Free Alec the Wanderer: Generations of Eredwynn #4 by Daniel B. Harris

you can soften up when I have you convinced.”
    I rolled my eyes. “You win, as usual. My beautiful, little manipulator.”

Chapter Six
    W e woke with the sun and dressed quickly. I finally saw what she’d gotten for road clothes, and didn’t know if I wanted to leave yet or not! She’d gotten the tight uniform style as I’d suggested and I guess Aunt Isa wanted to add to that. She wore a pleated skirt of the same color that came just above her knees. It was slit at the front of both legs half way up, to allow for fast movement. It very nicely covered any assets that she didn’t want to show the world, but was sexy enough to make my imagination work overtime.
    We flew from the top of the dorm to the road that turned to the north. I followed her in for a landing and asked for plan updates.
    “If you’d port us to Starford, we could visit with your brother and Tabitha. I know that porting isn’t your style but with these dreams, I don’t want to camp near the little towns between here and there. We can walk from Starford to Perlsea, since we will have mostly open country. If one of my dreams became real, I’m afraid it could be quite damaging. I’m actually afraid of the power that I’ve seen in my dreams.”
    “Then that sounds like a good plan. I’m sure that you’ll learn to handle your power once you get used to it. Just think about how quickly you picked up on all the skills and spells. Keep calm, don’t panic, and you’ll get a grip on it.”
    She hugged me. “I’m just glad you’re going to be there with me. Thank you for finding me, Alec.”
    I chuckled. “Thank your father. He’s the one that was hauling hay that day. I just got lucky. This is a long cast for Starford, so don’t let me fall over. Maybe you can teach me how to do viewing and talking at the same time.”
    She shook her head and stood close. I went looking for Starford by letting my vision travel almost due north. I located a friendly, empty spot a short distance from the castle and ported us there.
    Carol smiled. “I see how you did that now! It’s not nearly as hard as I thought it would be, and I bet I can do it now.”
    I chuckled. “Pretty soon you won’t need me around at all! I think it’s fascinating how quickly you pick up on the different spells and skills. Before we know it you’ll be teaching me!”
    She nodded. “Perhaps, but I’ll always need you, Alec.”
    As we approached the front gate, I pointed out the shelter. Carol was amazed. “That thing is enormous! Do they ever get close to filling it?”
    “It has beds for close to three hundred and last winter, the first that it was open, they had almost two hundred and fifty women housed there. A lot of them left in the spring, but I heard that nearly seventy stuck around to work the fields and make sure they have a place this coming winter.”
    Carol sighed. “If there is that much of a problem here, it’s no wonder that Father’s realm has the problem they do. I wonder if I’m not on a fool’s errand.”
    I hugged her. “If we do go to that realm and help even one girl, we would be doing something. I don’t know what we could do to help a girl from there, but you want to try and that’s commendable.”
    We walked to the gate where I’d put on a show last fall. I had trained my brother, sister and two others in the use of swords and other weapons. It had been quite a job to teach Seth and Celina, who are both half-sprites and very dependent on magic. So much so that their bodies had grown weak from lack of use. They had hated me as I had them drill and run, but in the end, they understood. They managed to pull off a miniature war against giant ants without a mishap. The guards bowed and let us pass without a word.
    Carol giggled. “I’ll never get used to walking through any guarded gate in the kingdom and having the guards rush to get out of the way. This royalty thing does have its perks!”
    As we entered the castle, the herald greeted us,