Belly of the Beast by Warren Thomas (story books for 5 year olds txt) 📕

are headed, so why not stay on the road and try to get ahead of them again?”

            Nizar considered a moment, then nodded.

            “Sound advice, Jessy,” he said. “They won’t expect us to come at them from the south.”

~**~**~

            Tane sat, back against a thick pine and a wineskin resting in his lap. It was still early afternoon, but they had ridden all the previous night and all that day, with barely any rest stops.

            Tane smiled at the thought of “riding” all day and night. Before this, when he heard horsemen discuss riding all day he thought they literally were riding the whole time. In truth, he spent most of his time walking, leading the horse. Horses couldn’t endure nonstop riding. They needed relief, and that involved walking for Tane and his friends.

            Once their camp was set up, and Quinn posted on guard, Raven began teaching Joelle her many massage secrets using Tane and Armin as the subjects. Once he was taken care of, Raven tossed him a wineskin before she and Joelle started on Armin.

            “You should see the look on your face, Armin,” Tane said. It was the Vikon’s first massage. Both pleasure and shock was present in Armin’s expression. “I know how you feel. But wait until they’re finished, for its true benefit becomes obvious then.”

            Joelle slanted a look at Tane, “You sound too relaxed. How much of that wine did you drink?”

            “Not enough,” Tane said, setting it aside. “But until we finish our task, I’ll not drink to excess.”

            Standing, he turned his attention to their horses. All were huddled at the edge of camp, their saddles and tack set off to the side. They had already decided to stay through the night, so the horses had to be fed now that they were cooled down.

            “I’ll tend the horses if Armin will relieve Quinn after his massage,” Tane said.

            “I’ll help you,” Raven said, starting to rise.

            “No, you tend to Quinn,” Tane said. “I need some time alone, and might as well make myself useful while I’m at it.”

            “Alone?” Raven said. “Gods, that’s the last thing I ever want.”

            “You are a people person, Raven,” Tane said. “I need time alone to think. Crowds and tight quarters stress me out.”

            Raven glanced around. “What crowds? What tight quarters?”

            Tane chuckled as he retrieved the single horse grooming kit they shared. “I know. It’s all in my head, but I’m feeling trapped, hemmed in. Just give me some time to myself.”

            “Fine,” she said, casting a speculative look Quinn’s way. “I think I need some privacy, too. I won’t need your help with Quinn, Joelle.”

            “No problem, Raven,” Joelle said with a big grin. “I can keep Armin company on guard.”

            “Thanks,” Raven said. Then, “Quinn. Your turn.”

            “Poor Quinn,” Armin said, standing.

Chapter 76

            Nizar silently thanked Dakar as he stopped his mount. The steady sleet had stopped. The wind was no more than an occasional whisper in the treetops, and he felt the biting cold easing, becoming almost bearable.

            Jessy stopped beside him and pulled off her helmet and leather hood to scratch at her head. Steam swirled up from her damp hair, bringing a scowl to Nizar’s face. The barbarian girl-child was hot! He was freezing in his woolen robes, turban, and veil, while she sweltered in thick leather and armor. After a moment of intent scratching, she suddenly shuttered violently and donned the hood and helmet.

            “Cold,” she said. “Can’t we keep moving? I’m fine as long as we’re moving.”

            “No,” he said, looking up. He wasn’t about to admit it, but he had reached the limit of his endurance. His father might be a sultan, but Nizar wasn’t raised in the saddle like his half-brothers. The thought of walking the horses for a day or two was becoming more and more appealing every minute. “We can’t wear out the horses before we really need them. Besides, I think we might have gotten too far in front of your cousin. We can afford to rest tonight.”

            “Sounds great.”

            A lone owl passed high overhead, his gray plumage almost lost in the dreary pre-dusk cloud-cover. Nizar reached out with his God-given powers to the owl. The bird was weary and half-starved, so offered no resistance when Nizar sought control. It was over in a heartbeat, with Nizar’s will controlling the owl’s every move.

            There had been two hawks earlier that surrendered their will to Nizar as they soared over the thick winter forest. Neither bird had been able to find any sign of Tane and his comrades. He was sure he and Jessy had ridden long and hard enough to get well ahead of Tane’s group, but couldn’t find them. Had they turned back? Or changed their direction? Could Tane Kyleson give up? Jessy didn’t think so. Neither did Nizar.

            “See anything?” Jessy asked, watching the owl disappear to the south.

            “Not yet,” Nizar said.

            “You want me to make a proper camp?” she said. “Or just a fire?”

            “Neither,” he said, grinning. “There seems to be an abandoned hut just a few minutes into the trees. I have the owl checking it out now.”

            It wasn’t easy, but he had taken control of enough birds to communicate what he wanted them to do. Nevertheless, the owl struggled to hover outside the open door of the hut. Using the owl’s senses, Nizar heard nothing, and saw even less within the hut. Nothing left but to send the bird inside. A moment later, the owl landed and went inside. What Nizar saw through the owl’s eyes looked decrepit and long abandoned, but the inside seemed dry. The wood-shingled roof was still intact.

            “We’ll stay the night in the hut,” Nizar said, sending the owl southward in search of Tane. Pointing, he said, “Lead me that way.”

            The command was a common enough occurrence that Jessy acted without thought, gently prying the reins from his hand and leading