Free Lodestone Book One: The Sea of Storms by Mark Whiteway Page A

she’s little more than a
child, Lyall. Besides, where we’re going isn’t safe.”
    “Safer than here in a little
while, I think. You were right not to tell her about the situation
at her home. There’s nothing she could do.”
    Alondo had a faraway look as he
stared out of the window. “I know she suspects something. She asked
why I was being so quiet on the way back from Lind.” He smiled.
“You know I’ve never been very good at hiding my
feelings.”
    “She probably thinks you’re just
worried about our mission.” He rose from his stool, walked over to
Alondo, and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Shann is tougher than
she looks. Besides, I can teach her to defend herself. We will both
look after her. She will be fine.”
    Sure. Just like those
poor devils at Persillan.
    Lyall went to the door and called
out, “Shann.”
    A moment later, she stood at the
doorway dressed in farm worker’s coveralls. Her face was flushed.
She had been helping Moina feed and water the animals. “Yes
Lyall?”
    Lyall smiled. “We’re headed for
Gort.”
    “ When?” She
asked.
    “Right now.”
    She wiped her hands down her
front and headed for the stairs. “I’ll get my things.”
    ~
    Shann sat with her arms wrapped
around her knees, staring into the fire as it tapered and danced,
sparks flying upwards to merge with Ail-Mazzoth`s ember glow. The
flames made a pleasant crackling sound.
    Only a few hours before, they had
said their goodbyes at the farmhouse. The little party assembled in
the yard as clouds were gathering, partially obscuring the late
afternoon suns. The morgren were stamping their feet as if they
were impatient to be underway. Hedda and Moina kissed the two men
and the girl. Shann was surprised to see Hedda hug Alondo as if she
would not let go.
    Moina was fussing as usual. Lyall
received the lecture patiently. “Mind you take care of that bandage
now. I won’t be there to patch you up. And take good care of the
girl. I expect to see all of you back here safe.”
    Lyall forced himself to smile at
his aunt. “Don’t worry, we’ll be back soon enough.”
    Shann addressed Hedda. “Please as
soon as you can, could you get word to the Wayfarer in Corte? Tell
Gallar and Poltann that I am all right, and that they should not
worry.”
    Hedda stroked Shann’s cheek.
“Don’t worry child; I have not forgotten.”
    They said final farewells. Then,
with Lyall and Alondo leading the two beasts of burden, the little
procession headed for the road that would take them
south.
    Shann took a
last look back over her shoulder at the two women who were watching
them depart in silence. Will I ever see
them again?
    A log within the fire made a
snapping sound. Lyall was standing next to her, poking the fire
with a stick, provoking it. The firelight cast a long shadow from
his tall form.
    A shape appeared at the edge of
the firelight and moved towards them. Alondo dropped lightly to the
ground next to Shann and grinned at her, firelight and shadow
lending his visage a ghoulish appearance.
    “No signs of pursuit,” he
declared.
    “All right.” Lyall retrieved his
stick and began drawing in the sandy soil as the other two watched.
“Two days to the edge of the Southern Desert.” He drew a line.
“Then five more days across the desert to Gort.” He placed a stone
to indicate the position of the fortress. “There are outposts
here.” He pointed. “And here, where there are water holes and
supplies. However, I think it best that we skirt around
them.”
    Alondo pursed his lips. “No point
in taking on the Prophet’s soldiers before we have to.”
    “Actually, I’m more concerned
about them raising the alarm. The powers in Chalimar will no doubt
have Ringed every town, village and outpost from here to the Aronak
Sea.”
    “Ringed?” Shann broke
in.
    “Yes.” Lyall turned to her. “You
remember that I mentioned that there were different kinds of
lodestone? There is a kind that allows two people to communicate