Night Calls the Raven (Book 2 of The Master of the Tane) Read Online Free

many days past and I was chosen to seek out a gift to appease his ancestors so he can enter the afterlife.”
    “Aye,” Hilden said as all three nodded. “Then ye be on a holy quest.”
    Teek shrugged. “I guess.”
    “What sort o’ gift be ye searchin’ fer then, lad?” Jancar asked, pounding his extinguished pipe against his knee and knocking out the remaining ash.
    Teek shook his head. “I don’t know. That’s part of the journey. It’s said that the ancestors will choose their gift and lead the seeker to it.” Teek got noticeably more excited. “My mom got a gift from a dwarf on her journey.”
    All three dwarfs looked somewhat surprised. “Really, now,” Hilden said, the disbelief obvious in his expression and tone.
    Teek caught on to their skepticism. “No, really. She got two gems and this.” He pulled the dagger from its place at his side. Three pairs of eyes narrowed beneath furrowed red brows as Teek presented the blade.
    “Migh t I be takin’ a closer look at that blade?” Jancar asked, leaning forward to snatch the outstretched knife from Teek’s hand.
    “It was given to my mother,” Teek went on excitedly not noticing Segford’s hand moving to the hammer at his side. “She gave it to me just before I left. Isn’t it beautiful?”
    “Aye,” Jancar said, eyeing it carefully before placing it into Hilden’s outstretched hand. “It be.” Both dwarfs gave each other a knowing look and then Jancar suddenly glanced past Teek to Tchee. A frown creased his lips as he looked back to Hilden and slightly shook his head.
    Teek was ignorant of the exchange but the following silence was quickly becoming uncomfortable. He looked at the dwarfs eagerly, expecting a little more excitement from them than they were showing.
    Hilden suddenly smiled and handed the dagger back to him. “Mighty fine indeed, me lad.”
    “Aye,” Jancar agreed. “Mighty fine.” He slipped a quick look at Segford who released his grip on his battle hammer and merely nodded his head.
    Teek took the dagger and returned it to its place at his side. “A dwarf named Helgar gave it to her.”
    All three heads snapped at the mention of Helgar. Hilden cleared his throat. “Helgar, ye say?”
    Teek smiled. “That’s right. Do you know him?”
    Segford and Jancar turned blank stares to each other while Hilden slowly answered. “Well then lad, that be dependin’. What be his second name?”
    Three sets of dwarf eyes set on Teek as he dropped his head, a thoughtful look on his face. “You know,” he said rubbing his chin, “I don’t really know. She never told me that.”
    The dwarfs glanced quickly at one another but didn’t respond.
    Hilden forced a small chuckle. “Well, I guess it be hard ta say then if we be knowin’ him or not.”
    Teek looked up and laughed. “I guess you’re right.” He shrugged. “I was just thinking that I would like to meet him is all.”
    Hilden flashed a quick look at Jancar who raised an eyebrow. Segford glanced at Tchee again. “Well, then. Maybe ye ought to be comin’ with us for a spell,” Jancar spouted, “and maybe we could be findin’ him fer ye.”
    Teek’s countenance brightened briefly before suddenly becoming dark. “I can’t.”
    “Why not?” Segford asked, leaning forward, a flash of anger in his eyes.
    “Well,” Teek started slowly, “I have to be on my way to complete my journey. Twee is waiting and I can’t let him down. Plus, my mother is waiting for me at home.”
    Segford opened his mouth as if to respond, the anger growing in his dark eyes, but Jancar cut him off. “Aye,” he said in a kind voice, “that do be a problem. Ye must be finishin’ yer holy quest and that right quick.”
    Teek only nodded, his disappointment obvious.
    Jancar brushed a hand through his beard a serious look on his face. The other two dwarfs watched him closely as if trying to understand where he was going with all of this. Suddenly, he brought his hand up. “I got it!” he