The Free Kingdoms (Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

can? We can fly together again.”
    He meant to say something noncommittal, not knowing where his path led, but he couldn’t help himself. Picking up her hand and kissing it gently, he said, “I’ll come as soon as I can.”
    She blushed and looked quickly away when she saw Markal watching them. She picked up the reins. “Ska!”
    Darik watched the griffins fly east toward the mountains, Daria’s hair blowing in the wind. When they disappeared from view, he turned and glared at Markal. “You ruined that moment, thank you.”
    Markal laughed. “What moment? I didn’t see anything.”
    “You know what I’m talking about. Couldn’t you have given us a moment together? Just a few minutes alone?”
    “Life is long, Darik. Be patient.”
    “Maybe your life is long,” Darik said. “But mine is rushing by like a galloping horse. Just a couple of weeks ago, I worked in Graiyan’s kitchen. Not long before that, I lived quite happily with my father and sister. My life rushes by but never goes back. Maybe I’ll never see her again.”
    Markal shrugged. “A week, maybe two at most. You’ll see her soon enough.”
    Darik looked west. The sky was covered with cloud castles. While he watched, an army of winged knights flew from one castle to the next and this made him wonder. When he and Daria arrived, an entire cavalry had greeted them. How had the king’s cavalry been so prepared for the griffin riders? The answer was obvious: the Cloud Kingdoms already prepared for war. But with whom?
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Two
    Markal inspected the wound in Darik’s shoulder, then found a few herbs along the road which he pressed into the cut with a few simple spells to speed the healing. The throbbing faded immediately.
    Once Darik and Markal got underway, Darik turned to the wizard. “What happened? Why aren’t you with the others?”
    Markal eyed him with a look that was hard to read, but definitely not the man’s usual cheerful grin. “Maybe I’d better ask you a question first. Did I or did I not say that you weren’t to read the book?”
    Darik looked away. He wanted to protest that he hadn’t meant to read the book just look at it, and once he opened it, just couldn’t close it again. But no, the truth was, Markal’s instructions were clear enough. “I’m sorry,” he said at last. “I shouldn’t have done it.”
    Markal said. “You’ll recover. The bigger mistake was letting the book out of your care once the dark wizard knew you had it. He went after it immediately.”
    Darik frowned. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
    Markal said, “Fortunately, I reached it first. Alas, the enemy killed several griffins and riders trying to get the book.”
    A pall settled over Darik. He hadn’t meant to hurt anyone. “I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll never touch magic again.”
    “Too late for that, boy. Once magic rears up and bites you on the ass, there’s no looking back. To answer your question, I found you through the book. For some reason, it’s chosen you to unlock its secrets.”
    “Me?” Darik said, disbelieving. “Whatever for?”
    Markal shrugged. “Who can say? Probably because you’re the first to have read it for so long. There’s no question, however, that you have wizardry in your blood.”
    Darik didn’t know what to think of this revelation. It disturbed him a little. “So what do I do?”
    “Time enough to worry later. Right now we have to reach the Citadel.” He shook his head, looking grim. “The enemy will be here in a week, two at best, and I fear for King Daniel.”
    It had been several days since they’d met with the other wizards on the edge of the Desolation, and Darik hoped they would reach Arvada to discover the king improving. “You don’t think he’ll die, do you?”
    Markal shrugged. “I fear the worst, and I don’t mean the king’s death.”
    “Worse then death? What could that be?”
    Markal said, “Have you ever wondered what became of the high