The Tales of the Wanderer Volume One: A Book of Underrealm (The Underrealm Volumes 4) by Garrett Robinson (elon musk reading list TXT) 📕

the guard. “A good distance away from us, you might say, but they have many citizens across the nine kingdoms. If you serve a Rangatira, you should be able to appreciate a little extra caution, given the circumstances.”

“Of course,” said Mag. “If only the Dulmish king were as loyal as you good people, this would not be such a dark day.”

That seemed to pacify them, especially the old one, and they waved us on after only a few more questions. Dryleaf had remained silent all the long while, answering only when one of the guards asked him a question, and then only in brief, clipped words. As we passed from earshot of the guards, he spoke at last, scarcely above a whisper.

“The Seat.”

“I know,” I said.

Dryleaf bowed his head. “What if Loren was there?”

“That was not her intent,” I said. “She made for Ammon. She was only going to send a message to the High King.”

The old man shook his head. “I have known many Mystics. If I were one of their captains, and I believed her tale, I would send her to the Seat herself, so that all she knew could be laid before the throne, and all her counsel taken.”

“Even if that is the case, she will be fine,” said Mag. “Loren is a clever girl. She has survived worse.”

“Worse than a battle on the Seat?” I said. “They may say it was Dulmun, but I do not think that is the whole truth. The Shades were involved, or I am a fool.”

“Both things may be true,” said Mag. Before I could respond, she quickly went on. “If Enalyn survived, her forces must have won the battle. And you know Loren is not a fighter. She would not put herself in the middle of a conflict like that.”

“Those who do not wield blades can still die upon them,” I said.

“And one battle will not be the end of it,” said Dryleaf. “Who knows what may have happened since?”

“Not I, and not you,” said Mag. “I am as worried about Loren as either of you. But we cannot know what may or may not have happened to her, and even if we set out for the Seat this minute we could not find out for months. Keep your mind on our task here, and once we have completed it, then we can look after her.”

I sighed. “Very well. It is true enough that we cannot get answers either quickly or easily. And the weremage will not wait idly if we decide to go find Loren.”

Dryleaf shook himself. “You are right, of course. And if she survived, she will receive our letter soon. Mayhap she already has. That is some small comfort, at least.”

“It is,” I said with a smile. Mag murmured in agreement, though she seemed troubled.

We turned our attention back to the city around us, and I tried to remember what I could, in order to direct us to a good inn for the night. But I felt that with each new corner I turned, I found some way in which the city had changed. I could not be sure if it was only my poor memory, or if things were truly so different as I thought, but I suspected the latter. I thought much of the tall kauri tree that had been felled in my youth, and I knew that that had not been the end of the changing of my world.

Kaita reached the Shades before we reached Tokana, of course, and she received word the day we arrived.

Phelan, the captain of the stronghold in her stead, delivered the message. He knocked twice on her door, hard. After waiting three heartbeats for a response, he opened it and stepped in. In his hand he held a lantern, and he lit a taper from it, which he used to illuminate two more lanterns on either side of the room.

“Commander Kaita,” he said, keeping his eyes studiously away from the bed. “There is news.”

Kaita was already sitting up, as was the girl who had joined her in her bed that night. The girl looked somewhat embarrassed at the intrusion, but Kaita ignored her and donned a thin robe. The room was cold for such a threadbare garment, but the chill was as nothing to Kaita.

“Considering I gave you permission to wake me in only one instance,” said Kaita, “I think I may venture a guess as to what news you have brought.”

“She has reached Tokana.”

“With the others?” said Kaita.

He nodded. “The old one known as Dryleaf, and the ranger.”

“The Telfer man is not a ranger,” spat Kaita.

Phelan did not seem to know quite what to say to that, and eventually he settled for, “They brought the dog as well.”

Kaita tried to suppress her irritation. Though our journey to Tokana had taken us longer than we wished, we had arrived just a little too soon for her purposes. Matters with the trolls had progressed more slowly than she would have wished.

“What of the Telfer patrols?” she said.

“We still encounter them occasionally,” said Phelan. “Or rather, we see them. We are always careful not to be noticed.”

“Are they still out at night?”

The man frowned. “They are. And they have increased their guards since the trolls crossed the border.”

Kaita’s fingers played with her hair, braiding it absentmindedly as she considered her plans. “Very well. The trolls’ efforts must be increased. Gatak shall have to go and visit them, especially now that Dotag has taken leadership. And keep someone—or several someones—watching Mag at all times. But sky above, do not let her notice. I shall join our agents monitoring them, when my other duties permit me.”

The man bowed. “As you say, Commander.”

“That will be all.”

He nodded and left. The room settled to silence, and the girl in Kaita’s bed looked uncertainly at her.

“Would you like me to go?”

“If you wish,” said Kaita. “Or you may stay. It is your choice.” She removed her robe and lay back down on the bed,