The Dragon's Test (Book 3) Read Online Free

tone was not the usual commanding voice that Braun had used with him before, but more of a pleading, entreating tone. “I can do that,” Erik replied with a nod. He struggled against the burning in his thigh to get to his fe et and walk over to the rocks. Each of them was easily the size of his head. He clicked and clacked the uneven surfaces together as he tried to fit them in like a large puzzle. He had barely slid that last rock into place when Braun returned with an armload of dead branches.
    “I’ll make a fire,” Braun said.
    “Do you think anyone will notice?” Erik asked.
    Braun shrugged. “We are deep in the forest, so the light won’t carry as far as if we were camping out on the plain. Either way, I expect it will get cold tonight and we didn’t leave ourselves enough time to build a proper shelter.”
    Erik nodded. “I suppose some hot food would be good as well.”
    “It won’t be anything fancy,” Braun apologized as he went back to his saddle for the large pot and a waterskin. “I can put some beans in the pot to boil, and we have some dried meat and bread.”
    “That is enough,” Erik said. “I am not overly hungry anyway.”
    Braun prepared the beans and then went to work building the fire. When he had set the pot in the flames he went over and knelt beside Erik. “I owe you an apology, but I have been unable to find the words.”
    Erik frowned and then looked over to see Braun st aring into the flames, refusing to return Erik’s gaze. He wanted to comfort Braun, but he didn’t know what to say. So he turned and looked into the fire also, watching the wood crack and pop as the heat consumed it.
    “I left him in the alley,” Braun said after a few moments. “I thought he was safe. I had checked the alley before I left, and no one was there. I went ahead to scout the way. When I returned…” Braun couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.
    Erik turned and saw a tear sliding down Braun’s dirt-streaked face. He put a hand on the man’s shoulder. “It wasn’t your fault.”
    “I should have been with him,” Braun countered.
    “So should I,” Erik whispered. Erik closed his eyes momentarily and his head drooped down. “I should never have let you split from us. We should have stayed together.”
    Braun pulled the leather thong with his father’s ring up over his head. “I know he would want you to have this,” he said.
    As Erik looked at the emerald ring, his eyes welled with tears. “Our family ring,” he said. He reached out gingerly and took the necklace, twirling it in front of him. “When he came to adopt me I thought I was having a dream.”
    Braun smiled and nodded. “I was there,” Braun said.
    “He never treated me as anything other than blood kin,” Erik said. He slipped the ring over his index finger for a moment before pulling it back off. “I will make you proud, father,” Erik promised.
    Braun laid a hand on Erik’s back. “He was always proud of you,” he said.
    Erik shook his head. “But I failed him,” he said. “Tukai was right. Maybe if I had died the night the warlock came, my father would still be alive.”
    Braun removed his hand from Erik’s back and shook his head. “The warlock was wrong,” he said firmly. “You didn’t cause your father’s death.”
    “I don’t know,” Erik said. “Maybe if I had done more, or if I had been faster…” he let his words trail off and the two stared at the fire a long while. Erik fumbled with the ring, turning it over between his fingers as he lost himself in his thoughts. After a few minutes he sniffed and choked back tears as he slipped the leather thong over his own head and let the ring hang around his neck. “I suppose I should keep it hidden for now,” he said.
    “At least until you figure out how to get your body back,” Braun agreed.
    Erik forced a slight grin. “It’s too bad Lepkin isn’t here with us.” Erik sighed and let himself lay back in the dirt. He looked up to