Home Lost
Page 22
He slapped the rump of her mount and rode back to retrieve his lead ropes from Gunnar.
"He’s right you know?" Elke looked ahead as they rode. "We’ve all heard tales of the Captain's methods. Oh sure, he’s made the area safe from bandits and such, but many question whether the safety gained is worth the pain given. A lot of innocents have suffered in his quest to find the guilty.
"Besides, me and Gunnar’s been getting too settled in our old age. For a long time now, we've only been marking time till we die. It’s time we set out to see something more than our little village. We’ve been needing a bit of excitement."
Leena knew the woman was trying to soften the pangs of conscience. She knew what Darius and Elke said about the Captain was true, and yet...
She looked behind. Somewhere back there must be an answer. Darius looked calm and complacent. Gunnar looked excited, almost happy.
Beyond them, a tendril of black smoke rose like a welcoming finger beckoning them home. Again she stopped. This time all stopped and looked where she was looking.
They had traveled more than four miles. The smoke from the fireplace would not be visible at this distance. As they watched, the base of the smoke broadened and was joined by another thin tendril to its left. The two merged to form a thick black column rising into the clear blue of the winter sky.
The soldiers had put the farm to the torch. This was the legal punishment for being a fugitive from the law. All knew their lands would also be seized.
Leena realized return was no longer an option. Gunnar and Elke had no farm to return to. Tears of rage and frustration built on her lower eyelids. She sensed Elke riding up beside her. As Leena stared at the condemning smoke, she felt her hand grasped and squeezed gently.
"It’s time we move on."
She turned to Elke. She saw no look of accusation, only understanding of the pain Leena was feeling. Her heart went out to this woman she met just a few days ago. With a final sniff, she turned her mount south.
The smoke of loss was behind them. None of them knew what lay ahead.
* * * * *
THANK YOU!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Home Lost!
If you enjoyed it, there are seven more books to the Clarion of Destiny series that continue the journey of Leena and her friends!
As an independently published author, reviews are a make or break aspect of expanding the reach of my books. I know you have already done a lot for me just by starting the Clarion of Destiny journey, but it would mean a lot to me if you would be willing to take some time to leave me an honest review in the marketplace that you purchased or downloaded this book from.
By reviewing any independently published authored books, you give the opportunity for that author to access more advertising options, reach more potential readers, and spread their work to a broader audience. Again, you have already done me a great service, but a review would make me eternally grateful, and give me the chance to continue expanding on my dream!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Franz McLaren was sucked into the world of fantasy at ten-years-old when he read Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. After that, he delved headfirst into the stories of Dr. Seuss, and from then on, the stories of J. R. R. Tolkien, Terry Goodkind, Holly Lisle, J. K. Rowling, and many others have grown to be a significant part of his life.
Throughout his life, Franz McLaren has traveled extensively, living in forty-eight of the fifty United States, England, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, and vacationing in a host of many other nations. After experiencing all of the fantasies that his travels had to offer, Franz has now settled down into manifesting fantasies of his own. He uses his books to share these worlds and adventures with the rest of us. By entering his novels, you enter the part of his mind that forever lives just a bit to the left of reality.
You can learn more about Mr. McLaren at franzmclaren.com.
You can learn more about the cover artist Amber MacDonald at
facebook.com/ALMgallery
* * * * *
OTHER BOOKS BY FRANZ MCLAREN
FANTASY
Continue the adventure with the complete Clarion of Destiny series:
Home Lost
To Save Elderon
Beyond the Horizon
Welcome to Kalder
Into the Demon Realm
Sire Demon
Return to Allivan
Journey's End
Other Fantasy Novels:
Trial In Lavondel
Darl and the Spider Cult
HORROR
(Both were written with my son, Sean McLaren)
Demon Drift
A Night of Dark Delicacies
* * * * *
CONNECT WITH ME ONLINE
If you would like to leave any feedback or comments, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out on any of the following platforms, or leave me a review on the marketplace you bought this book from. Thanks in advance, and I look forward to hearing from you!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/franz.mclaren
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Franz1370
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/FranzMcLaren
Website and blog: https://www.franzmclaren.com
Email: franz@franzmclaren.com
* * * * *
CLARION OF DESTINY
VOLUME 2
TO SAVE ELDERON
CHAPTER 1
Despite heavy burdens carried by their packhorses, the group rode hard through the afternoon. By dusk, they reached the place Leena and Darius had waited for the roads to harden. Although it seemed long ago, Leena realized it had been only two days since they were here. In two days, Leena had nearly died of spell drain, Darius sacrificed a promising future, Elke and Gunnar lost their farm, and the four of them were fugitives from the Great Wizard’s troops.
