The Goblin Warrior (Beneath Sands Book 2) by Emma Hamm (100 books to read txt) 📕

another step towards her. Reed paused when her hand twitched over the knife. Even he knew when to tread lightly around a woman on the edge. “He said they were going to the City and had no need of a tent like this. He let me know when they were leaving so that we could set up home here before anyone else.”

Jane’s shoulders seem to slump. So her family had at least been thoughtful in their leaving. She had always known that Luther would step up to take care of their family. He had always had the potential to do so.

“Then it’s true? They went to the City?”

Reed shrugged. “As far as we know. They’re gone. He was accepted.”

Jane nodded. “I’m going to find them, Reed.”

“What happened to you, Janie?” He said quietly. His hand stretched out as though to touch her. It fell short of its mark. “You were in that cave in. No one survived.”

“You keep saying that like it’s going to make it true.” She said through gritted teeth. “I ain’t dead. I’m standing right in front of you. And now, I have to figure out what to do about that because I’m not supposed to be seen.”

“Are you hiding from someone?”

The two of them turned to look at the thin woman behind Reed. She was the flower to Jane’s stone. She was too pale to be healthy, but no one was in the mining town. There was a natural grace to her movements, and Jane found herself captivated by the thin wrist that raised towards her.

“Lara. I’m Reed’s wife.”

Jane did not shake her hand nor make any move at the introduction.

The other woman didn’t seem to mind so much. Instead, she nodded to Jane and wiped a nervous hand down the edge of her skirt. “Well I know a thing or two about running. You’ll be looking for supplies to get to the City then? They ought to let you in since the rest of your family is there.”

Jane was surprisingly uncomfortable by the thought that this woman had figured out her plan so easily. The people here weren’t known for their intelligence. But this woman had a shrewd look about her that Jane now understood could see far more than she should.

“Yes.”

Lara nodded firmly. “We can get you water. There was a shipment in recently. That ought to do. Is it food you’re looking for as well?”

“Cloaks.”

This time it was Reed who gave her a strange look. “Cloaks?”

“And boots. Facemasks would be acceptable as well rather than cloaks. We have our own.”

“We?”

“Reed. I can’t tell you anything.” For his own safety. Jane didn’t want to pull either Reed or his wife into all of this. If things went badly, the last thing these two needed was City officials dragging them in for questioning. No one went to the City and came back out.

He shook his head at her sadly. “Janie, what kind of trouble did you get yourself in this time?”

“I wish I could explain. I can’t right now, Reed. There’s no time.”

Lara nodded. The fact that she was not asking many questions said a lot. Jane knew that many women in the mining camps were running from something. She was pleased to know that Reed had managed to find a strong woman. He needed someone who was going to take charge of his life and take care of him.

“Lara?” Jane asked quietly. “Are those items you think you can get?”

The other woman’s face hardened and she nodded slowly. Without looking back at either of them, she started to walk out of the tent.

“Reed.” Jane said quietly. “Go with your wife.”

“But-”

“Go with your wife.” She said in a stern tone. “It will go faster that way. Three pairs of boots. Three pairs of face masks or cloaks that can be easily ripped.”

As the two of them drifted away into the sands that still swirled, Jane had a moment alone in the place she had always called home.

It wasn’t as she remembered. Jane could now see that there were little bits here and there that made the place Reed and Lara’s. It was a shame that all of her things were gone. She would have liked a few pieces of memories to bring with her.

If they did not make it to the City in time, she wasn’t going to be getting anywhere. Her siblings would be stuck in there and she would never see them.

Jane knew now that if she was given the choice, she would return home with the goblins. Her siblings were happy and safe. She wasn’t going to rip them from that. If she could not see them, then so be it. They were safer in the City than they would be anywhere else. She could only hope that they would understand that as well.

The tent bent and drifted as the winds buffeted it. This was something that she would miss. The sound of the wind howling through the gaps of the fabric and the heat that always seemed to make the hairs on her arms rise.

There was no wind underground. No sand. Very few sounds. And yet, Jane found she missed it. Below was safe, it was comfortable. There were less worries there. Unlike the mining town, Below was a constant adventure. Her time with Ruric, though fleeting, had been imprinted on her memory as pleasant. Blissful even.

Her fingers drifted over the edge of the table her father had been so proud of. Blunt and strong, they were not graceful fingers. But they were hardy and they could do work that others could never dream of.

“I hope I make you proud, Daddy.” She whispered quietly.

Kissing the tips of her fingers, she pressed them down onto the table as a last goodbye to the ghost of her parents that surely drifted through this cursed place.

“And I hope you can now find peace. Your children are safe and happy.”

Jane had never really believed in ghosts, but she hoped that the slight tingle that ran