Elf Sight Read Online Free

back.
    “Done.” Irlan stepped forward and held out his hand.
    Shadow stayed back and dropped her head more so the hat shaded her face. She looked towards the brim and tilted her head slightly so she could watch Irlan shake Farnell’s hand. Carson, who had stood behind Farnell, stepped forward. Her breath caught in her throat as he smiled at her brother.
    “Come on lad, I’ll find somewhere for you and the kid to bed down for the night.”

Chapter Four
    “Roll out!” a soldier bellowed at daybreak. “Come on you mangy curs. Get moving. No breakfast for any slug-a-beds.”
    There were grumbles and groans as soldiers rolled out of swags and quickly readied themselves for the day. A man, who stood beside a large pot hanging over the fire, filled the bowls each soldier brought to him with the serving spoon he held.
    “Hey lad,” Carson called out to Irlan.
    Irlan and Shadow looked over. Carson held up two bowls and then pointed towards the campfire. Irlan nodded and he and Shadow made their way over.
    “Any second thoughts, yet?” Carson asked as they joined him.
    Irlan shook his head, but Shadow was tempted to say she certainly had more than second thoughts.
    “So, if you’ve got no kin, what have you been doing?” Carson asked as their bowls were filled.
    Irlan looked over at Shadow and she saw the sudden look of panic cross his face.
    “Peddler,” she whispered, just loud enough for Irlan to hear.
    “Speak up kid, I can’t hear mumbles,” Carson said.
    “We travelled with a peddler. He dumped us in the last town,” Irlan said.
    Carson looked from one to the other. “He’ll never learn to speak if you always answer for him.” He gestured towards their bowls. “Better get that food in you. The General doesn’t wait for anyone.” With a last glance at them, he walked off.
    Shadow and Irlan found a place by themselves to eat. “I keep thinking someone is going to see through me,” Shadow whispered.
    “Why would they? People only ever see what they expect.” Irlan shovelled in another mouthful of food.
    “I don’t know. Every time the Captain looks at me I think he suspects something.” Shadow’s eyes strayed across the camp until they rested on Carson. He turned in her direction and she hurriedly stared at her bowl.
    “Nah. Anyway, he’s a dodgy character. He’s far too young to be a captain. I was talking to one of the soldiers last night and they said he’s twenty-one. And, considering he’s only a captain he seems to get more respect than the General. Makes you wonder what he’s planning. It might be rebellion.”
    “You wouldn’t think the General would be that dense, would you?” Shadow glanced over to Carson. His back was to her again. She returned to staring at her food, not wanting to draw his attention.
    Irlan shrugged. “Who knows?”
    They fell silent for a while as they ate their food. Shadow scrapped her spoon around the bowl. “I hope we don’t take too long to get where we have to go. This not being able to speak when I want is frustrating.”
    Irlan laughed. “You manage to hold your tongue when the old bugger’s in one of his rages. Just think of it being like that.”
    “Yes, but that’s not all the time. Not every day, every minute. I’m going to go crazy with only you to talk to.”
    “Time to leave,” a soldier standing beside the General’s tent, which was being packed away, bellowed. “Saddle up.”
    “Come on. We don’t want to get left behind.” Irlan shoved the last spoonful of food in his mouth.
    “That’s what you think,” Shadow muttered as she rose to her feet. How was she to manage long hours of no talking, ducking her head in supposed shyness and fading into the background? None of it was her strong point. She could manage for short lengths of time, but hours? Days? Irlan expected the impossible.
    The whole day was spent riding. Even the midday meal was broken on horseback with soldiers taking jerky, flatbread and fruit from their