B0161NEC9Y (F) Read Online Free Page A

S’am…”
    “Well how the hell are we supposed to walk through the damn leaves without making them jump around like dancing frogs?” Rachie snapped.
    “Just…” Leilius sighed. “Watch me.”
    “I did watch you. You walk like a girl!” Rachie said.
    “I’ll kick your teeth in like a girl, how would that be?” Ruisa barked.
    Leilius took a deep breath and held up his hands, trying to calm everyone down. His flaring nostrils probably gave away his irritation, but he had to try. “We’re all jumpy. I know that. We’ll be leaving the protection of the island soon and going back to the danger of the mainland. That’s a scary thing. I get it. We might—”
    Rachie’s fist came out of nowhere. It was nothing more than a skin-colored blur.
    A moment later, Leilius groaned as he picked his head up off the ground and wiped at the mud stuck to his cheek. He shook his head to clear it, his vision a little blurry.
    “You’ve gotten much quicker,” Leilius said, wheezing. Apparently, Xavier wasn’t the only one to watch out for. S’am’s lessons had really started to pay off.
    “Don’t talk to us like we’re scared,” Rachie growled, emulating Sanders. “I’m not scared.”
    “I’m scared,” Marc said.
    “Can we get on with this before S’am shows up?” Gracas looked around the trees with wide, expectant eyes.
    Picking himself up slowly, Leilius chose a different technique. “Just…watch me.”
    Well, it was the same technique while hoping for different results.
    They started out again, everyone allowing him to go first. They moved slowly, rustling, cracks, and pops sounding off every so often. If this was enemy territory, they’d be caught by anyone half decent. But just like they had with weapons and fighting, they’d all get better.
    Hopefully.
    After about ten minutes of walking, the trees started to compress around them. The light, once filtered and soft, was now strangled, barely making it past the foliage. Above, a bird gave one shrill cry before the beat of wings announced its hasty exit.
    Leilius held up a hand. The others paused behind him.
    Silence reigned.
    The murkiness sifted between the trees. Chilled air gently coated his skin, stagnant.
    Eyes drifting closed, Leilius tried to feel like S’am had taught him. He concentrated on every sound, picking up the heavy panting behind him. Marc. To the side he could hear a scratchy slide, leaves against someone’s jacket. Other than that, nothing.
    S’am would’ve come this way, scaring away most of the birds. If she’d kept going, many would’ve come back to settle, fleeing for a second time as Leilius and his herd tramped through. But only one had taken flight. It either hadn’t left when S’am had come through, or had been brave enough to return.
    S’am could stay so still and quiet, animal life filled in her surroundings. But it took time.
    She was in the area.
    A thrill shot through Leilius. If she was in the area, she knew he was, too. If the Honor Guard took too long to find her, she’d sneak out and scare the crap out of them before waging battle.
    Shit. They didn’t have much time.
    Trying to calm down, ignoring his thumping heart, he focused on that special survival sense, as S’am had called it. He tried to feel for a presence hiding within the trees. Waiting. Watching. Ready to attack.
    A bead of sweat dribbled down Leilius’ cheek.
    The heavy panting behind him became more intense.
    Unable to help himself, he glanced back.
    Marc stood rigid, pale and shaking. He was looking off to the right with unfocused eyes. Xavier, only three paces away from Marc, on bent knees, his practice sword in his hand, stared off in the same direction. He noticed Leilius looking before minutely flicking his head in the direction of his focus.
    Xavier couldn’t be quiet, but it seemed he could do that survival-feeling thing.
    Leilius turned his head slowly, moving no other part of his body. He scanned the wall of green, looking for