Defenders of The Sacred Land: Book One of The Sacred Land Saga by Mark Tyson Page A

Shey turned suddenly. “I know what you were doing while I was searching for this book, Gondrial. Do not make small talk with me!”
    Gondrial looked puzzled for a moment and then smiled. “My lady, surely you mistake what you saw. I am a gentleman after all.”
    “And just what is it that you think I saw, Gondrial? I haven’t given you any indication as of yet,” she said, tucking the book into a small chest beside the crate.
    For once, Gondrial was at a complete loss for words, and then, after a moment of thought, he spurted out, “What was it that you thought I was doing?”
    Lady Shey threw her hands into the air. “Oh, this is ridiculous!” she said before she climbed out onto the side step of the wagon.
    “Wait, Shey, wait!” Gondrial tried to stop her, but she would not hear him, and she climbed farther onto the side of the wagon, eventually sitting just behind Trendan and Vesperin. Gondrial tried to follow her, but she had kicked the door closed and it had jammed.
    Trendan looked behind him and wondered why Lady Shey had such a sour look on her face. “Is there something the matter, my lady?” he asked.
    “Gondrial is aboard the wagon. He was hiding in among the dry goods. I suppose he is coming back to Brookhaven with us after all,” she said bitterly.
    “So that’s why the guards almost searched us,” Trendan observed. “Why did he hide in the back of the wagon? We would have let him come along if he had asked.”
    “His presence displeases you, my lady?” Vesperin asked. “I should think you would be glad.”
    “No, not at all, Vesperin. I am glad.” Lady Shey shifted uncomfortably. “He should have let us know he was going to come with us is all, instead of stowing away.”
    Trendan shook his head. “Was he hiding from the guards for some reason?”
    Lady Shey briefly flashed on the image in her memory of Gondrial leaving the queen’s chamber. Her expression turned angry. “You know what? I do not feel like discussing the matter at the moment.”
    “Aye, my lady, sorry, my lady,” Vesperin said, facing forward.
    Lady Shey continued to stay in her melancholy mood even after Rodraq found a suitable place to stop for the night. After helping set up camp, she immediately retired for the evening into her tent and would see no one. Gondrial seemed indifferent about her irritation and denied involvement in her mood. Rennon was suspicious of Gondrial after he found out that he had stowed away on the wagon and began watching his every move.
    After they had secured camp, Vesperin departed to a nearby clearing to pray and meditate while Rodraq and his two guards set up guard duty. Trendan selected wood from a nearby tree and practiced fletching a few arrows. Tatrice and Sylvalora busied themselves with supper. Dorenn had talked the two women into letting him select the menu for the evening. As the son of an innkeeper, he could not bring himself to eat another meal of dried meat, cheese, and beans. Therefore, he persuaded Tatrice and Sylvalora to let him cook, and he prepared a tasty meal consisting of flatbread, succulent cuts of beef with thick brown gravy, and fresh vegetables that Tatrice had purchased at the Symbor market. After the mealtime dishes were put away and the sun had set, they all turned in for the night.
    Rennon walked to Lady Shey’s tent with his bag of herbs and potions. “My lady, are you still awake?” he inquired timidly.
    “What do you want, Rennon?” Lady Shey asked irritably.
    “I have brought you a sleeping powder. It is a very mild powder, but it should help you fall asleep. Shall I brew it for you?”
    Lady Shey appeared out from the front of the tent. “I appreciate the thought, I do, but I do not need nor do I require a sleeping brew.” She smiled a thin smile. “Thank you, Rennon, but no.” She turned back into the tent, and Rennon shrugged his shoulders. “I will just leave a bit of the powder in a small bag by your tent should you change your mind,” he