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

Ruein’s neck cricked. She’d have one shot. Her left hand spasmed, tightening as it drew up a dire conduit from within. She spat draconic as boiling darkness crackled over her outstretched arm.

Issued forth, her black ray blasted into the white beast.

Life force itself stripped away, careening it back. Stumbling, gigantic feet failed to right as the blackness hurtled it. The beast fell, rebounding off the campfire.

Its fur ignited.

Rounding Twigs and Leafar, Liv planted herself before the fallen beast.

In an unearthly howl, the beast rolled and beat at the ground. It scrambled away, throwing itself into a neighboring snowbank. Amber flames squelched in a puff.

Bounding into Liv’s illumination alongside the fallen beast, another bear roared. Its teeth bared, the animal stared Liv down. A protective cover for the creature behind.

The horned beast got to its feet. It glared its paled eyes at all around. Its face was sallow now, drained. A guttural bark came from its maw, directed at the bear between. Together they bolted for the dark.

Ruein caught up to Liv, tracking the beasts until they became too distant. The stink of singed fur trailed in their wake.

“That other thing,” panted Liv, “…the man-beast…what the fuck was that?”

Unsure herself, Ruein turned to the druid.

Eyes wide, Twigs shrugged. “Damned if I know! Ask me? I’d say Nord orcs shouldn’t be getting so lonely that bears look shaggable.”

Snorting from behind, Ceer tromped closer. “Ceer draw line at cuddle. No bear shagging.” He paused before Twigs and dislodged a snapped claw from his coat.

“There’s a good orc,” said Twigs.

“Half,” quipped Ceer.

Still warily eyeing the dark, Leafar panted. “That’s…the closest I ever came. Seen…plenty of bears. Never a yeti. Thought…locals…were making ’em up.” He swallowed hard and looked to the caravan. “Right. Uh… What say…we be off then?”

Twigs nodded. “I’m all for that.”

“Sooner the better.” Liv snatched up her bedding.

With the others gathering the last of their packs, Ruein escorted Leafar back to the wagon. The task of sleighing wasn’t going to happen on its own. Drawing up to the wagon’s rear, she reached for the bracketed slat.

“Why… Why us?”

“Yeah.” Leafar looked the long way up the remainder of the caravan. Nursker torches still watched while they continued to gear. “Who knows? Bunch of beasties anyways. Let’s get those planks out and hoisted so’s it don’t matter any…” With a sniff, his voice trailed off. Leafar’s eyes wandered to the wagon.

Reaching around to his backside, the gnome pulled a small dagger from under his coat. Three steps in, and he’d disappeared beneath. Ruein leaned for a glimpse.

The snapping of twine preceded the sight of Leafar working his blade up under the wagon. His dagger-hand made short thrusts while his other hand held something up. With a last twine snap, he stepped back out and raised open hands.

Two fish—sandwiched between them, a smoldering split of wood.

11

Liv released a long breath. Her steam washed in the heat of the campfire. No one was injured. Thank the giving light. The beasts came at the ones most capable. Nurskers are hardy, no doubt, but they wouldn’t have fared as well. This run made more sense now. So much easier to be forgiving of their past raiding of the oil.

They were nearly there. Just had to keep things together. Then Liv could show what difference her little bit of light and a whole host of truth could bring for the Nurskers, as well as Haraden. Who knows how much an illuminated path could mean to those denied the light?

She heaved the snow upon her shield then dumped it over. The mound smothered the flames in a hiss. Camp was struck. Liv maintained her headdress’ illumination of the forest, dismissing its divine light only once she’d fully backed away to the wagon.

The sunless morning required a moment to readjust. As Ruein’s and Leafar’s outlines became clear, she caught a familiar waft of—was that?

Liv locked into the gnome’s open hands.

Past his sheepish smile was a pair of smoking fish. “Uh… Hungry?”

New steam rose and it wasn’t from her breath. Was this frustration, anger? She should focus. Find some center of… Ah, who gives a shit? Liv whipped around, firing up the caravan line. “Those backwater, dank-dick…ragh…bilge rats tried to get us killed!”

Leafar stepped closer. “Now, let’s not leap—”

“Who’d be so baka as to shove their own head up their ass, huh? Which one? Seriously! Who’m I gonna fashion an asshat for?”

Ruein’s head lowered. “Let it go, Liv.”

“Let it…” She glared.

“We’re five days out and a half-day away,” said Ruein.

“Are you shitting me? Some…hatter…tries to throw us under our own ship, when we’re in choppy water no less, and you think I’m going to—”

“Ride out the remainder of the trip,” Leafar belted, “…with my gratitude.”

Liv’s head shook, her wide eyes blinked at him.

“Don’t look at me like that.” Leafar waved a fish toward their gnome and half-orc. “Mister Twigs over there, damned-near all you lanky-lots, kept my spry ass from being a chewy bit of bear morsel. I owe you. Good gnomes should at least repay what they can.” His head lolled.

“Ach. I’m letting in an orc.” He gave an eye roll then looked back up at her. “You lot can stop freezing to death back here. My carriage is your home for the remainder of the journey.”

Liv wagged a finger. “Uh-uh. This is not angling for a better billet. That’s not about to make up for—”

“Look.” Leafar’s fish-gripping hands jutted against his hips. “I am grateful, but for you, this is a one-time journey. I’ve a delivery to make and a damned lucrative way to keep. Are you just here to muck that up for me? Up in the lead, you will all be safe and warm.”

Teeth gnashing, Liv looked to Ruein.

Her sister shrugged.

“It’s the best I can offer,” Leafar added.

The scrunch of snow under heavy boots tromped closer. Mounted upon Ceer’s shoulder, Twigs announced, “Woo. It’s tense over here. Having second thoughts too? It’s not too late, you know. We can still save them.”

Liv regarded him,