Free The Ghost Of Eslenda (Book 1) by Jim Greenfield

it?"
    "It is no longer a god, just the essence left behind when Cothos destroyed it. It is powerful, but not as powerful as it once was."
    "It was strong enough to chase the Daerlan from Arda!" said Gorm. "Navir wants us to hunt it for him, but where is he? He is no longer king of the Daerlan and wanders Landermass sticking his nose in other people's business. He cannot call this Daerlan business; he left the Daerlan centuries ago."
    "We follow you, Kerreth," said Moria Albalen. Her lithe shape approached from the shadows. Muted Daerlan features gave her a feral appearance. "You do not fail us."
    "Don't give him a big head," said Taina Talos. "He needs to be able to find his brain in there."
    "You are always so supportive, Taina," said Kerreth. "I wonder why that is."
    "Love perhaps?" offered Moria.
    "That is long dead history," said Taina. "It was centuries ago, there is no spark now. Why do you ask about that so often?"
    "I wondered if Kerreth was my father," said Moria. She smiled at Kerreth and squeezed his arm.
    "I told you before, Kerreth is not your father," said Taina.
    "Never that clearly. Why won't you tell me who is my father, mother?"
    "Lack of sense," said Gorm Talos. "Taina's decisions have always been questionable, and I should know, she's my niece. I witnessed most of her bad ones."
    "Besides," said Dvorak Annis. "If Kerreth was your father you'd have some resemblance to him and you're far too beautiful for that. No sign of bowing in the legs, no tusks."
    "You are ever the master of tact," said Gorm Talos. "It's not Kerreth's fault he's so plain. In fact, it might be what attracted Taina to him in the first place."
    Taina Talos walked away from the conversation and began to sing to herself. Gorm covered his ears, shaking his head.
    "Only Daerlan who can't carry a tune," he muttered.
    Moria watched her mother ignore them. She sighed and sat in the dirt next to Darkin Rost. Kerreth patted her shoulder. She gripped his hand.
    "You have no Zidar blood," said Kerreth. "I would not fail to notice that. In some ways, perhaps it is better you are not my daughter." He smiled at her. Kerreth stood just well over six feet tall and had large pale blue eyes. While not appearing fit the heavily muscled man was quite strong and agile and favored two identical swords; identical except for a blue gem in the hilt of his right one and a red gem in the hilt of the left one. His love of ale contributed to his soft mid-section and a wider girth than he needed. The chiseled looks of Loric were not Kerreth Veralier's, but he was content in who he was. He did have tusks protruding from his lower jaw and that added to his fierce appearance. Moria smiled back at him.
    "Kerreth!" said Gorm. "No distractions now. Think with your brain, not your..oh, I can't believe you said that."
    "I wish you would mind your own business, Great Uncle," said Moria. "Ancient revered one."
    "Don't start that!"
    "You did ask for it," said Taina.
    "Am I alone here?" asked Gorm. "Am I defenseless?"
    "We are all alone here," said Darkin sourly.
    "Do you need help against women?" asked Hobart Hufflen. "That isn't what you said yesterday."
    "Hobart! Stay out of this!" said Gorm.
    "What did you say, uncle?" asked Taina.
    "Yes, please elucidate," said Elberra Turan as she towered over Gorm. Her wings stirred up sand behind her.
    "That's enough," said Kerreth. "We need to decide our next move."
    The ladies moved away from Gorm, murmuring at him too low for Kerreth to hear. He knew they were a disciplined group and their verbal sparring helped break the tension of their missions. He witnessed it for thousands of years and it was as comfortable as a new pair of wool socks after a long trek in the wide world. No matter what the hardships he knew they would pull through and succeed. The Talos Company boasted of results no other could and therefore commanded the best contracts in terms of pay and task. They had no peer.
    Kerreth Veralier, Captain of the Talos Company, led