Free The Calling (Book 7 of The Blood & Brotherhood Saga) (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) by Jeremy Laszlo Page A

Xanth suddenly stopped. Watching as the great wolf seemed to sniff the air, before looking this way and that, Zorbin saw something peculiar through the eyes of his friend. There, in the darkened forest, were giant mushrooms, cultivated into even rows. Only people cultivated plants.
    Then, seemingly having picked up the trail once more, Xanth again leapt into the trees with his nose in the air, sniffing and searching. For more than thirty minutes Zorbin was a silent witness to the hunt. Rounding a large tree, Xanth slid to a stop and Zorbin could see that the wolf looked out over a narrow ravine. There, in the depths of the ravine, stood the doe. She was mature and elegant in her stance—a proud kill for any hunter.
    As Xanth’s stance shifter lower to the ground, Zorbin watched from the wolf’s eyes as he crept slowly forward carefully placing each paw. Then, when he was in range, the wolf sprang atop the doe, driving it to the ground in a tangle of legs and fur. Growling and snapping, he reached out and caught the throat of his prey and clamping down, witnessed its final struggles as blood poured from its neck.
    Shaking his head, Zorbin found his own jaw clenched tightly closed. It were almost as if he had actually lived the event instead of simply witnessed it. The thrill of the hunt still lingered within him as his heart pounded in his chest. Breathing hard, he stood to stretch, wondering at his and Xanth’s connection. It had never been this strong before. But that was not all that he wondered about. Stoking the fire near his feet, Zorbin began to recall and memorize everything he could about Xanth’s hunt. Tomorrow, the wolf’s path would be theirs as well. He had a strong suspicion that the mushrooms belonged to the very people they sought.
    Stepping back from the trees, Zorbin looked up to the sky. Making note of the locations of the stars, he found that his watch had already ended more than an hour before. He wasn’t particularly tired, but as it was Garret’s plan, he would stick to it. Rounding their small fire, he kicked Ashton’s protruding feet lightly, rousing the healer.
    “My turn?” Ashton asked from within the tent.
    “Aye. I ain’t been hearin’ anything to be concerned about.”
    “Good,” the healer said, climbing out of his tent.
    * * * * *
    Waiting until he was certain that the dwarf was asleep, Ashton crept a short distance away from their camp to avoid being heard. Reaching what he presumed would be a safe distance away, he pulled a dagger from his belt and peered back towards camp.
    “Powerful goddess, I pray you give me the strength to see this through. As your servant and vessel I will do what you have asked of me. With this sacrifice of blood, I beg you watch my deeds with a keen eye and see proof of my loyalty.”
    Creeping silently as death, Ashton tiptoed back to their small camp. Seeing the dwarf’s feet stir from the end of his tent, Ashton wrapped his free hand about the blade of his dagger. Reaching the tent of the slumbering dwarven warrior, he knelt down carefully, dragging the blade from his fist. Holding it high above his head, he reached out his hand, now adorned with a deep gash, and let the blood drip all about Zorbin’s feet. Standing, Ashton circled the tent, allowing his blood to splash onto the ground creating a ring. His deed finished, he sheathed his dagger once more and returned to the fire, clenching his bloodied fist closed. Leaning towards the heat, he opened his hand to expose the wound before dragging one finger across the gash, watching it mend itself closed as if it had never happened.
    Grinning to himself, Ashton leaned back on his elbows and looked up into the blackness of the heavens. Somewhere up there was his mistress. He imagined her smiling back at him, applauding his work. Not once, but twice in a single day he had made the king think about his lack of blessing. The man’s longing looks behind them in the direction of Valdadore spoke volumes.