Read The Chronicles of Lumineia: Book 02 - The Gathering for Free Online Page A

feat."
    "What do
you mean 'their pride'?" Trin asked.
    "Each
tribe is distinct, with their own hierarchy and leadership." She shrugged
and raised her eyebrows. "No one wants to give up their power."
    "But
didn't we send a runner to them?" Taryn frowned, thinking of the elf's
chances.
    "Indeed,"
Siarra replied, "But I fear his effort will be in vain. Even if there was
one leader he could deliver the orb to, it is doubtful he will make it onto the
islands." She paused and her voice tightened. "Outsiders tend to be
executed."
    The Oracle's
tone discouraged further conversation, and for a while they rode in silence. As
the afternoon sun began to descend, Trin asked, “What about the races to the
north?”
    Liri’s brow
furrowed and she shook her head. “Truthfully, I don’t know much about the far
north. I do know that orcs, gnomes, and trolls live in the large plains and
deserts north of the lake. I have heard that the gnomes live to the northeast
of the dwarves. I am not sure about the others.”
    "Most of
the orcs and gnomes live together in Ryazan," Jack said, entering the
conversation for the first time.
    Taryn swiveled
in his saddle, but Jack just shrugged and added, "They can be a rowdy
bunch, but on occasion the city is worth visiting."
    The
disinterest in the thief's expression didn't match the ghost of a smile that passed
on his lips, causing Trin to snort. "Did you get anything good?"
    This time Jack
laughed, "Of course."
    When he was
clear he didn't intend to explain, Mae asked, "Do you know anything about
the trolls?"
    "They
don't have much of value."
    Taryn hid a
smile and turned forward, recognizing that Jack's motivations were—at least on
the surface—fairly straightforward. After considering his words though, he
realized that Jack hadn't answered the question. Did he know more about the
trolls?
    Trin was still
laughing at Jack's comment, but said, “We had quite a few problems with trolls.
They liked to travel through the northern foothills that marked the border
between our lands. More than half of our entire army was stationed in those
forts, my father and brother among them—” He blinked and spun towards Taryn
"—Wait . . . when we passed the refugees from Terros I didn’t see any
flags from the northern garrisons!” Hope infused his tone and he sat back in
his saddle, biting his lip.
    Siarra
hesitated, and then asked. “There might be a way to find out if the northern
troops were killed—but not yet.”
    Trin's mouth had
opened, but it closed with a click, and the light that had blossomed on his
face evaporated. "Why not?" He demanded.
    "The
distance is too great. When we get closer, perhaps I can use my magic to
discover if they survived." Her brow furrowed. "But the fiends have
already invaded Griffin . . . so it may be too late."
    Trin's eyes
brightened, but the set of his jaw betrayed his tension. The expression was
uncharacteristic for his normally light attitude, and it surprised Taryn. He
hadn’t realized how hard it would have been for Trin to see Terros destroyed
and not know if his family had been among the dead. Then he considered if it was
Murai, and the tightening in his throat told him exactly how Trin would feel.
     “We have to
reach them first,” Trin said and Taryn echoed his statement.
    “We will,
Trin,” Siarra replied. “If we hurry we may reach them in time.”
    Trin's
expression hardened into determination, and he unconsciously flicked the
reigns. Taryn couldn’t help but smile and push his steed to catch up. Within
moments their entire party had picked up the pace and followed the road as it
curved away from the lake and into the trees. Now heading west of north, they tightened
the ranks to follow the narrower road. On either side the trees grew thick, and
their canopies blanketed the road in shade.
    Taryn’s first indication
that they had found the druids was the sensation of being watched. Scanning the
area, it took several minutes to spot what was out of