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

She dismounted before removing her mask and pulling back the hood of her cloak.

I had nocked an arrow. Now it dipped immediately. Mag put her spear up at once. Both of us took a tentative step forwards, unable to believe our own eyes.

“Yue?” I gasped.

Sun stopped dead in the street, her mouth agape.

“Not Yue from Lan Shui?” she said.

Albern’s smile was broad and smug, and Sun knew he was immensely enjoying the look on her face. “The very same. Come, keep walking. We have a ways to go.”

“But … but she …” Sun struggled for words, trotting at Albern’s side. “What on earth was she doing there? What about Lan Shui? She was a constable!”

“She was, but she—”

“Now hold on,” said Sun. “I learned much about Yue from you. And if there is one thing I know, it is that she would never have abandoned her duty to Lan Shui. She took it so seriously that she was ready to arrest you and Mag just for looking suspicious!”

“Oh, her duty to her king was her highest priority,” said Albern. “And that had not changed.”

“But she abandoned Lan Shui!” cried Sun. “Why would she do that?”

Albern stuck a tongue in his cheek, biting down on it as if he was trying desperately to quell the grin plastered on his features. “You see,” he said slowly, “I was telling you a story, in which I was just about to relay my conversation with Yue, and during which time I asked her these questions, and Yue—”

“All right,” growled Sun. “Get on with it.”

Mag and I stood there staring at Yue, our mouths hanging open. Or at least, mine was. It is difficult for me to imagine Mag being so flabbergasted, though I know it must have happened at least once.

“Careful,” Yue told me after a moment. She could not entirely banish a sardonic smirk. “Winter it might be, but there are still enough flies to be caught in that gaping hole in your face.”

“Yue,” I breathed. “What under the sky are you doing here?”

Mag arched an eyebrow. “And what in the dark below, while you are answering questions.”

“Ha,” said Yue.

“Pardon me,” said Kun. His smile had returned, but it was sharp as a razor’s edge. “You are carrying on a conversation as though you are the only ones invested in its outcome. Let me kindly remind you that you are not.”

“Of course, Captain,” I said at once. “Forgive me. This woman is a friend.”

“Though how in blazes she found us is another matter,” said Mag. Suddenly she frowned. “Albern …”

Her voice trailed off, and I realized what she was thinking. Kaita would have known Yue from Lan Shui, and she might know—or have guessed—that we were friendly. As a weremage, Kaita could hardly ask for a better opportunity to get within striking distance of us.

“Yue,” I said slowly. “You remember what we were seeking when we left Lan Shui.”

“Of course,” she said, irritated. “You left to find the werema—ah.” Her brows lifted. “The weremage. And now, here I am.”

“A weremage?” said Kun. “What is this about?”

Yue turned to him and bowed. “Captain. I was formerly a constable in the town of Lan Shui. It is a modest place, some leagues southeast of—”

“I know it,” said Kun. “Go on.”

Yue nodded towards us. “These two traveled through the town some months ago. There was a weremage who caused some local trouble, and they helped me resolve the issue. But the weremage was never found.” She scowled at the two of us. “They are afraid I might be her, which is an uncommon display of good sense.”

Kun’s brows shot for the sky. “You certainly seem familiar with their antics.”

“And I guess that you are as well,” said Yue, bowing again. “But they are right, ser. I could be the weremage in disguise.”

Mag opened her mouth to speak, but I gripped her arm to stop her. She could offer to test Yue—she had learned how in Calentin. But I did not think it wise to reveal that knowledge to Kun, for it might lead to awkward questions.

Fortunately, Kun solved the problem for us. “Prudence is always a wise course. Zhen—forgive me, Lieutenant Zhou? Test her, if you would.”

Zhen, Kun’s nephew, stepped forwards. He sheathed his sword as he approached Yue and stood before her, a pace away. Yue held her ground, but her jaw clenched as she looked at him.

“A test?” she said. “I have never heard of this.”

“Most have not,” said Zhen. “It is taught to some within the order, and it is quite foolproof.”

Yue lifted her chin. “Very well. What do you need me to do?”

“Nothing,” said Zhen. “But I must strike you. Nothing too damaging, I promise, but it will daze you for a moment.”

She fought a scowl. “You are certain this works?”

“I am,” said Zhen.

Yue sighed. “Very well. Do what you must.”

Zhen nodded. Then he stepped forwards and slammed his hands into Yue’s temples with two powerful chops. Her head reeled back, and she blinked hard against the pain. But her eyes did not glow, and soon her vision seemed to clear. She glared at Zhen.

“That hurt.”

I laughed out loud. “Yet it was worth it—at least to me.”

I went running forwards to embrace her, Mag only a pace behind me. I struck Yue hard and wrapped her in a hug.

“But why are you here, Yue?” I said quietly.

“To find and aid you two, of course, you great idiot,” she growled.

“Excuse me,” said Kun. “You keep forgetting the rest of us are here, and it begins to border on offense.”

“Apologies, Captain,” said Yue, stepping towards him. “I have sought these two across Dorsea. If they have joined your efforts in this civil war, then I would pledge my service as well.”

“Would you now?” said Kun. “Sky save me. I am nearly drowning in recruits, seemingly whether I wish