By now, the Captain would have returned to his outpost and mounted a pursuit. Soldiers would be riding hard to catch them. Their pursuers would probably head north first, but just as likely, the Captain would send a fast riding scout south as a precaution.
Slowed by the pack animals, they could not stay on the road much longer. At best, they would have a few more hours before they were discovered.
Darius stopped in the trodden area they used to rest the horses a few days earlier. He turned to Gunnar.
"I’m sure I remember a stream around here somewhere. Do you have any idea how far it is?"
Gunnar scratched his head, staring south.
"Well, Sir, that would be the Gillead. Many’s the time I’ve heard merchants complaining the bridge isn’t long enough. It never fails to flood and create a muddy bog at both ends in the spring. I know it cuts the road somewhere around here before turning north past the town. But to tell the truth, Sir, I’ve never been this far south myself."
Darius looked at Elke. She shrugged and rode over to take her husband’s hand. Leena admitted she paid attention only to finding firmer footing for her mount when they passed this way.
"We have to continue until we find it and hope this cold snap holds." Darius looked back north. "A scout cannot be too far behind us. We dare not travel on the firmer footing beside the road. A blind person could find our tracks there. I know we are all hungry, but I suggest we wait until we escape the road before we stop."
The group nodded agreement. Leena and Elke gently prodded their horses forward as the men fell in behind. Their mounts were tiring. They had to find a safe place soon.
A distant clink of metal rang through the air. Instantly they stopped and listened. Faintly, the drumbeat of hooves on ice rose in the distance.
With no words, they spurred their mounts to a gallop.
The horses could not keep this pace for long. Already they were blowing heavy clouds of steam from their nostrils. Desperately, the group looked for a place to hide.
Although they were surrounded by trees, none were closer than twen
ty feet from the road. Tracks through the unbroken snow would easily be seen.
A lump in the road ahead signaled the bridge. Leena’s heart sank as she realized a vast white clearing surrounded it. Still, they galloped forward. They had no choice.
It was impossible to hear the sounds of pursuit over the clatter of their own mounts. Leena dared not look back for fear of seeing soldiers close behind.
They halted at the bridge. With a practiced eye, Darius surveyed the land.
"There is no place to take cover here. If we try to hide under the bridge, our tracks will give us away."
They could clearly hear the sound of approaching soldiers. Soon they would be visible around the last bend in the road.
"Follow me." Without thinking, Leena rode quickly across the bridge, turned left and, hugging its stone side, led them down the slope toward the frozen surface of the Gillead. The hooves and rumps of their mounts cut deep swaths through the virgin snow as they slid down the steep bank. On the river, she shooed the group beneath the stone arch as she pulled the Garlan branch.
She had no idea whether she could control the Garlan branch, but she had no time to test it. She pictured snow melting over the path they cut through the snow. With an inner thrill, she watched snow melt instantly. Small rivulets of clear water made their way toward the stream. Quickly, she cast a freezing spell. The water froze in place like small glass rivers. With a final wave, she lifted a small whirlwind of snow to settle a fresh blanket over the crystal path. She joined the others under the bridge.
Approaching sounds of pursuit rose to a low thunder. The roar subsided as the troops slowed. An echoing clatter of hooves on ice-coated stone rang around them. Leena lifted the branch and cast a healing spell on the horses to slow their labored breathing. With another wave, she cast an immobilization spell over the animals. It would not do to have one respond to the noises above.
Silently, they waited as horses above rattled to a stop. Vision was limited in the darkness beneath the bridge. Except an occasional creak of saddle leather overhead, all noise ceased.
"Sergeant, how far is this river crossing from town?"
