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

a small band of mercenaries specializing in rescues and in this situation, assassination. The Talos Company had been operating for thousands of years, founded by Altair Talos and his brother Gorm. Aside from the casual human or two, the membership through the years boasted long-lived creatures such as Daerlan, Zidar, Tuors, Anethean and those blessed with magic to extend their life. It was a practical requirement to keep the membership constant. Mortals die so rapidly and Kerreth could not determine how many generations of mortals had passed since he joined the Talos Company. Dvorak Annis was a mortal whose lifetime should have passed eons ago but for his magic. He was a mage of no distinction in a particular subject, but a student of all magic. He specialized in healing, deception and food. He spent all his spare time in the local inns sampling their wares. Blackthorne was a powerful sorcerer of wide repute, but did not share his knowledge with any body of magicians, not even with Dvorak Annis. What he knew he kept to himself.
    Kerreth Veralier's heritage was part human, part Zidar, and the long life of that magical race sustained him nearly three millennia. The rest of the company consisted of Taina Talos, Gorm's niece, an Daerlan; Elberra Turan, an Anethean, blue skinned and winged; Taina's daughter, Moria Albalen, half human half Daerlan; Hobart Hufflen, a Tuor a tiny version of an Daerlan; Loric, a Man with Celaeri blood - the Celaeri long vanished into the shadow of history and Navir, former King of the Daerlan.
    Loric and Blackthorne had scouted ahead while the others paid closer attention to the items the Turucks left behind. Most Turuck settlements were tent cities, able to pack up and move quickly. The Talos Company found many such sites, but were no closer to their quarry.
    Several months ago, Navir had come to them with an offer from the Daerlan King Faelir, to pay handsomely for the destruction of the Menaloch. It was a creature that had thwarted Navir when he was king of the Daerlan ten thousand years ago and forced Navir to lead his people from their home of Arda on the continent of Anavar to their current home of Liannest on Amloth, across the sea. Navir did not want to discuss it, only delivered the offer and left the company to return to Amloth. His cryptic warnings about the powers of the Menaloch did little to dismay his colleagues. They were more intrigued and determined to find out about this creature that bettered Navir.
     
    "Do you want to push on?" asked Darkin Rost. "Night falls fast and sandstorms often accompany the darkness."
    "No, we will shelter here. Find a suitable place."
    "There was a cave twenty yards to the east. For preserving food. Should suit us for the night."
    "What about Loric and Blackthorne?" said Moria Albalen.
    "They are coming," said Dvorak Annis. "Blackthorne was listening for me. I called them back."
    "Good," said Kerreth. "Let's get the supplies down that cave before the sand storm finds us."
    The edges of the storm reached them by the time the supplies were safely underground. The howling wind rose and the tapping of sand on the rocks filled their ears. They moved farther down the cave, only Hobart remained near the entrance watching for Blackthorne and Loric. The wind shifted and sand pelted into the cave. Hobart curled up into a tiny ball and watched. The others turned their backs to the entrance.
    "They better get here quick," said Taina. "I'm for blocking the entrance now."
    "Patience," said Kerreth. "Should only be a short while more."
    "Here they are," said Hobart.
    Two shapes entered the cave and helped Hobart block the entrance. They shook the sand from them and joined the others.
    "No sign of the Turucks," said Loric. "Nothing as far north as we could see. They attacked Penarol City, but look to be gone now."
    "I get no sense of them. I believe they have crossed the water," said Blackthorne.
    "The sea?" asked Kerreth.
    Blackthorne nodded.
    "What is between us and