Rise of the Spider Goddess Read Online Free

breaking her victim’s neck in an attempt to prevent him from acquiring the curse that had taken over her life. On that day, she had vowed never to do to another person what had been done to her.
    Galadrion stood the body against the tree and drew her sword. With one swift stroke, she struck his head from his body. Having done this, she dropped her sword and collapsed against to the ground, hugging her knees.
    We’re done with the flashback and back in the present story now. I mention this only because the author didn’t think to provide any sort of transition here. Lazy bum.
    Nakor watched the beheading from the shadows. He waited calmly as Galadrion sat against the tree, trembling. After a few moments, he stepped toward her.
    She heard the footsteps, and knew without looking who it was. Nakor was the only one she knew who could get this close to her without her hearing. With a sudden rush of shame, she remembered her appearance. Blood stained her teeth red and was in the process of drying to a dark crust around her mouth. She was covered in sweat and still trembling from her recent ordeal. Only twice in her life had Galadrion been found like this. Both times, people had been horrified. They had cursed her, calling her a demon or worse. She buried her face deeper in her arms, afraid of seeing that rejection in Nakor’s eyes.
    Nakor walked over to stand next to Galadrion’s huddled form. He gently rested a hand on her quivering shoulder. A moment later, she looked up. Nakor took a moment to study the blood and sweat that covered her face. Kneeling down in front of Galadrion, he looked into her eyes. Galadrion flinched slightly, and looked away. After a few minutes, her trembling stopped. Resigned, she turned back to meet his eyes once again. There was no rejection in his eyes, only a mirroring of her pain. Nakor smiled slightly. It was a very soft smile, different from his usual, obnoxious grin. When he spoke, it was in a gentle, compassionate tone.
    â€œCome home when you’re ready.”
    â€œAnd maybe, you know, brush your teeth first.”
    Having said that, he squeezed her shoulder gently, then turned and walked back through the forest. Galadrion began shaking again. Home…
    * * *
    Nakor walked into the ruins in which he had lived for the past year. There were only a few rooms left intact. The majority of the ancient castle was today little more than a mass of broken gray stone and shattered foundations. Shutting one of the few remaining doors behind him, he walked toward his makeshift dining room. Up ahead he could hear the high pitched voices of the two pixies.
    Pynne was hovering in the air, studying a small owl who perched on a wooden stand. Its feathers were a deep red, almost black in color. The bird would occasionally flap its wings and make threatening noises at Pynne, who was floating nearby.
    â€œHis name is Flame,” Nakor said. “His parents were killed by poachers while they were hunting.”
    Even the bird has a tragic backstory.
    He reached out to ruffle the feathers around Flame’s neck. The bird twisted his head sideways and let out a quiet chirp of pleasure.
    â€œHe’s beautiful,” Pynne commented softly, studying the small owl. Flame was tiny for an owl, with a wingspan of just two feet.
    At that point, Whoo flew into the room and landed in the center of a rectangular stone table. He was a curious being, even for a pixie. His first reaction upon entering Nakor’s home had been to race from room to room, exploring and snooping.
    Nakor grabbed a sack from a corner of the room and pulled out a loaf of bread he had bought earlier that day. It was placed on the table, followed by a block of cheese. Whoo, still standing in the middle of the table, promptly sat down and began to eat.
    If you’ve read Dianna Wynne Jones’ wonderful The Tough Guide to Fantasyland , you’ll know the only acceptable meals in Fantasyland are bread, cheese,