Read A Path Toward Home (The Annals of Avonea) for Free Online Page B

will travel with you. First, I must go tell Drinian and Woodphere.”
    “Oh, you wouldn't want to do that! For if you do tell them, they’ll ask who you are traveling with, and they'll want to come along and discover my path!”
    “But won't they be worried if I leave and don’t tell them where I am going?”
    “Worried, I do not even think Drinian knows the meaning of that word.”
    “Copper, I think it is best to return and tell Drinian that I have found another person to travel with.”
    “No, you cannot do that! He'll turn your head again.”
    With that Constance turned around and started walking back to camp.
    “No, please wait! I am sorry I said those mean things, I do not want you to get hurt,” Copper pleaded.
    “Constance!” a familiar voice came from the west.
    “Drinian!” Constance replied turning toward him. “I was coming to find you.”
    “Constance, what are you doing here, with him?” Drinian replied as he caught sight of the young man.
    “Oh this is Copper, he says he’s found a much easier path to take to Moolow. I’m thinking I will travel on with him since it will be faster.”
    “The only path he's going to take you on is a path that leads right to a prison cell!”
    “Oh, such a pretty thing as her? No, I would never be that cruel to put such a lovely face behind bars.”
    “Constance! Go now!” Drinian yelled.
    “Now I can say I was the one that finished off the family of King Simian!” With that Copper plucked his sword from his sheath and lunged at Drinian who quickly pulled out his sword, and clanged it against Copper's.
    “Woodphere!” Constance screamed as loud as she could over the clanging of the swords.
    Constance watched as the two men fought, for what felt like hours, and Woodphere had still not come!
    Drinian being a much better swordsman than Copper, had the upper hand but suddenly Copper with a burst of energy slashed his sword into Drinian's right arm! Drinian let out a painful cry.
    “Drinian!” Constance screamed.
    Constance had never felt so helpless in her life; as she could only watch the duel before her. Drinian grasped his arm for a moment, then lunged forward. Copper laughed as Drinian missed, kicking him in the stomach as he fell to the ground.
    “This is what I've been waiting for!” yelled Copper, getting ready to plunge his sword into Drinian’s back.
    “Your Majesty, watch out!” Woodphere yelled, riding up on his horse and leaping on top of Copper!
    Constance sprinted over to Drinian, “Are you alright?” Constance asked as Drinian slowly rose to his feet clutching his wound.
    “I think I’ll live” Drinian replied with a grimace.
    Meanwhile, Woodphere had finally subdued Copper, and forced his hands into a crude lock.
    “Constance, hurry! Get me the rope that's hanging on Luke,” Woodphere said. Constance grabbed the rope and handed it to Woodphere.
    “Thank you, now please remove the weapons in his satchel and sheath.”
    She did as Woodphere requested, but couldn’t help noticing Copper glaring at her as she went about collecting his weapons.
    “What are you going to do with me, leave me here to starve?” Copper asked, as Woodphere finished binding him securely to a nearby tree.
    “Would you rather me kill you on the spot, or would you rather have a chance to live?”
    Copper was silent as he glared at his captor.
    “Besides, I do not believe in killing a man, so you’d better be glad,” Woodphere replied.
    Drinian stood by painfully holding his arm.
    “May I look at your arm?” Constance asked as Drinian shook his head.
    “Please?” Constance asked, gazing into his eyes.
    Drinian nodded tentatively and eased himself carefully onto a nearby log.
    “Woodphere, do you happen to have any water in your canteen?”
    “Yes, here” Woodphere replied, tossing the canteen to Constance.
    Constance tore the flounce from her dress and poured cold water on it. She pulled Drinian's sleeve out of the way and inspected the deep and