Free Out of the Faold (Whilst Old Legends Fade Synchronicles) by Laura Abudo Page B

guards and countless other occupants. Our quarters were along a busy corridor. He arrived to find her sitting in a chair polishing the buttons on his overcoat that he’d left behind but needed for a meeting with the local lord. The child sees things others don’t. I’d say she’d be a better scout than those two over there and that’s an impressive charge.”
    Karl nodded in contemplation. The gods had shown her in the Well images of the adult Krisa. She wore a uniform proudly. She ran, not in fear but for pleasure. She ran through trees and brush, fading in and out of visibility as though she melted into the scenery. She laughed as someone chased her. It was a game. She’d stand still and disappear. She’d run and flicker in and out of sight among the trees. He would finally catch her and they’d fall together in laughter and love.
    “You may be right,” she agreed.
    “With your permission can she train with us?”
    She knew. His trip into the well told him what he had to do in regard to the girls. He was a teacher and protector selected by the gods, as she was. She nodded her permission and he seemed satisfied.
    It wasn’t until late the next evening that the others arrived. Pearl ran down the road jumping and calling to them, her short hair bouncing. Doran’s strong arm reached down to swing her up to sit in front of him in the saddle. She half turned to excitedly tell him what had happened to them the last few days. When they arrived to the camp she had just finished explaining how they’d left the city. While h eartfelt greetings and food was passed around , P earl waited impatiently to finish her story. Kel gave her a look reminding her it would be best if she kept their adventure to herself for now.
    After they’d eaten and rested, the campfires lit and the darkness settled around them Amias peered at Pearl for about the tenth time and demanded, “What is wrong with the child? She’s squirming like ants got into her underpants.”
    Glory gasped audibly then giggled. Pearl laughed out loud and wiggled more . Karl chuckled along with Kel.
    “She’s got a story to tell,” Karl told him. “But we are going to be polite and let Kel tell it.”
    Doran looked to his sergeant, expec ting to hear a story, looked to Brother Karl and then back to Kel.
    “It would be easier to show him,” Kel said with a grimace, knowing the Captain wouldn’t believe a word of it. It was hard enough for him to believe and he’d lived it.
    Kel was right. Amias Doran didn’t believe them. He listened quietly as they told the story of Karl’s disappearance and their visits to the well but when they were finished he asked if they thought he was gullible. He wouldn’t even consider going to the hill to examine the pool the next morning. He was irritated they didn’t give up on their ruse when he obviously didn’t believe them.
    He made busy preparing to leave as Brother Karl and the girls led his other men, who were too curious to not visit the hill, to investigate. He became more irritated as more of his men became involved in the joke on him. And when he started to believe there might be something to the story he would just slap himself and get angrier. The introduction of the females had cr eated a much more relaxed atmos phere and he wasn’t sure he approved. That woman, that Brother, though fun and kind, pretty and attentive to the girls and his men, was a distraction. She didn’t need to be leading them off on some fantasy while they had a job to do.
    “Don’t be a proud fool ,” Kel whispered to him so no one else could hear.
    His pride was keeping him from finding out the truth. He was curious but had refused to have them lead him to the hill only to laugh at him. So he stole away when he thought no one was watching and found the winding path up to the top. From the stories they told at camp he knew t o take off his boots and socks.
    The wind chimes in the tree were pleasing in the breeze as he gazed at the