Free The Third Apprentice by Lana Axe Page B

dispersed, each moving to their own huts
to rest for the night. Ursla invited Zamna and Taren to sleep in her hut, while
she preferred to sleep outside under the stars. As they entered the hut and sat
upon the soft animal skins, Taren knew he would have to explain his reasons for
keeping the symbol’s power a secret.
    “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you more about the item
we’re seeking,” he began. “I thought if—”
    “No need to explain,” Zamna replied with a shrug.
“I have my secrets, you have yours. All I ask is that you not withhold
information that might get us killed.” He spread himself out on the furs,
placing his arms behind his head.
    “It’s not that I don’t trust you,” Taren said.
“Well, I didn’t at first, but I do now. You could have walked away when those
women had me in their net. You didn’t. You came looking for me, and I believe
you would have killed them all to stop them from harming me. I’ve never had a
truer friend.”
    Zamna rolled his eyes. He wasn’t the sort to enjoy
sentimental moments. “Look, you are my ticket to a vast treasure. Why would I
let that go? Think nothing more of my actions than that.” In his life, he had
few people he would consider a friend. In fact, he had none since leaving his
childhood home. Perhaps Taren was a friend. He seemed likable enough, and he had
yet to try selling him to one of his many enemies. It was quite possible this
mage would have tried to save him, had he been the one caught in a trap
instead. What good is friendship? Zamna had made it this far without a
friend, and he didn’t need one now. The two men could be companions for this
journey, but nothing more. Zamna enjoyed his solitary existence.
    Taren found it hard to believe that he meant
nothing more to Zamna than a ticket to riches. From now on, he would be
completely honest and keep nothing to himself. His companion had earned his
trust and proved himself an honorable man. Taren lay back on the soft furs, his
feet keeping warm near the flames. “I’ll ask Ursla to bless you as well,” he
said. “Good night.” He drifted off to sleep feeling more secure than he had
since leaving the safety of his master’s cabin. Despite the warnings he had
received, he felt confidence in his mission and his own abilities to succeed
where none had before.

Chapter 7
     
    A rough hand
awakened Taren at sunrise. One of the Sisters had come to rouse him and bring
him to the morning ceremony. With a yawn and a stretch, Taren sat up in time to
see the woman exiting the hut. She left the flap open, allowing the soft-pink
sunlight of dawn to filter inside. Looking over at Zamna, who was curled up
next to the fire, Taren smiled. For a hard-nosed killer, he certainly slept
peacefully.
    “Zamna,” he called,
remembering his past mistake. Never again would he lay hands on his companion
to wake him. When the La’kertan did not stir, Taren called his name louder.
“Zamna, it’s time to get up!”
    Zamna opened a
single yellow eye and squinted it at the mage. He mumbled something inaudible
and wrapped himself tighter in his fur blanket.
    Taren stood over
him. “It’s time for the ceremony,” he said. “Get up. They’re expecting us.”
    With a loud groan,
Zamna began to move. Finally he rose to his feet, walking groggily toward the
door. The Sisters were already assembled, forming a close circle around the
Matriarch. She wore an elaborate feathered headdress, and her face was mostly
obscured by smoke. A low chant could barely be heard coming from the circle.
Taren and Zamna approached slowly, not intending to interrupt the ceremony,
which had apparently begun without them.
    Remaining on the
sidelines, the men watched as the women began to move in a rhythmic pattern,
linking their arms together. Their feet moved in unison, taking them in a
clockwise direction. The chanting grew louder, and Ursla spun at the center.
Raising her hands toward the rising sun, she cried out in a shrill,