Sounds echoed beneath the bridge making it seem the speaker was under here with them.
"About twenty miles, Sir."
"And the Captain ordered us to go twenty-five miles. I think we’ve gone far enough. We know the fugitives went north. Didn’t the flyer say they were going to Elderon? What do you say? Could you be wrong about the distance?"
"No Sir," a hesitation. "Er, yes Sir. Now that you mention it, I’ve heard different estimates of the distance and twenty-five miles does seem about right, Lieutenant."
"I agree Sergeant. Our horses are too tired to make it back to post tonight. Have the men set up camp over there in the field south of the bridge. That way we can truthfully say we went well beyond the bridge and saw no sign of them. After they set up camp, send a work party of two men to gather enough firewood to last the night."
The Sergeant’s voice issued orders. A clatter of hooves rattled the small space beneath the bridge as several horses trotted across its icy surface. Distantly, the sounds of squeaking leather and clinking metal floated back. Leena considered using the bridge would conceal their escape.
"How thick do you think the ice is? Could we break through for fresh water?"
Leena nearly jumped in her saddle. Her heart thundered. The Lieutenant and Sergeant had remained on the bridge. They would be discovered if one of the soldiers came down to test the ice. She held her breath.
"With all due respect, Sir, these battle-axes were never made for hard work. Ice like that’d take the edge off them permanent. I think we’d do better to use snowmelt."
"I suppose you’re right. As soon as you can, get a fire built so we can melt water for the mounts. Come on, let’s see how the camp is coming."
Leena exhaled slowly as the sound of retreating hooves floated around them. The four remained still, fearing any creak of leather would give them away. They waited.
In the echo chamber beneath the bridge, they heard the thrum of conversations like distant ocean waves. Although sound carried well in the stillness, the soldiers were too far away to understand their words.
"How large is the post in Lovell?" Darius’ whisper rose ghostly in the silence.
"Well, Sir, I reckon I don’t really know." Gunnar’s base whisper rumbled off the stones around them. "It’s only been there a few years and I never had a reason to go that way. From the number of soldiers I’ve seen in town, I’d guess about twenty men."
"Hmm," Darius considered, "it has enough to afford two search parties. I’d wager the Captain is leading the one going north. I doubt he’ll be as lax as this lieutenant."
Leena knew the men were talking to pass time. They were trapped here until the soldiers settled in for the night. They dared not risk trying to dismount.
"When things quiet down, I’ll look and see how they’ve set up," Darius’ voice was barely above a whisper. "If we are lucky, they will post a single guard while the rest sleep. When it's safe, I suggest we follow the river east. Leena do you have a spell that could help us?"
Leena thought about it for a few moments. The Garlan branch could cast an immobilization that would affect all the soldiers, but waking from an immobilization spell left a tingling feeling. If any of these men were at the farm this morning, they might recognize that feeling. It would be like posting a sign saying they had passed this way.
Perhaps she could cast the Garlan tree's protective spell over the four and their horses. It would render them invisible to the soldiers and anything else that might be looking for them. However, it would not disguise sounds. Horses’ hooves on hard ice would travel far in the winter quiet.
"I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it."
"Okay, it's the best we can do for now." Darius said. "Still, I wish we could get somewhere we could eat. No offense Elke, but the breakfast we had this morning does not seem sufficient any longer."
They shared a quiet titter of silent laughter. Leena waved the Garlan branch to cast a healing spell over them. Instantly all felt refreshed and hunger flowed away.
"That is a pretty neat spell," Darius' voice sounded puzzled, "but it seems a bit much for a novice hedge witch. Are you sure you can afford to keep casting? This would be a bad time for another case of spell drain."
Leena realized the combined spells had not depleted her. The Garlan branch seemed to strengthen her with each use.
"I have a great deal to tell you, to tell you all, when we get to a safe place. For now though, I assure you I am in no danger of spell drain."
The whispered words hung silently in the air, the ghostly memory of a sentence that allowed each to fully contemplate its meaning. The silence stretched.
A crisp shadow cut the whiteness next to the bridge. The moon was rising in a clear sky. Their haven became a band of darkness on a field of glowing snow. Sounds from the camp were diminishing.
They waited.