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

“No, you were right before,” he said, his voice becoming more determined as he spoke. “We should push on. I’m hungry and I’m cold.”

He didn’t bother to look back as he dried himself as best he could on his cloak and dressed in his old clothes. Despite being freshly cleaned and mended better than he’d ever managed on his own, the feel of their worn, patched layers against his skin was comfortingly familiar. And when he donned his slightly damp, ratty old cloak and his ratty old boots and tugged the hood up to hide his face, he breathed out a sigh of relief. This was who he was… for now, anyway.

No more touching. No more letting his guard down.

Maybe when they’d crossed the Matna into Samebar and were safely nestled into an inn, he might reconsider Daks’s offer. That is, if the man wanted to repeat it when there might be more tempting options available. But that was a chance he’d have to take.

Without waiting for Daks, he bundled up his wet, soiled clothes and headed back to where they’d left the others. Daks didn’t say anything when he returned a few minutes later, dressed in his old leather breeches and tunic. His expression was unreadable as he encouraged everyone to mount up. He didn’t look as cross as he had earlier. He didn’t even look disappointed, which niggled Ravi’s pride a little. Obviously, Ravi’s rejection didn’t hurt that much, which should have made him feel better, affirming that he’d made the right choice. But it still stung, and he kept his back ramrod stiff and rode in stony silence for the rest of their journey.

The ground and air dried out significantly the farther they traveled away from the boglands, and Ravi sighed in relief when the horses finally turned onto the broad, wonderfully dry King’s Road, despite the increased danger they were in.

As they drew nearer to Traget, the houses along the road grew closer together and more and more people appeared, going about their daily business. Ravi hunched deeper inside his cloak and stared at the back of the stallion’s head, praying silently to any god who would listen to take pity on him for once and keep his Visions at bay. He’d been concentrating so hard on not looking at anyone that he jumped when Horse finally stopped and Daks dismounted.

Blinking blearily in the fading light, he spotted a small cabin with a light in the window and a smoking chimney a short distance away.

“If Vasin’s directions are correct, this should be the place,” Daks said as Shura and Mistress Sabin also dismounted. “We’ve obviously missed the last ferry, so let’s see if this cousin of Vasin’s will allow us to set up camp on his land tonight, and we’ll head for the ferry at first light.”

“I’d also like to talk to him,” Mistress Sabin said.

Daks pursed his lips and shot a glance toward Shura before he nodded.

“How are you? Any bad feelings?”

It took Ravi a couple of seconds to realize Daks was actually talking to him for the first time since they’d left the river. When he did, his chest warmed a little at the man’s concern, until he realized Daks was asking about his curse, not his well-being.

“Nothing yet. But I probably should avoid new people as much as possible,” he admitted just a little petulantly.

“Okay, you stay here with Horse, and we’ll take Vasin’s cousin the other three animals and be back as soon as we can.”

“You’re keeping it?” Shura asked, lifting a skeptical brow.

Daks shrugged, and his lips curved ruefully. “He wasn’t part of the original bargain, and honestly, I’m not sure he’d stay wherever we put him anyway. He likes me. What can I say?”

Shura snorted. “No accounting for taste.”

Ravi smirked in the shadows of his hood.

Daks gave her a playful scowl. “He can carry our packs, and we’ll need horses for the journey to Scholoveld anyway. He’ll be one less thing we’ll have to bargain for on the other side.”

“You’ll have to pay for his spot on the ferry.”

“We have enough,” Daks replied without meeting her gaze.

Shura studied him for a few moments before rolling her eyes. “Let’s go. I’m tired and hungry.”

Ravi climbed down from the stallion’s back as the women led the mares away. Everything ached, but that wasn’t anything new. He started to search for a good tree to settle against when he felt someone watching him. Daks had hung back from the women and was studying him with a concerned frown.

When Ravi lifted his eyebrows in question, Daks said, “We’ll be back soon. If you sense any trouble, anything at all, get on the horse and ride away. We’ll find you.”

With that pronouncement, he spun and strode off to join the others, leaving Ravi feeling irritated and confused all over again. He was having a hard time keeping up with Daks’s mood swings. One minute the man was cranky and aloof, the next concerned and solicitous, and then the next angling for a quick tumble in the reeds.

Thankfully, Daks was true to his word and returned swiftly, before sitting on the damp cold ground in the dark with only a horse for company lost its charm. Ravi’s heart skipped a beat when he first heard the crunch of boots approaching, but Daks called out to him before he could truly panic.

His relieved smile drooped in confusion when he realized Daks was alone in the circle of light provided by the lantern he carried.

“Where are the others?”

“Fara wanted to pump the man for as much information as possible, rebel business I guess, and Shura stayed to listen in.”

“Oh.”

Daks paused expectantly, but when Ravi didn’t come up with anything more intelligent than that, he shrugged. “With the number of soldiers and brothers in town, he recommended we err on the side of caution and move no closer tonight. He didn’t seem hostile, but he wasn’t as encouraging or helpful as his