Free Wanderling (Spirit Seeker Book 1) by Hannah Stahlhut Page A

the Sabrian people, whose bows and swords held no power against the
spirit beasts.”
    “At last, I have my scribe,”
Burano exclaimed. “Can you write as well?”
    “Yes,” she admitted.
    He turned to Tobin, saying, “This
is a grand gift you have given me. You and your comrades are relieved of watch
duty. We’ll begin training you for combat in two days. Take tomorrow for
yourself and be merry.”
    Tobin raised his eyebrows in
surprise. He hadn’t expected to gain a new position as a result of his efforts,
especially for participating in the kidnapping and capture of an innocent boy
and his fiercely loyal sister. If he was to train for combat, that would mean
more food and water rations for him and Sarah. However, it would also mean more
time with Jarod and his lot. Regardless, he was not foolish enough to turn down
a promotion.
    Tobin stood tall and gave a small
nod of thanks to acknowledge Burano’s words, mind racing with all the changes
about to take place.
    “What about me?” Ollie said,
breaking his silence. “I brought her in too, didn’t I?”
    “Yes, yes. Take a day off with
double rations tomorrow, Ollie. Also, take the girl and see that she is fed.
Keep her in your tent, away from the others. Take the boy, too, and see that
Willie gives him food and clothes before taking him to a cell.”
    Tobin called after Ollie as the
old man guided Adala and Shem outside. “Leave her tied up,” he advised. In a
way, he was grateful to see her put in Ollie’s care. The man talked big, but he
wouldn’t be unnecessarily hostile towards her. In fact, Tobin wondered if Ollie
could contain her for one night.
    “I know what I’m doing,” Ollie
called back over his shoulder.
    Tobin started off to follow them,
but was stopped short.
    “Stay,” called Burano’s voice from
the doorway. “I want to speak with you privately.”
    Tobin pushed the apprehension out
of his mind. “What is it, sir?” he asked, turning back to face his commander.
    “Tobin,” Burano said, offering him
a mug of grog from his personal stash. “That isn’t a common name for the
Roharian people, is it?”
    Tobin tentatively accepted the
grog, relieved to hear his mother’s people called by their true name. “Mother
thought it best to give me and Sarah names that would make us fit in with the
Wanderlings.” Much good it did us, he thought bitterly.
    Burano continued talking over
Tobin’s thoughts. “I want to thank you for your service today. Sometimes we do
difficult things for the safety of our community, and I am glad to know that I
can count on you.”
    “Thank you,” Tobin said
automatically, though the words tasted bitter in his mouth.
    “Honestly, I had no part behind
Shem’s kidnapping,” Burano confessed, staring at Tobin intently. “But now that
he and his sister are here, we cannot let them leave. If they go back to the
city and tell of our settlement…. If the girl has connections to the castle, as
she says she does, we will not only be found out but obliterated. Our numbers
are threatening to Gerstadt, and secrecy is our only protection.”
    Tobin realized the truth of the
commander’s words, wishing he didn’t agree with Burano’s reasoning. The last
thing Tobin wanted in the world was a Gerstadt cavalry riding through the
valley to burn the Wanderling village. It wasn’t much, but it was his home.
    Burano continued, “They will be
treated reasonably as long as they cooperate. And they both have skills that
will greatly help us. This could be a positive relationship after all.”
    We’ll see, thought Tobin,
recalling Adala’s boiling anger. His nose still throbbed from where she kicked
him with her boot.
    “Tell me, how much do you know
about your mother’s people, the elusive desert dwellers to the east?” Burano
said.
    Tobin jolted from the change of
subject, immediately on the defense.
    “You spent considerable time with
the Roharian tribes after your mother passed on,” Burano continued.