Hero's Song Read Online Free Page B

the sound of footsteps behind him. He stopped and listened. Nothing. But as he began walking, he heard the sound again. He stopped again. And the footsteps stopped as well. Collun peered back over his shoulder and thought he could see a muffled, dark shape behind him. Fear made his mouth go dry. He wet his lips and thought of the dagger that had been a trine, buried deep within his
pack. "Little good it will do you there," Goban had said.
    Collun kept walking, faster and faster, while he reached behind him and fumbled at the opening of his pack. It was no use. In order to get at its contents he would first have to take the bag off his back and then unloose the thongs that held it closed.
    He was almost running now. Quickly he swung the bag off his shoulder, but even as he tugged desperately at the thongs, an arm wrapped around his shoulders. He swung his head around to face his attacker, but instead of a Scathian, he was looking into the laughing face of Talisen.
    "What's in the bag that's so precious?" Talisen said, brushing his black hair out of eyes that were narrowed in mock greed.
    "Talisen!" Collun cried, caught between relief and anger.
    "Sorry, Collun, I couldn't help myself. But you deserve it for running off without me, without even saying good-bye. Is that any way to treat your old friend?"
    "I am sorry, but there was no time."
    "I will forgive you for that, perhaps, but never for keeping the news about Nessa from me." Talisen's face, for once, was grave. "I wondered why I had not seen you for some days. I would have come out to you, but Farmer Whicklow was working me from dawn to dark, paying him back for his missing pig, which of course had nothing to do with me. But is it true? Has Nessa really disappeared from Temair?"
    "Yes. I am going there to find her, if I can." While he spoke, Collun rummaged in his pack for the dagger his father had forged. When he found it, he resolutely fastened the sheath to his belt.
    "That's the stone that was in the handle of your trine," Talisen said, eyebrows raised. "Is your trine now a dagger?"
    Collun nodded.
    "You expect danger?"
    "Yes."
    "Then I am glad I have come prepared." Talisen drew a blade from the sheath at his own hip.
    Collun shook his head. "No. You are not coming with me, Talisen."
    "Of course I am."
    "This is no tale out of one of your old songs. The danger is real."
    "Then all the more reason. Besides, Collun, you will need a bard along to chronicle your adventures."
    Talisen began to pull the harp from his back, but as he did so another bundle fell to the ground with a dull thud.
    "What is that?" asked Collun, momentarily distracted.
    "This? Why, it is Farmer Whicklow's biggest and fattest goose, of course."
    Collun shook his head in dismay. "You will spend the rest of your days repaying your debt to Farmer Whicklow."
    "Spend the rest of my days working for big-bellied, tightfisted Farmer Whicklow?" Talisen threw back his head and laughed. "You know this is what I have been waiting for, Collun: a reason to leave Inkberrow for good!"
    They found a place to sleep under a stand of alder trees. Collun kindled a fire using the teine stone he always carried with him, while Talisen plucked and
cleaned the goose. They built a makeshift spit and soon the fowl was giving off a delicious aroma as it sizzled over the fire.
    Later, when their stomachs were full, Talisen let out a contented burp and reached for his harp.
    "How shall we begin the tale?" Talisen mused. "'The Lay of Collun and Talisen on the Road to Temair'? No, something more poetic. It will come to me. These are early days yet." His fingers began to weave a melody from the strings. Collun recognized it as one of his friend's favorites, about the bard Amergin and the gemstone called Cailceadon Lir that he used to save Eirren from the evil wizard Cruachan.
    Talisen sang, and Collun listened sleepily to the familiar words, pulling his cloak close around him.
    The haunting final note hung in the air for several