Ties of Blood Read Online Free Page B

truth before I call for my husband.”
    Eloen let out a heavy sigh, and began to tell Rene the truth. Starting with where they were really from, how she had met Thad and what they were really doing in Abla leaving out only Thad’s ability to use magic. The woman gasped a few times and often asked her to elaborate on her story. When she was finished with her tale Eloen stood there waiting for the worst.
    “I didn’t know we had a force attacking Farlan again, I swear that our men can’t live without starting a war every few years.” Rene said wiping a tear from her eye. “You know when I was a child I always loved the stories my mother would tell me about the handsome prince who would brave all danger and fight against impossible odds to win the hand of the princess. I would lay awake at night and dream that I was the princess waiting for my prince to come and whisk me away. While your story isn’t the same it has the same spirit and I can’t help but wish for your success.”
    “So you’re not going to tell your husband.” Eloen asked her heart pounding fiercely.
    “I love that windbag, but he’s about as romantic as a wet bag.” Rene replied laughing. “No, I won’t tell that lummox, so you can breathe easy. I do think you’re going the wrong way though. They take prisoners of war to Treforge. It’s to the southwest a little over a fortnight from here. I would suggest you head to Boral to the south, and follow the southern road. It’s the fastest route I know of, maybe you can still catch up to them. If they reach the prison you would need an army to break him out.” Rene said placing her hand comfortingly on her shoulder. “Don’t worry I’m sure your love is safe.”
    “He better be, or I’ll kill him.” Eloen said wiping the tears away that were forming in the corner of her eyes.
    After the large meal the three companions were left alone in the common room with spare blankets to sleep. Darryl was already fast asleep but Ballard sat stoking the fire. Eloen was exhausted and wanted nothing else than to follow Darryl’s example and sleep, but she could tell something was bothering her friend. Sitting beside him, she playfully punched him on the shoulder. “What’s eating at you?”
    “Did you know that Glenn served ten years in the Ablaian army? He’s a good sort, from what I can tell he’s no different than any of my friends in Farlan. Yet because we live on different side of an imaginary line we are told to hate each other. It just doesn’t seem right. Is there a reason we spend our time hating someone simply because of where they live?” Ballard said as he poked at the fire with a long iron rod.
    “I know it just doesn’t seem right. Rene is a dear herself, but we have never started the wars between us and Abla.”
    “That may be true, but we haven’t done anything to stop it either. We tax all the goods that travel through our land to theirs so heavily that they are forced to pay exorbitant amounts for things they can’t do without. Why do we do it? Not because we need the gold but to punish them, but it’s not the government that suffers it’s the people at the lowest rung of society who have little choice but to pay.” Ballard said his voice laced with disgust.
    “I understand what you’re saying but there is little we can do about it until we return to Farlan. I promise once we’re back home I will do everything I can to help ease the tension between our two countries.”
    “Even if we find that they have executed Thad?” Ballard looked at her his eyes boring into her.
    Eloen looked into the fire pit and watched as the flames danced. “I can’t say it would be easy, but I would try. Knowing Thad it sounds like something he would agree with.”
    Ballard gave a deep laugh. “That’s true. I never saw a man who likes a hopeless cause more than that boy.”
    Leaving Ballard alone to his musings Eloen lay down to sleep. Tired as she was her mind was brimming full of