. Sheesh. I have no idea. None.”
    “Well, if nothing else, you have rendered my dad speechless,” said Orie. “That …”
    He was interrupted by the arrival of Jessica with Jacqueline in-tow.
    “Good morning,” each said. Jessica and Blake embraced, and Jessica planted a kiss on Orie’s head. “Where’s Stephanie?” asked Jacqueline. “She’s always up before any of us.”
    Hemlock answered her. “Stephanie has chosen to go to a place called Ravenwild. She met a young lad named Erik, whom I brought here earlier this morning, and decided to visit his land. He is a prince in the house of Fairman, and a thoroughly good boy. I am sure they are getting along famously.”
    He was clearly more than a little surprised when Jessica was suddenly in his face, grabbing him savagely by the front of his robe.
    “What do you mean she decided to visit his land? She’s fifteen years old, for the love of Michael! Who do think you are, letting her go off like that on her own? You had no right!”
    It was a very tense moment in the Strong household, Jessica and the wizardly appearing Hemlock nose to nose, her face the picture of rage.
    Hemlock did very well, though. He didn’t engage her anger in any way and, in the blink of an eye, he was entirely disengaged from her, and Jessica was seated in a nearby chair with Jacqueline