Free The Last Enchanter by Laurisa White Reyes Page A

her shoulders. She was much older than Marcus and quite beautiful.
    â€œDo you like the gryphon?” she asked.
    â€œActually, I’m looking for a dragon,” explained Marcus, “but I don’t see any here.”
    The woman narrowed her eyes, studying Marcus’s face. “Not for you,” she said. “The dragon is a symbol of demons. They serve the evil ones. No, not for you.”
    The woman leaned close to Marcus and pointed at the amulet in Lael’s hand. Then she reached beneath her collar and pulled out a pendant of jade. On it, carved in relief, was a gryphon.
    â€œThe gryphon,” she continued, “is the guardian of the gods. It stands watch over the sacred treasure and protects the divine oracle. It is an honor to wear its likeness.”
    â€œAll right,” said Marcus. “I kind of like it. How much?”
    â€œFor you only two coins—and your blessing.”
    Marcus started to laugh but then stopped when he saw the serious expression on the woman’s face. He looked at Lael, who returned his glance with a shrug. Then Lael placed the leather strap around his neck.
    There was something about this gryphon Marcus liked. He had planned to buy a dragon to remind him of the one he had fought during the Hestorian invasion, but he felt satisfied that he had found something more suitable.
    The merchant woman held out her hand for payment. Marcus dug in his pouch for the coins, while Lael wandered toward the neighboring tent.
    As Marcus placed the coins in the woman’s hands, a loud crack sounded. Marcus glanced up just in time to see Lael rushing toward him. She rammed into him and knocked him to the ground, forcing the breath right out of him. At the same time, more cracks sounded. People shouted. Marcus looked over Lael’s shoulder and saw the tent’s huge wooden frame collapse in a heap. The massive central pole lay on the ground—right where Marcus had been standing just moments before.

Twenty-six
    M arcus lay on his back on the rough stone that paved the streets of Dokur. His right elbow and shoulder ached from the sudden blow. But he was not thinking about the pain. He was thinking about the fact that Lael had landed on top of him, her face only inches from his.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she stammered, scrambling to her feet.
    Marcus wasn’t sure whether to smile or scowl. “It seems landing on me has become a habit,” he said, choosing a smile. Lael’s expression told him he had chosen wrong. He was about to roll over onto his not-so-sore left side, when a shadow fell over him. Marcus closed his eyes and groaned, waiting for the lecture that was sure to follow.
    â€œI told you he’d get into trouble,” said Xerxes, “but do you ever listen to me?”
    â€œI can explain,” started Marcus as Zyll held out a hand to help him up. The merchant woman who had sold him the gryphon amulet bent over the mass of broken wood and torn silk. She already had dozens of pendants strung up and down both arms and was searching the wreckage for more. Marcus was relieved she had not been hurt.
    Zyll picked up a tangle of leather cords and held them out to her. “Here you are,” he said with a smile. The woman reached for the amulets but stopped short. Her eyes grew wide as she took them from him.
    â€œThe tent just suddenly collapsed,” Lael was explaining. “It wasn’t Marcus’s fault.”
    â€œZyll, are you listening to this?” Xerxes snapped.
    Zyll looked away from the merchant woman. “Hmm? What was that, my friend?”
    â€œAre you all right?” Marcus asked his grandfather.
    The space between Zyll’s eyes creased. He glanced back toward the tent, but the merchant woman had gone.
    â€œNothing,” said Zyll. “I thought I recognized her, that’s all. Just my aging memory playing tricks, I suppose. Now, what were you saying?”
    By then Clovis had reached them,