The Stone Wolf (The Chain Breaker Book 4) by D.K. Holmberg (digital book reader TXT) 📕

that he wouldn’t have to worry about a sorcery attack. If it was the woman who had targeted Gavin in the street, then it might even be enough to overwhelm that kind of magic.

Gavin turned, waiting. He felt nothing.

He looked back toward Yoran.

“What was it?” Gaspar asked.

Gavin clenched his jaw. “That’s just it. I’m not entirely sure. Power, I’m certain, but…”

“There are plenty of different kinds of power in the world,” Gaspar said.

Gavin arched a brow at him. “Is that something you have experience with?”

“I didn’t meet Imogen in Yoran, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Gavin glanced over to Imogen. He wasn’t sure what he had been asking, but he was surprised that Gaspar would reveal that. Especially as he had made a point of keeping details of their friendship from Gavin whenever he’d asked.

“I don’t like leaving Yoran like this,” Gavin muttered.

He sheathed his sword and made his way over to the stone wolf.

“They can manage,” Gaspar said.

“I know they can. At least, they can manage now.”

Thankfully, they should be able to withstand any sort of attack from a typical sorcerer while he was gone, so long as the enchanters and the constables still worked together.

Gavin breathed out, frustrated. “I don’t feel anything else.”

He climbed onto the wolf, and they started moving again. This time, Gavin kept them at a slower pace, unwilling to push nearly as hard as he had before. He wanted to hurry to rescue Wrenlow as quickly as possible, but not so fast that he overlooked his obligation to Yoran.

While traveling, he detected several other strange feelings along his skin. Most of them were faint, though when they did pick up, he could feel a tingle of energy that left him unsettled. He didn’t know how many of them he needed to be concerned about. Maybe none.

The road they took led them along the edge of the forest, occasionally plunging through the trees before veering back out. A rolling hillside looped off to the east, with flowers dotting the meadow. As evening drew long, he glanced to the sky. They still had some time before they reached the city.

They hadn’t been pushing the stone creatures. Gavin had no idea what they could do if they were pushed to go faster.

He looked at the others. “We should make camp.”

Gaspar grunted, and they traveled until they reached a small stream cutting through the forest. It seemed as good a place as any for them to rest for the evening. The stone creatures sat motionless as soon as they climbed off their backs.

Gavin tapped on the wolf and leaned toward it. “Can you keep an eye on us?”

As soon as he spoke, the wolf let out its strange mournful howl and turned, looking out toward the forest. All of the creatures were incredibly impressive.

“I’m starting to wonder if we should’ve asked for more of these,” Gavin said.

“For travel, or because you like the way they look?” Gaspar asked. He whispered something to his wolf, and it turned and stared through the trees as well.

Imogen patted hers on the side and stroked the head, as if petting the fur. Gavin smiled to himself.

“From the sound of it, some of the enchanters are getting more powerful,” Gavin explained.

“Without any restrictions to using their magic, they are able to do so more openly, and I suspect there are some who have never really stretched themselves,” Gaspar said. “It was the intended effect.”

“It might’ve been intended, but it still wasn’t right.”

Gaspar nodded. “Given what I’ve seen of you, I’m surprised that you’re defending the enchanters.”

“Me too.”

Imogen moved to the center of the stone creatures, gathered some branches, and made a small fire. She walked to the side of the clearing and crouched, her hands pressed together in front of her and her eyes closed.

This was the most time that Gavin had ever spent with her. He had fought alongside her and knew her to be incredibly skilled, but he had never spent an entire day with her before.

“What is she doing?” he asked.

“Clearing her mind,” Gaspar said, glancing in her direction before turning back to Gavin. “She does that at least once a day, sometimes twice.”

It looked like the way Gavin would pause and focus, trying to get his mind ready for a fight. Maybe she was doing something similar.

“How long have the two of you been together?”

Gaspar shook his head. “We’re not going through that, boy.”

“Is there a reason for secrecy?”

Gaspar tilted his head to Imogen. “Not my story to tell. It’s hers.”

That was something Gavin understood. And appreciated. If it were him, he would want the opportunity to reveal his story, and not have somebody choose on his behalf.

“Is it tied to Jalash?” Gavin tried to sound casual, but doubted he was. When it came to Gaspar, he wasn’t nearly as deceptive as he’d like to be.

“You saw that, did you?”

Gavin looked over. “You’re not denying it?”

“What’s to deny? Imogen has something she’s looking for. We’re using all the resources we have to find it.”

Gavin grunted. “Not all of them.”

He pulled a packet of dried jerky from his pocket and began chewing. If they were going to have to fight, he had to be as ready as possible. He didn’t want to be surprised, and he wanted to be as refreshed as needed, which meant that he would need to have a full stomach.

“I suppose that’s true,” Gaspar said. “I’ll talk to her.”

Gavin started to smile. “Really?”

“Can’t say she’ll agree to it. Imogen can be secretive.”

“No kidding.”

“But if we’re going to work together, maybe it’s time we bring you in on everything.”

The way he said it left Gavin thinking there was much more to what they would have to bring him in on. And he couldn’t help but feel as if they should have before.

Perhaps it was the same with him. He had needed their help from the beginning, but he hadn’t always been forthright with them. A team. That meant they had to work together.

Gavin had never really had a