Valley of the Ancients: Book Three of the Restoration Series by Christopher Williams
Authors: Christopher Williams
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forest.
Leela stopped at the bottom of the steps, "Gilbert, where's the Master?"
Blinking in surprise, Derek studied the old man on the porch again. He had assumed that this was the man they were coming to see.
The old man, who apparently was Gilbert, crossed his arms and sighed. "You just missed him, he left this morning."
"Where did he go?" Leela asked, looking surprised at the news.
"He's traveling to the west, to investigate a disturbance near the edge of the forest."
Leela frowned. "But he was expecting us, why would he leave?"
Smiling, Gilbert stepped down to the topmost step, "He did not bother to explain himself to me. He rarely does." He glanced past the Guardians to the other wildlings, "You may go. I would speak to our guests."
Cleatus, Seth, and Reega paused for only a moment before they turned and walked away. Karina had began walking even before Gilbert had finished speaking. Leela started to leave as well, but Gilbert stopped her before she even took two steps.
"Not you, Leela. You can join us." He turned his attention to the Guardians, "Please join me inside," he motioned in the general direction of the building behind him. "I daresay you haven't enjoyed a decent meal in some days."
They followed Gilbert inside. The interior of the building was open, it was basically one huge room. Pillars held up the ceiling, and support beams intertwined over their heads. It had the feel of a hunting lodge. A small fire burned in the fireplace on the far side of the room. Numerous tables and chairs were scattered around, but only one table had anything on it. The table in the middle of the room had several wooden trays loaded down with food. It wasn't exactly what Derek would have picked if given a choice, but the sight of the food still made his stomach rumble. The platters contained fruits, cheeses, breads, and even a few cold fish. Not exactly a feast, but it was wonderful in his eyes.
Looking up from the table, Derek caught Gilbert watching him.
Gilbert grinned at the enthusiasm that his guests showed towards the food. Hediv motioned towards the table, "Please. Help yourselves."
They didn't have to be told twice and for a while all they did was eat. Even Leela joined in, although she didn't appear to be as ravenous as the rest. Silence settled in except for the occasional belch. Gilbert, alone, did not eat. He just sat there smiling as his guests inhaled the meager food.
After a bit, Derek leaned back in his chair and licked his fingers clean. Probably wasn't manners worthy of a king's court, but no one seemed to mind. Sighing contentedly, Derek looked out over the table. Gilbert still watched them. "So what's to be done with us?"
It was almost like a signal. All the other Guardians and Keenan sighed and quit eating. They too turned their attention to the thin man sitting at the head of the table.
Gilbert was seated with his hands crossed in his lap and he took a moment before answering. "I want you to be at your ease. The Master of the Forest wishes to talk with you, but no harm will come to you."
"Are you sure?" Trestus asked. "I mean, what if this Master of yours decides that he doesn't particularly like us?"
Smiling, Gilbert placed his hands on the table. He looked across the table at each of the Guardians and then Keenan. "Listen to me. If the Master does not like you, then he will take you the edge of the forest and tell you not to come back. No harm will befall you," he paused, "well, unless you did something foolish."
"What exactly do you mean foolish?" Kara asked, the suspicion was obvious in her tone. She had been very quiet during their little trek through the woods and it was reassuring to hear her get a little of the old fire back.
"If you were to try and kill one of us, or perhaps steal something." He grinned, although it looked rather sickly, "If that happened than I could not be held responsible."
"Any idea why he wants to speak with us?" Derek asked.
"He did not tell me." Gilbert
Leela stopped at the bottom of the steps, "Gilbert, where's the Master?"
Blinking in surprise, Derek studied the old man on the porch again. He had assumed that this was the man they were coming to see.
The old man, who apparently was Gilbert, crossed his arms and sighed. "You just missed him, he left this morning."
"Where did he go?" Leela asked, looking surprised at the news.
"He's traveling to the west, to investigate a disturbance near the edge of the forest."
Leela frowned. "But he was expecting us, why would he leave?"
Smiling, Gilbert stepped down to the topmost step, "He did not bother to explain himself to me. He rarely does." He glanced past the Guardians to the other wildlings, "You may go. I would speak to our guests."
Cleatus, Seth, and Reega paused for only a moment before they turned and walked away. Karina had began walking even before Gilbert had finished speaking. Leela started to leave as well, but Gilbert stopped her before she even took two steps.
"Not you, Leela. You can join us." He turned his attention to the Guardians, "Please join me inside," he motioned in the general direction of the building behind him. "I daresay you haven't enjoyed a decent meal in some days."
They followed Gilbert inside. The interior of the building was open, it was basically one huge room. Pillars held up the ceiling, and support beams intertwined over their heads. It had the feel of a hunting lodge. A small fire burned in the fireplace on the far side of the room. Numerous tables and chairs were scattered around, but only one table had anything on it. The table in the middle of the room had several wooden trays loaded down with food. It wasn't exactly what Derek would have picked if given a choice, but the sight of the food still made his stomach rumble. The platters contained fruits, cheeses, breads, and even a few cold fish. Not exactly a feast, but it was wonderful in his eyes.
Looking up from the table, Derek caught Gilbert watching him.
Gilbert grinned at the enthusiasm that his guests showed towards the food. Hediv motioned towards the table, "Please. Help yourselves."
They didn't have to be told twice and for a while all they did was eat. Even Leela joined in, although she didn't appear to be as ravenous as the rest. Silence settled in except for the occasional belch. Gilbert, alone, did not eat. He just sat there smiling as his guests inhaled the meager food.
After a bit, Derek leaned back in his chair and licked his fingers clean. Probably wasn't manners worthy of a king's court, but no one seemed to mind. Sighing contentedly, Derek looked out over the table. Gilbert still watched them. "So what's to be done with us?"
It was almost like a signal. All the other Guardians and Keenan sighed and quit eating. They too turned their attention to the thin man sitting at the head of the table.
Gilbert was seated with his hands crossed in his lap and he took a moment before answering. "I want you to be at your ease. The Master of the Forest wishes to talk with you, but no harm will come to you."
"Are you sure?" Trestus asked. "I mean, what if this Master of yours decides that he doesn't particularly like us?"
Smiling, Gilbert placed his hands on the table. He looked across the table at each of the Guardians and then Keenan. "Listen to me. If the Master does not like you, then he will take you the edge of the forest and tell you not to come back. No harm will befall you," he paused, "well, unless you did something foolish."
"What exactly do you mean foolish?" Kara asked, the suspicion was obvious in her tone. She had been very quiet during their little trek through the woods and it was reassuring to hear her get a little of the old fire back.
"If you were to try and kill one of us, or perhaps steal something." He grinned, although it looked rather sickly, "If that happened than I could not be held responsible."
"Any idea why he wants to speak with us?" Derek asked.
"He did not tell me." Gilbert
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