Ruein: Fires of Haraden: Action/Adventure Necromancy Series (Books of Ruein Book 2) by G.O. Turner (best ereader for graphic novels txt) 📗

others by letting herself slip, an abomination in the caravan’s midst. Thus, she relegated herself to the night.

This is where Ruein belonged.

Centered around a campfire, distant from the oil wagon, Liv, Twigs, and Ceer slept. They bundled within layers of blankets and hides. The heat of the fire rebounded from their surrounding wall of antlered beasts. Mr. Fllyn referred to these wilder reindeer as “carrybou.” So much larger than any deer Ruein was familiar with. She understood now why Loress was better stabled back in Nursk.

The snow.

Drifts grew. Sweeping dunes of white mounted along their trek. Far to the front, a good dozen or more wagons ahead, Mr. Fllyn’s guiding carriage carved out a clear path. Though, even as they camped, the tundra sought to reassert itself.

Her night watch from the wagon was never fully quiet. Beyond the wind’s bluster were the occasional grunts of carrybou, and caravaneers relieving themselves in the forest. From time to time, Ruein caught the distant howls of pack animals. Shoremen had allayed concerns about wolves. Not much of a threat since they could easily be warded back by numbers and torches. No. Avoiding any attempts at cooking, the caravan relied on dry meals. What weighed on the minds of Nurskers were the quieter legends that stalked the dark.

For this Ruein had her darkvision, though even that was hampered. Periodically, her lids would scrape over her eyes. It was a novel chore, to remove the frost which crystallized her view. While the others couldn’t see beyond their campfires, Ruein could peer out into those darks. Clear as a day, in shades of gray. Well, at least for a stone’s throw.

Unencumbered by fatigue, she relied as well upon her hearing. Movements in deep drifts were hard-pressed to be silent. The dry night air allowed sound to carry.

Vigilance came easy enough.

This didn’t stop her mind from wandering. Her place here wasn’t in question. It certainly wasn’t for a dragon’s better world. More because she had to act. To do something. Thus, she’d do Negrath’s bidding so that Nayr would be defended. Yet honestly, who was he defending him from?

Damn bitch.

Death incarnate had followed Ruein. Had trailed her from unbirth, through the Chapel Mount, at the funeral, and all the way back to the tree flet. She had become a swirl of blood and death ringing her family. Yet, what gave cause? Was it truly the goddess or Ruein’s own lingering shadow?

What in the hells was she doing?

Somehow, Liv had snagged some remnant of Ruein’s heart. Using a memory of her children’s love that now pulled upon her. Was this a mother’s call? Had they really a want for her? To remain for them, to guide and shape the years ahead?

Or was this her own selfish want?

Might they be better if…

From her mind’s recess, something hovered. Not something unnerving, though even Ruein considered what would that be for an undead? This was different. It was as if she were being—

The arctic wind shifted, blowing back her hood. Within that breeze—an echo. Ruein bolted upright to an icy crick of joints. Was that a laugh? And not just any…

Arim?

That’s not possible.

A tap of her shoulder—Ruein wheeled.

She scanned the grayness of snow before the firs and pines. There was no movement. There were no tracks. Nothing there. Yet, she’d swear something tapped her. Her children were a world away. They slumbered under their grandfather’s care, not to mention being guarded by a dragon, for gods’ sake.

Alright. If the world can play tricks on the living…might this be a creeping cold upon my dead mind?

Tuning her ears for that echoed gust yet again, the slam of a wagon door vied instead. Shut that out. Listen. Moments blew by. No resonance of what originally caught her presented.

Ruein relented and turned back to the caravan. Further within the colonnade of wagons, several Nurskers were going about rousing those who still slept. Morning so soon? Time’s passage seemed to become more vague with each passing night.

Several of the shoremen went about hauling down bundles of thick rope. They ferried up and down through their ranks. Others worked to uncouple long planks from wagon sides. The fishermen began to affix them, mounting to the undercarriage of each wagon. The plank’s curved ends thrust toward their destination.

Ruein’s slumbering troupe of three remained cocooned in furs and wool. She needed to warm herself, not for comfort but so her movements would be less crunchy.

Reasserting her wholesomeness, Ruein leapt from the wagon and strode to their fire. Adding a log from the remaining collection, she stoked the flames. Ruein opened her cloak to receive the warmth. Holding her position, the permeating frost loosened its grip.

She unslung her glaive and tapped the pommel to the lump that was Liv. Repeated thumps later, she began to stir. A muted clink of metal rustled through the layers. She’d slept in her armor. Struggling to unwind, Liv’s fingers emerged and pulled back the furs. A mess of wavy hair and bleary eyes glowered up from the ground.

“Time to wake,” said Ruein. “The other caravaneers are already making preparations to roll out.”

Liv scrunched her face. “Ahhazu’s ass, that can’t be right. It’s still fucking dark!”

“No. I think this is morning. We just can’t see past the overcast above.”

“Oh, that’s just blessed. How’m I to say morning prayers?”

“Same way you would in the underdark.”

Liv huffed, nodding a conceit. “Faith.”

Ruein shrugged. “I’d say guess, but if that works for you.”

A pitched laugh preceded a crunching patter from behind. Leafar Fllyn trundled over Ruein’s steps to the fire. A dangled lantern swayed a ring of light about him. He hoisted it over Liv.

“So a Lightbringer greets the crack of dawn. Ha! Didn’t anticipate no sun now, did ya?” Leafar reached into a pocket. “Takes a real gnome ta wile a way when the north rolls in. Let’s have a go, shall we?”

Pulling his mittened hand out, the gnome flipped open a metal box. Ruein peered over at a tiny pin pivoting within its center. Leafar rotated