The Vaetra Chronicles: Book 01 - Vaetra Unveiled by Daniel R. Marvello Page B
Authors: Daniel R. Marvello
Ads: Link
circuitous land journey.
I opened the solid front door to go inside. The well-oiled hinges made no sound, but a tiny bell positioned above the door tinkled as I entered, cheerfully announcing my presence. Looking around, I could see open barrels with tools sticking out of them and stacks of crates displaying all manner of items. In one corner, a few crates were draped with white cloth, and some of the more exotic and delicate items were arrayed upon them. Lamp light sparkled on a series of glass figurines, which reminded me of Sulana and our strange adventure yesterday.
A tall, middle-aged woman with a friendly smile and intelligent grey eyes glided toward me from behind the counter at the back of the store. Her plain, woolen, shopkeeper's dress could not mask the aristocratic bearing of a woman of means. She glanced in the direction of my stare. "The figurines are made by a local artist. His work is known throughout the area. If you'd like one of them for your sweetheart, I can give you an exceptional bargain."
I pushed distracting memories of vaetric artifacts and a small blonde sorceress to the back of my mind and smiled back at her. "Thank you, but I'm Jaylan Forester, from Raven Company. May I speak to the owner?"
The woman's smile dissolved into a worried frown and she clasped her hands together. "Oh, I'm so glad you were able to come so quickly. I didn't expect to see anyone until tomorrow at the earliest! I'm so worried about Tam that I can hardly concentrate on running the store."
"You're the boy's mother?" I asked.
"Yes! I'm so sorry, Mister Forester. Where are my manners? I'm Greta Overland, but please call me Greta. My husband is Jergen Overland, and Tam is our son. Tam went out with his friends last night and never came home. He's never done this before."
"Try not to worry, Greta, I'm here to help you find him. And please, call me Jaylan. Calling me 'Mister Forester' will have me looking over my shoulder for my father. So, what about the other boys? Did they make it home last night?"
"Yes. My husband went over to the Wright's home last night, and Tam's friend Alain said they had gotten separated in the forest. They assumed Tam had returned home without them." She dropped her gaze to the floor and frowned.
I could tell she wasn't convinced by the boy Alain's story. "You don't believe him? You think he's lying?"
She looked back up at me, her eyes wide. "I don't know what to believe! Those two boys are so close, I can't believe Alain would come home and leave Tam behind."
"Do you know where they went? Or what they were doing?"
She sighed and shook her head. "No, I don't. My husband was the one to speak with Alain and his father, and I'm afraid he can be a bit...intimidating. Particularly when he's angry, and he was certainly angry. It wouldn't surprise me if Alain said as little as possible. He's probably concerned about getting Tam in trouble."
I lowered my voice. "I don't mean to be insensitive, but I can't help but wonder why you hired Raven Company to deal with a missing boy." I watched her face carefully.
She took a deep breath and blew it out. Then she straightened and looked me in the eye. "My husband has a business to run. He can't waste the day traipsing through the forest looking for a rebellious boy." She bowed her head and mumbled, "Even if that boy is his own son."
"I'm sorry, but I had to ask," I said, and she nodded. "I gather Tam and his father were having a disagreement?"
She snorted. "Don't all teenage boys disagree with their father?" She grimaced and went on with a disapproving tone. "But yes, Tam has this fantasy of becoming an Imperial Guard and traveling the Empire. He has little interest in following in his father's footsteps."
I nodded. "I think I understand. Well, I should probably speak to your husband and then see what I can find out from Alain as soon as possible. I may be able to do a little searching today, but I'm afraid Tam may be spending another night in the
I opened the solid front door to go inside. The well-oiled hinges made no sound, but a tiny bell positioned above the door tinkled as I entered, cheerfully announcing my presence. Looking around, I could see open barrels with tools sticking out of them and stacks of crates displaying all manner of items. In one corner, a few crates were draped with white cloth, and some of the more exotic and delicate items were arrayed upon them. Lamp light sparkled on a series of glass figurines, which reminded me of Sulana and our strange adventure yesterday.
A tall, middle-aged woman with a friendly smile and intelligent grey eyes glided toward me from behind the counter at the back of the store. Her plain, woolen, shopkeeper's dress could not mask the aristocratic bearing of a woman of means. She glanced in the direction of my stare. "The figurines are made by a local artist. His work is known throughout the area. If you'd like one of them for your sweetheart, I can give you an exceptional bargain."
I pushed distracting memories of vaetric artifacts and a small blonde sorceress to the back of my mind and smiled back at her. "Thank you, but I'm Jaylan Forester, from Raven Company. May I speak to the owner?"
The woman's smile dissolved into a worried frown and she clasped her hands together. "Oh, I'm so glad you were able to come so quickly. I didn't expect to see anyone until tomorrow at the earliest! I'm so worried about Tam that I can hardly concentrate on running the store."
"You're the boy's mother?" I asked.
"Yes! I'm so sorry, Mister Forester. Where are my manners? I'm Greta Overland, but please call me Greta. My husband is Jergen Overland, and Tam is our son. Tam went out with his friends last night and never came home. He's never done this before."
"Try not to worry, Greta, I'm here to help you find him. And please, call me Jaylan. Calling me 'Mister Forester' will have me looking over my shoulder for my father. So, what about the other boys? Did they make it home last night?"
"Yes. My husband went over to the Wright's home last night, and Tam's friend Alain said they had gotten separated in the forest. They assumed Tam had returned home without them." She dropped her gaze to the floor and frowned.
I could tell she wasn't convinced by the boy Alain's story. "You don't believe him? You think he's lying?"
She looked back up at me, her eyes wide. "I don't know what to believe! Those two boys are so close, I can't believe Alain would come home and leave Tam behind."
"Do you know where they went? Or what they were doing?"
She sighed and shook her head. "No, I don't. My husband was the one to speak with Alain and his father, and I'm afraid he can be a bit...intimidating. Particularly when he's angry, and he was certainly angry. It wouldn't surprise me if Alain said as little as possible. He's probably concerned about getting Tam in trouble."
I lowered my voice. "I don't mean to be insensitive, but I can't help but wonder why you hired Raven Company to deal with a missing boy." I watched her face carefully.
She took a deep breath and blew it out. Then she straightened and looked me in the eye. "My husband has a business to run. He can't waste the day traipsing through the forest looking for a rebellious boy." She bowed her head and mumbled, "Even if that boy is his own son."
"I'm sorry, but I had to ask," I said, and she nodded. "I gather Tam and his father were having a disagreement?"
She snorted. "Don't all teenage boys disagree with their father?" She grimaced and went on with a disapproving tone. "But yes, Tam has this fantasy of becoming an Imperial Guard and traveling the Empire. He has little interest in following in his father's footsteps."
I nodded. "I think I understand. Well, I should probably speak to your husband and then see what I can find out from Alain as soon as possible. I may be able to do a little searching today, but I'm afraid Tam may be spending another night in the
Similar Books
![The Sextet Presents… By Male Order [In Days of Olde] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)](https://fs.ageofbook.com/617035/thumbs/152x264/the-sextet-presents-by-male-order-in-days-of-olde-siren-publishing-menage-everlasting.png)
