Read Online Progeny (The Children of the White Lions) by R.T. Kaelin - Free Book Online

remained.
    “We need to get moving,” muttered Nikalys.
    He took her hand and led her east, back in the direction from which they had come. Neither of them said a word. When they reached where Widow Johns’ house had been, Kenders stopped. Halting beside her, Nikalys stared at her, his eyes full of worry.
    “What is it? More magic?”
    She shook her head.
    “No. No magic.”
    She turned in place to face the remnants of the town. She stared long and hard at the Yellow Mud’s destruction, burning the image into her mind. “That mage will answer for this, Nik. I swear it.”
    Spinning around, she marched away, leaving Yellow Mud behind her. Setting her eyes straight ahead, Kenders strode east, down the muddy road.
    Nikalys followed.

Chapter 7: Loss
     
    The road leaving Yellow Mud ran east for a few miles, through vineyards and olive groves, before giving way to the wilder, natural terrain of the area. Upon reaching the pinnacle of Baldtop Hill, the way swung south and they began their trek back down to the well-traveled Southern Road.
    Nikalys trailed Kenders, one eye on her and the other searching for any sign of danger, despite having no idea what to do if something happened. As they trudged along in silence, Nikalys’ mind churned. They needed a plan.
    In town, he had taken charge of the situation because instinct told him they needed to move. Now that they were out of immediate danger—or so he hoped—he had no idea what to do next. They had no other family to whom they could run. There were no grandparents, cousins, uncles, or aunts. The entirety of the Isaac family had been five people.
    Thaddeus had been an orphan and Marie’s parents had died in a massive fire in Fernsford, a city in the distant Southlands. The tragedy had happened less than a year after Nikalys’ parents had married, forcing the young couple to leave the city and head north to Lakeborough. There, Thaddeus worked as a blacksmith and Marie as a tailor. It was there that Jak, Nikalys, and Kenders were born. Shortly after Kenders’ birth, the young family left Lakeborough, came to Yellow Mud, and lived a good life. A life that was gone now.
    Nikalys looked ahead to his sister’s back. “Kenders?”
    She answered without turning around. “What?”
    “I think we should head to Lakeborough.”
    She still did not look back. Sounding surprised, she asked, “Lakeborough? Why Lakeborough?”
    “Well, Mother and Father lived there. We were born there. Perhaps somebody will remember us. Or them, at least.”
    Kenders glanced over her shoulder. “And how exactly does that help us?”
    “Perhaps we could find work there?” replied Nikalys. “Day laborers? You could see if—”
    Halting in the middle of the road, Kenders wheeled around and glared at him, her eyes burning hot. Nikalys was forced to stop or else run into her.
    “How can you turn the page so quickly, Nik? Someone just killed our entire family! What’s wrong with you?” She punctuated her point by stabbing him in the chest with her index finger.
    Rubbing the spot she had poked, Nikalys fired back, suddenly angry himself. “Trust me, I’d like nothing more than to see that ijul hang!”
    “Then how can you just walk away?” demanded Kenders. “Gods! You’re already talking about finding a blasted trade!”
    As much as he wanted to shout at her—to scream and yell—he pressed his lips together, muffling his rage. Kenders did not deserve his anger. Letting out a heavy sigh, he shook his head, stepped around her, and started to walk down the road. “Forget I said anything.”
    Kenders hurried and fell in beside him, staring at him. “I’ll do no such thing. I cannot believe you—”
    He cut her off, snapping, “I said forget it! We’ll just keep—”
    A rabbit burst from the brush a half-dozen paces ahead of them, dash across the road, and reenter the forest on the other side. Nikalys tilted his head back and stared at the sky, exhaling in frustration.