Darkfire: A Book of Underrealm Read Online Free

enter the village with a wizard trussed upon my horse like a fallen stag?”
    Loren was surprised she had not thought of that herself. The sight of Strapa had been so welcome after their long and wet days upon the road, that she had had little thought for anything other than finding an inn. But of course Jordel was right. They could not exactly haul Xain along as they refreshed their supplies.
    The Mystic deposited Xain within the cave, sheltered from the sky by rocks overhead. He produced another coil of rope from his saddlebag, and worked behind the wizard to secure his wrists to the boulders.
    “That will do,” he said. “Come, we can ease our horses’ burdens somewhat. Gem, you will ride with me.”
    “You mean to leave him here alone?” said Gem, aghast.
    Loren spoke up as well. “That seems unwise, Jordel. I thought you meant to leave a guard.”
    Jordel looked at them with a small smile, a light dancing in his eyes. “You forget that once, I was a hunter tasked with finding men like Xain. He shall not break the bonds I placed upon him.”
    “But if he should?” said Annis, her voice quivering. She looked from Xain to Loren, as though seeking reassurance. The reins shook in her hands, and Loren felt pity well in her breast. “If he should manage to escape, will he not come seeking vengeance?”
    Jordel looked at Annis with kindly eyes, but Gem’s face grew melancholy, and he slid from the saddle to stand before the Mystic. “We cannot just leave him here for some wandering soul to discover. I will stay and keep watch. Only do not forget to fetch me some food, for I may well starve before you return.”
    Loren tried not to laugh. Jordel put a hand on Gem’s shoulder and answered him solemnly. “Your offer is valiant, young rogue, and I thank you for it. But I have told you that Xain will not escape, and I ask you to believe me. Even if I am proved wrong, you could not keep the wizard here unbound.”
    Gem lifted his chin. “I could stop him.”
    “I will not doubt you,” said Jordel. “But I will feed you. And Annis, if by some chance he should break his ropes, I do not think he would seek us out. More likely he would flee from here as fast as his feet could carry him, and hope to avoid us for all the rest of his days. Trust me, and come.”
    They mounted and left. Loren looked back over her shoulder to see Xain staring with a menacing glare. Just before he vanished from sight, she saw him begin to struggle against the rope that bound his wrists. She shivered, then forced herself to believe in Jordel. He was a mage hunter, after all.  
    Jordel must have sensed their unease, for as they picked their way through the forest he spoke to them lightly.  
    “Strapa is not a place to leave your purse strings unguarded, and yet it is no grim village either. Any hub of trade will attract wandering villains and thieves, but those who live here are good folk, for the most part. Keep a clear eye and a strong bearing, and you will find no trouble. We will fetch ourselves new supplies quickly, then continue north on the Westerly Road.”
    “It seems that Selvan is thick with those who pursue us,” said Annis. “Not only my family, but the Mystics as well. Why do we not travel through Dorsea, west of the mountains? It seems that way would put us farther from danger.”
    “The borders of Dorsea will not stop my order, nor your kin,” said Jordel, “and indeed, I think they will guess our destination. Thus, we must not go there. Furthermore, with war brewing between that kingdom and this, travelers from Selvan would be most unwelcome. You are a child of the courts, and Gem a boy of the streets. You might disguise your voices, but Loren’s heavy accent would do us no favors in that land.”
    Loren turned so quickly in surprise, she nearly fell from her saddle. “What accent? I speak as plainly as any other.”
    “Indeed,” said Jordel with a faint smile. “As plainly as anyone from the Birchwood, born and