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

He was broken beyond repair. He longed for those lost to him and his pain showed clearly. He was susceptible. Of this much Ashton was certain. If only he knew how far he could push the king before he snapped, broke down, and gave in. If only he knew how to make the man reach a point so desolate that he would be open to a new way. Time, Ashton reminded himself. It would all come in due time. The goddess had told him as much.
    Turning his gaze to the south, he wondered what had transpired since last he left those lands. He could almost feel the hot breeze across the sand, though he did not miss the biting of the flies. He knew that Gnak had succeeded in his own task. In order to be the orc’s equal before the goddess, he would need to complete his.
    Hearing a rustling from somewhere beyond his vision, Ashton watched the darkness intently as the dwarf’s massive wolf came trotting towards them with something hanging from its maw. As it neared, Ashton recognized the beast’s burden for what it was and grinned. Hanging from the mouth of the wolf was an entire flank of a large deer. Though torn and mangled around the edges, the meat was surprisingly intact and still covered in a protective layer of the animal’s hide. As he patted the beast’s head, it looked at him incredulously before dropping its prize at his feet with a huff, and sauntered off between the tents. He knew not the intelligence of the animal, but assumed it was greater than he originally gave it credit for.
    Pulling his dagger from his belt once more, he went to work skinning the meat and building a small spit to roast it on. In under an hour the sizzling and popping of cooking meat filled their camp as the scent of fresh kill filled the air. It wasn’t long until his companions began to stir, and shortly before daybreak both were climbing out from their tents to stretch. Watching as they neared, he noted them both licking their lips as he rose to greet them.
    “Good morning, gentlemen. Your wolf brought us some breakfast,” he said, turning to meet the dwarf’s eyes.
    “Aye, he likes to be doing that sometimes,” Zorbin grinned through his beard.
    “Is it venison?” Garret asked.
    “He bagged ‘im a doe last night, and better than that, methinks me knows where the druids be.”
    “How? What? Where?” Aston asked nearly all at once.
    “Do tell,” Garret added.
    “Cause of me link to his mind, I was able to watch him hunt the deer, ye see. He be coming across a small clearing filled with even rows of mushrooms too perfect to be by chance.”
    “You think you can find it?” Garret asked.
    “I’m fairly certain I can get us close, but I don’t think I’ll have to.”
    “Why’s that?” Ashton asked.
    “Cause I’ll just have Xanth take us.”
    “He understands us?” Ashton asked.
    “More than you know, he does.”
    Ashton pondered the revelation. Had the wolf seen his deeds the previous night? Heard his prayer of offering? Smelled the blood around the tents? Is that why it simply dropped the venison and left to inspect behind them? Was it possible it could relay such information to the dwarf? Ashton needed to be more careful. The wolf and dwarf could be trouble. He’d have to keep his eye on them.
    Turning his attention back to the spit, he turned the handle once more before looking up with a grin.
    “Breakfast is served, gentlemen.”
    * * * * *
    Gorandor stalked across the heavens filled with anger and something he had not felt in eons. Fear. He could see the threads of time twisting and binding to weave a fate for him and many of his kin that was beyond simple mending. Seeing the threat for what it was, he knew that he needed to act. Their simple manipulations had been countered and had somehow backfired, speeding Ishanya’s plan to only one likely conclusion.
    Peering across time, where the threads were first twisted into possibilities, he looked for any sign of hope and saw a glimmer. Following the thread to where it met destiny,