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

“Where will we go now?” Fara asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence that fell after Ravi stopped ranting.

Before Daks could answer, the sound of ripping cloth came from behind him, and he turned and cocked an eyebrow at Shura.

“Lift your jerkin and shirt, Vaida.”

“Shur, we really need to get moving,” he argued.

“It will take only a few moments. The Vechi is right—we have that much time while we talk.”

Daks cleared his throat to cover the snort that almost escaped him. Vechi in Cigani was a type of small, irritating bird that was noisy and a general nuisance, but harmless.

Without further argument, he lifted his bloodied and rent tunic and shirt out of the way. The slash wasn’t deep. He’d known that by the feel alone. It had crusted with dried blood already and only seeped a little from one end. He could have managed without binding it, but it probably would have reopened a bit when he climbed into the saddle.

As Shura pressed a pad of cloth to it and began wrapping a binding around his middle, he grimaced and said, “I believe the best plan is to keep going north. We’ve unfortunately stirred a hornet’s nest back there, and once they piece together what happened, we’ll be risking a lot if we hang around and try to go back for a boat.” He lifted his gaze to Fara. “I assume you had little luck finding a contact, and that’s why you were gone so long?”

“Yes.” She threw a glance down at Shura before continuing. “Your man, Emok, died over the winter of a fever, they said. We gently prodded inn- and tavern-keepers for information while I searched the common rooms and squares for familiar faces, but had no luck. With the influx of soldiers, the town is uneasy and suspicious of strangers. The soldiers are awaiting a contingent of brothers to join them on their journey north. The good news is, none of the Thirty-Six are expected. Lending some credence to the rumors we’ve been hearing. But that’s about all the good news.”

“Everyone was on edge,” Shura added as she worked. “The soldiers aren’t happy to be saddled with the brothers or with being forced to wait. The townspeople aren’t happy with bored soldiers roaming their streets, drinking and causing fights. That might work to our advantage some, since the elders of the town won’t automatically assume the soldiers are innocent of instigating our little scuffle. Infighting may slow any organizing.”

Daks hissed as Shura pulled the binding tight and tied it off. “We should still put as much distance between us as we can,” he said, lowering his clothing back in place. “Ravi had a Vision. That’s how we knew to come to you. But that might also have attracted more attention.”

At Shura’s sharp look, Ravi winced, but he jutted out his chin and asked, “But if they’re all headed north, should we really do the same? Especially if there’s some unknown trouble up there?”

“We could try to swing south again, but that’s closer to the Finder searching for you and more of the Thirty-Six. Plus, we might run into more soldiers being sent north, not counting the problems with finding a boat big enough to cross the river as it widens closer to the sea,” Daks answered soberly. “I think our best bet is to go north along the Matna until we find a village where we can buy passage across. We don’t have much coin, but we have some fine horseflesh to trade.” He walked over to where Horse stood and patted the animal’s neck and shoulder. “Though I’ll be very sad to walk away from this remarkable fellow, to be sure.”

“He certainly seems to like you,” Shura said. “How on earth did you find him again?”

“I didn’t. He came back here all on his own.”

“Huh.”

Daks left out the part where the beast had apparently led the other mare back as well. They didn’t have time for him to try to wrap his own head around everything that had happened, let alone discuss it with the others.

“Come on. Let’s mount up,” Daks ordered as he moved to transfer one of the saddles to Horse. “Ravi, you’re with me. Fara and Shura will ride the two mares and take the packs.”

His side complained as he hefted the heavy saddle onto Horse’s back, but he ignored it. The scar would be ugly if he continued to rip it open over and over, but it certainly wouldn’t be his first.

“I don’t… I don’t think that’s a good idea. What if it triggers a Vision?” Ravi said, approaching him uncertainly.

“It’s a risk we’ll have to take. I’ll have you in front of me, so you won’t fall off either way. Besides, I’ve touched you often enough in the last couple of hours and nothing has happened.”

Ravi made an odd noise in the back of his throat but wouldn’t meet Daks’s gaze when he glanced at him.

“Give me your boot,” Daks ordered.

Ravi hesitated only a moment before stepping into his cupped palms and allowing Daks to boost him up. Then Daks climbed up behind him. Shura strapped the packs to the other saddled horse before helping Fara mount and then taking the mare without one for herself. The situation wasn’t ideal, but that had been the case since he’d stepped off the boat in Rassat, and he had a bad feeling that wouldn’t be changing anytime soon.

Chapter Six

DAKS KEPT them just inside the trees for better cover, rather than riding on the road. The going was slower, but everyone looked to be on their last legs anyway, and he wasn’t faring much better. Galloping down the packed dirt road to put as much distance between them and the town as they could was what his gut was telling him to do. But the risk to their necks and the horses’ legs in the dark wasn’t worth it.

At first Ravi had