Free The Coastal Kingdoms of Olvion: Book Two of The Chronicles of Olvion by Larry Robbins

for The Legend anymore, Toria.  When I first came to your land Tinker found me and enlisted me into the task of defeating the invasion of the Grey Ones.  I’m hoping that the only reason I’m here now is to find Dwan and continue my life with her.  It’s really all I want.”
    The young woman turned around to walk normally beside him while thinking.  Finally she turned to him and placed a small hand on his arm.  “I hope so also, Tag.”
    Just as the sky was turning a deep purple they came to the crest of a hill and looked down from it to see a collection of a dozen sturdy buildings.  One was much larger, and had sawn wood siding while the others were mostly constructed of barked logs.  Because Toria had talked almost constantly since they started their journey, Taggart knew that this was the farm of Chadd and his sons.  Chadd, like Mattus, had been a warrior, only he had served the kingdom of Archer’s Gate.  He had brought his sons to the city of Olvion around the same time as Mattus’ family had arrived.  Since they were both heading in the same direction, at least for part of the way, they had joined forces.  The action had been comforting to all since raiding parties of Greys were still a danger. 
    When the counter-attack of the Grey Ones was smashed by the late-arriving reinforcements from the Coastal Kingdoms the brutish Greys had fled in every direction.  While it was thought that most of them would work their way back to the Grey Mountains where their tribes were located, such a result was not a certainty.  Many in the kingdom felt that a large number of them would be so shamed by their failure that they would not return to their homes.  Some of the royal academicians posited that many would remain in the valley of the humans for the purpose of exacting revenge for their humiliating defeat.  No one knew for sure.  There had been numerous attacks in the months following the Great War.  Some had been repelled, and some had not.  It was for this reason that Taggart was heartened to see that the large farm was still under human control.
    As they drew near a hanging strip of metal was struck by a hammer several times.  The resulting noise alerted all on the farm that strangers were approaching.  Taggart could see a dozen or more males of varying ages running to trenches and other defensive constructs.   He also saw swords and spears being brandished.
    Taggart had been given an old spear by Mattus so that he could defend himself and Toria.  He handed the weapon off to the girl and did a slow spin, so that the defenders of the farm could see that he had no others.  As they approached the high gate that led to the main building of the complex he saw three older women exiting.  The oldest one was wiping her hands on a rag and smiling.  The other two had their hands shading their eyes from the sun as they watched the arriving strangers.
    There was a high-pitched squeal followed by the sound of running feet.  Taggart swiveled his head just in time to catch the sight of a running girl who was roughly the same age as Toria.  Toria squinted, then herself started running to intercept the girl.  They met halfway and wrapped their arms around each other, both emitting a collection of squeals and laughs.  Taggart deduced that the other young woman was Wayla, Chadd’s daughter whom Toria had met on their journey out from Olvion.
    With Toria and her friend otherwise engaged Taggart continued down the packed earth approach to the main lodge building.  When he got close enough a rough looking man held up a hand for him to stop.  The man was short and wiry in the fashion of the thin-limbed Olvionis.  He was going bald on his pate and had thick brown eyebrows.  He had an air of authority about him, and Taggart guessed that he must have been an officer in the army of Archer’s Gate.
    The old warrior turned to the other waiting men and signaled for them to lower their weapons.  He approached Taggart