The Free Kingdoms (Book 2) Read Online Free

this soothed it. He climbed onto Brasson’s back behind Darik.
    “You know the way?” Nathal asked.
    Daria nodded. “I do. Thank you for caring for Averial and Brasson.” Her eyes narrowed. “I wish I could thank you for something else, but I simply can’t think of anything.” She turned to Averial. “Ska!”
    Darik followed her lead with a grin at her spirit. They soared past the windmills, now motionless, then dropped over the edge of the cloud toward the city.
    Balsalom was gone. Simply not there. They’d flown on the breeze, windmills turned off, probably all through the last day and night. The mountains were east, not where he’d expected. To the west, farms and towns and cities, and green everywhere. Eriscoba?
    Frowning, Daria pointed to the ground and they dropped. When they landed, Darik asked Markal, “Where are we?”
    “Meadow Down,” Markal said. “A pleasant little kingdom. I lived here for about sixty years once, had a wife and raised hogs.”
    Daria frowned. “Good thing they didn’t keep us in the tower any longer or we might have floated right over the edge of the world.” She studied the mountains. “That must be Mount Rachis.”
    Darik asked Markal, “Why did you give the book to the khalifa? And when did you see her?”
    “What book?” Markal asked.
    “What do you mean, what book? The steel tome.”
    Markal grinned and reached inside his robe. He pulled out the book. “Oh, this book? I almost forgot I carried it.” He scratched his head. “Now why did I think that Kallia had it? I can’t remember.”
    Darik laughed. He hadn’t thought he could carry anything in those robes, let alone the bulky tome with its steel leaves. “Didn’t they search you for weapons before they brought you before the king?”
    “Exactly so,” Markal said. “And since they searched for weapons, I found it simple enough to turn their attention away from anything else I might be carrying. As for Kreth the Sage, he suffers from the same ailment that afflicts most Aristonians. Arrogance. And arrogance causes blindness.”
    “How do you mean?” Darik asked.
    “He simply could not imagine holding the Tome of Prophesy and not using it. If I had read the book recently, he would have seen me.” Markal smiled. “Fortunately, I lack that same arrogance. I am only too aware of my own faults and weaknesses, perhaps because they are so numerous. I tried to read the book once, failed, and put it away.”
    “But wait,” Darik said, his thoughts turning uncomfortably to his own attempt to read the book. “Is Kallia in danger?”
    “Not if she stays in Balsalom or rides with her army. Collvern wants the book, but nothing has roused Aristonia to open battle since the fall of Syrmarria. He’ll set his wizards to discover where she hides it, and since she doesn’t hide it anywhere, they will fail.”
    Darik asked, “What now? Do we go for the Citadel or return to find Whelan and Daria’s father?”
    Daria looked back toward the mountains. “I know a pass we can fly and be home by evening. I hope Averial can make it that far with her injuries.” She gathered Averial’s tethers then glanced back expectantly at Darik and Markal.
    “Daria, you return and find them,” Markal said. “Darik and I will press on to the Citadel.” He slid from Brasson’s back.
    Darik didn’t like that plan. “It’s too dangerous for Daria to travel alone with so many winged knights and dragon wasps in the sky. I’d better return to the aerie with her.”
    “Brasson and Averial will be strong enough protection. Daria, thank you for your help. Come on Darik, we’ve got a long way to travel.”
    Darik frowned and climbed from Brasson’s back. Daria glanced at Markal and then gave Darik a wistful look. He looked to Markal, but the wizard smiled back obliviously. Could he really not see that Darik wanted a few minutes alone with her before she left?
    Daria looked away from Markal to Darik. “Will you come see me when you