The Seer by Rowan McAllister (reading comprehension books .TXT) 📕

Shura sighed. “I’ll do it.” She turned to Mistress Sabin. “Will you take these for me, Mistress?” she asked somewhat formally, offering the reins she held.

“Of course. And it’s Fara, remember?” the small blond said with a shy smile.

Ravi watched in astonishment as Shura’s normally harsh expression softened and her lips curved. “Thank you, Fara,” she practically cooed.

Shura disappeared into the woods before Ravi could do anything but gape at her. But when he turned to Daks, he found the man grinning after her like some lovesick fool. Unaccountably irritated, Ravi rolled his eyes, stomped over to nearest tree, and flopped down at its base. It was just as well he planned to leave these people as soon as he could manage it. They didn’t make any sense to him at all. Maybe being absolutely insane and confusing was a Sambaran thing he’d have to get used to. He should probably be paying more attention in case they were all like this, especially if he wanted to live there.

He dropped his head in his hands and closed his eyes. He needed a real night’s sleep or he’d be of about as much use as that sack of potatoes Daks compared him to only a little more than a day ago.

Had it only been that long?

Before he could let that realization sink in, Shura came hurrying out of the shadows, and he lifted his head.

“There’s a company of King’s Guard camped outside the town’s borders on this side of the bridge,” she said without preamble.

“Seven Hells,” Daks swore.

“They shouldn’t be there,” Mistress Sabin protested. “Our reports said they left the city three days ago for the north. They should have been well past Urmat and over the Kun river by now.”

“The information I received from my contact was the same,” Shura agreed.

Daks cocked an eyebrow at Shura and grinned again, and Ravi lost his patience. “Well, whoever you talked to was wrong. They’re obviously still here. Who cares why. What does that mean for us?”

“It means we’re going to have to alter our plan a little. That’s all,” Daks replied evenly.

Before Ravi could growl anything unflattering back at him, Daks turned to Shura. “We’ll have to skip the bridge and take the long way around to Emok’s place. We should have enough tree cover not to be spotted, and I think I remember a shallow crossing not far from town. I doubt they’ll have any scouts out this close to the capital, beyond the usual watch on the Matna. I wish I knew what delayed them, but I’d rather just get the hells out of here than risk trying to find out.”

Catching Ravi completely by surprise, Daks walked over to where he sat and offered his hand. He almost reached for it, but stopped himself, shook his head, and climbed to his feet on his own. He never touched people for a reason, and he needed to remember that until he was safely out of Rassa.

Daks withdrew, and his face hardened a little, but he said, “Thanks for the warning. Don’t ignore those feelings. If you sense anything strange like that again, let us know. I’d rather be overly cautious than walk into a hornet’s nest.”

A warm feeling spread through Ravi’s belly despite his best efforts to will it away. No one had ever thanked him for anything that came from his curse before. Part of him now stupidly wished he’d taken that hand, despite the risks.

“Sure,” he replied uncomfortably, not looking at him. “I’ll do my best.”

Daks was silent for a few beats before he turned and walked back to the horses. “Let’s get started. We’ll lead the horses through the woods and around the town. We’ll have to hope to the gods that the Rael isn’t too swollen with spring runoff, and that Emok is home and can take us across in his boat right away. If we’re lucky, he might be able to throw a little information about the company of soldiers and maybe a little ale into the bargain.”

Chapter Five

THEY WEREN’T lucky, and Ravi shot a glare at Daks’s oblivious back as they approached a cabin that looked like it hadn’t been lived in for months. They were all still damp from the waist down from the icy river crossing. Ravi’s worn boots threatened to fall apart after the dousing they’d received, and he felt like he’d never be warm again.

Cursed. I’m cursed. And Daks, the big idiot, should have known better. The gods can never pass up a chance to shit all over you if you invoke luck.

“Well, that’s disappointing,” Daks said far too calmly as they came to a stop a short distance from the seemingly abandoned home. If Ravi could have murdered with a look, Daks would have collapsed on the spot.

Shura made a sound of disgust in the back of her throat, and for once, Ravi agreed with her. Mistress Sabin crossed the last few feet and peered through what was left of the grime-covered windows.

“Looks like no one has been here in a while,” she said unnecessarily.

Without another word, Daks dropped the stallion’s reins and strode off down a worn path that, by the sounds, must lead to the Matna. When he came back only a few minutes later, his expression was grim and he was shaking his head.

“No boats, not even a skiff we could borrow and make two trips.” He let out a frustrated growl and dragged a hand through his shaggy hair, dislodging more of it from the leather tie. “I’ll have to go into town and scout out another option. Maybe Emok had to move for some reason.”

“We’ll both go,” Shura said.

“No. Someone has to stay here with these two,” Daks countered.

“I can take care of myself,” Mistress Sabin replied quietly but firmly. “We’ll be fine until you return.”

Ravi didn’t intend to make any such brave declarations. He would not be fine, and he could not take care of