Sunset of Lantonne Read Online Free

trading market, but rather past it to a large group of the village’s hunters and warriors. As they did most days, the younger combatants practiced almost endlessly, preparing for the next raid by the tribal people that lived at the outskirts of the woods, while the older hunters sat around the edge of the tree-lined area and criticized the youths. It was something Ilarra had no particular interest in…until Raeln showed interest.
    She hopped up and followed her brother as he marched toward where five of the hunters were competing for the approval of the elders. The youths were playing a sort of rough game, with one at a time trying to hit a target with knives or arrows at a distance, while the other four did everything in their power to stop him or her. That included tackling, tripping, and punches that made Ilarra afraid to get too closer. All five were already bloodied, but grinning despite it.
    “So, the warrior who’s too good to stick around and defend Hyeth shows his face,” called out one of the older wildling warriors, whose dog-like features were marred by old scars. Immediately, the youths fighting stopped and eyed Raeln challengingly. Despite his appearance of age, the old wolf was likely only a year or two older than Raeln. “The younglings are saying that they are better than you, Raeln. Care to prove yourself before you leave us and go traipse around the city? You’ll go soft there, I’d wager.”
    Raeln’s muscles tensed as four more wildlings and elves stood up and joined the first five, circling him. He kept his attention on the speaker, even as his ears moved to track those who cut him off from Ilarra.
    For her own part, Ilarra had no desire to be anywhere near Raeln when he was showing off. She was anything but a warrior and wanted to be as far from the violence as she could manage. Instead of entering the group of elders or the target the youths had used, she made a point of picking a spot far from the target, where she thought it was least likely anyone or anything might come flying.
    “Don’t stall, boy,” shouted another hunter, an elven women that had a reputation for picking off foes with arrows before they were close enough to know she was even there. “This village has been forced to listen to years of bragging by your adopted father about your training. I think you’ve gotten rusty in the last few months, since the last time you practiced here. Prove me wrong.”
    Ilarra knew that the comments were anything but friendly. Her father had paid a fortune to traveling soldiers and retired warriors to teach Raeln what they knew. Many of the other warriors had been tested in battle at a young age and resented the idea that Raeln was somehow their equal. Those who had seen him fight were likely trying to goad their trainees into a fight they would not win. At least, she hoped they could not win. She had no desire to go back to her father to ask for a healer to look at Raeln.
    Finally, Raeln nodded at the two that had demanded he show his abilities off. Then, as though it were an afterthought, he tapped the money pouch that hung from his belt. He then raised two fingers to indicate a wager of two copper Lantonnian marks. Given the lack of money in the village, two copper marks would be a day’s wage for most.
    “Put your tail where your money is,” snapped the old wolf that had challenged him initially. “I’ve got nine younglings out there against you. If you think you can beat them all, make it nine coins. I want this to be a good show to remember you by, if you’re running away to Lantonne today.”
    Nearly all the hunters gave the old man a surprised look, knowing that was more money than was customary for any wager. Likely, most of the younger ones had never had that many coins to rub together at any one time. Two of the youngest studied Raeln with newfound nervousness, clearly wondering if he could live up to a wager that size.
    Ilarra knew that Raeln had little more than that as