WindLegends Saga 9: WindRetriever by Charlotte Boyett-Compo Page B
Authors: Charlotte Boyett-Compo
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steps and frowned. "Way up there?" he asked.
Catherine ignored the question. She looked at Balizar. "Unless you think you can carry him Charlotte Boyett-Compo WINDRETRIEVER 52
by yourself."
The warrior's left eyebrow crooked. "I can try, milady. He don't weigh all that much." He motioned to Yuri to get in the cart and hand Conar down to him.
Sajin would not have thought it possible for Arbra to carry Conar up the serpentine steps as easily as the older man did, but he wasn't surprised to find Balizar winded by the time they reached the top.
"Through here," the old woman indicated as she held open a door.
"Give him to me," Yuri demanded as he winced at Arbra's panting breath. "We don't want you down in the back, old man."
"Old man, my ass!" Balizar growled, but he gave his burden over to the other man.
Sajin took Catherine's arm as they followed the trio with Azalon and Rupine bringing up the rear.
The inside of the keep was so dark that not even the torches lining the walls could dispel much of the gloom. Walking down the long hallway was like threading one's way through an underground tunnel. Had not those making the trek known they were well above ground, the illusion would have been hard to expel.
"Who is this woman?" Sajin asked as he and Catherine made a sharp turn in the hallway and climbed a score of narrow steps.
"Sonja is her helper," Catherine answered. "I don't know the Daughter's name, but I am told she is a very powerful sorceress. I've heard tales of her at home, but I've never had reason to seek her out before now."
"In here," the old woman spoke, holding open an almost unseen door in the black expanse of the wall at the top of the stairs. "Lay him down and undress him."
"Down to his breechclout?" Yuri asked.
"Down to the flesh," the old woman answered.
Yuri shifted Conar's weight in his arms and then slowly lowered him to the examining table in the center of the dark room. The table felt ice-cold under his arms and he glanced around at the old woman. "Didn't you have a pad to put on here?"
"He feels nothing," she answered.
"Even so …," Yuri began, but Catherine cut him off.
"She knows what it best, Andreanova. Don't question her." Catherine smiled at the old woman. "Is there anything I can do, Sonja?"
"She wants you to remain here," the old woman said, but her gaze went to the others. "The Shadow-warrior may stay until the Outlander is unclothed but then he, like the others, must leave.
Rooms have been prepared for them and there is food when they are ready to eat."
"Now, wait a minute!" Sajin barked. "I'm not leaving her or Conar here alone."
"Sajin, please!" Catherine demanded, her nerves already frayed close to the snapping point.
She put her hand on his shoulder and pushed him toward the door. "Go with Sonja. I am as safe inside this keep as I am in my own home."
Despite his arguing, Sajin was forced to leave. Having the door shut in his face did nothing to lighten his mood and he stalked back down the stairs with the others, fuming with every step.
He glared at Yuri when the Outer Kingdom warrior finally joined them.
"What's going on up there?" the Kensetti snarled.
Yuri shrugged. "As soon as I finished undressing him the old woman made me leave. I heard her lock the door behind me."
The nomad Prince flung himself down in a chair. He eyed the table across the room with Charlotte Boyett-Compo WINDRETRIEVER 53
disdain. "Does that woman really think we can eat at a time like this?"
Azalon glanced at the array of foods spread across the black planking and his mouth watered. He knew he couldn't be the first to try the wonderful smelling variety of food sitting there, but he hoped someone soon would put worry aside and grab something. He was famished.
Balizar sauntered over to the table and looked down. There was a whole ham, sitting in its juices. There were rolls and breads and sweetmeats. There was roast beef and fried chicken and broiled sea bass. He licked his lips, then
Catherine ignored the question. She looked at Balizar. "Unless you think you can carry him Charlotte Boyett-Compo WINDRETRIEVER 52
by yourself."
The warrior's left eyebrow crooked. "I can try, milady. He don't weigh all that much." He motioned to Yuri to get in the cart and hand Conar down to him.
Sajin would not have thought it possible for Arbra to carry Conar up the serpentine steps as easily as the older man did, but he wasn't surprised to find Balizar winded by the time they reached the top.
"Through here," the old woman indicated as she held open a door.
"Give him to me," Yuri demanded as he winced at Arbra's panting breath. "We don't want you down in the back, old man."
"Old man, my ass!" Balizar growled, but he gave his burden over to the other man.
Sajin took Catherine's arm as they followed the trio with Azalon and Rupine bringing up the rear.
The inside of the keep was so dark that not even the torches lining the walls could dispel much of the gloom. Walking down the long hallway was like threading one's way through an underground tunnel. Had not those making the trek known they were well above ground, the illusion would have been hard to expel.
"Who is this woman?" Sajin asked as he and Catherine made a sharp turn in the hallway and climbed a score of narrow steps.
"Sonja is her helper," Catherine answered. "I don't know the Daughter's name, but I am told she is a very powerful sorceress. I've heard tales of her at home, but I've never had reason to seek her out before now."
"In here," the old woman spoke, holding open an almost unseen door in the black expanse of the wall at the top of the stairs. "Lay him down and undress him."
"Down to his breechclout?" Yuri asked.
"Down to the flesh," the old woman answered.
Yuri shifted Conar's weight in his arms and then slowly lowered him to the examining table in the center of the dark room. The table felt ice-cold under his arms and he glanced around at the old woman. "Didn't you have a pad to put on here?"
"He feels nothing," she answered.
"Even so …," Yuri began, but Catherine cut him off.
"She knows what it best, Andreanova. Don't question her." Catherine smiled at the old woman. "Is there anything I can do, Sonja?"
"She wants you to remain here," the old woman said, but her gaze went to the others. "The Shadow-warrior may stay until the Outlander is unclothed but then he, like the others, must leave.
Rooms have been prepared for them and there is food when they are ready to eat."
"Now, wait a minute!" Sajin barked. "I'm not leaving her or Conar here alone."
"Sajin, please!" Catherine demanded, her nerves already frayed close to the snapping point.
She put her hand on his shoulder and pushed him toward the door. "Go with Sonja. I am as safe inside this keep as I am in my own home."
Despite his arguing, Sajin was forced to leave. Having the door shut in his face did nothing to lighten his mood and he stalked back down the stairs with the others, fuming with every step.
He glared at Yuri when the Outer Kingdom warrior finally joined them.
"What's going on up there?" the Kensetti snarled.
Yuri shrugged. "As soon as I finished undressing him the old woman made me leave. I heard her lock the door behind me."
The nomad Prince flung himself down in a chair. He eyed the table across the room with Charlotte Boyett-Compo WINDRETRIEVER 53
disdain. "Does that woman really think we can eat at a time like this?"
Azalon glanced at the array of foods spread across the black planking and his mouth watered. He knew he couldn't be the first to try the wonderful smelling variety of food sitting there, but he hoped someone soon would put worry aside and grab something. He was famished.
Balizar sauntered over to the table and looked down. There was a whole ham, sitting in its juices. There were rolls and breads and sweetmeats. There was roast beef and fried chicken and broiled sea bass. He licked his lips, then
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