Secrets at the Keep (Kingdom of Denall Book 2) (32 page)

Eric Buffington was born in Ontario Canada, where he lived until he was eighteen. After that he traveled with a Canadian government program, for one year (what he did is top secret), he then moved to California to serve a two year mission working with the Laotian people. Shortly after returning home he met the love of his life, moved to Pennsylvania and married her. He has since completed a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in education. He currently lives in Pennsylvania with his wonderfully supportive wife, and their four children. He currently works as a High School math teacher in an online cyber school.

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The adventures of the stone holders continue in:

The Changing

Can Kaz and Mylot save Baron Clifton and get the word to the king’s army in time to defend Denall from Mordyar’s force that is invading from the north?

What adventures await Pentra and Trae in the Orften Mountains as they hunt down Maven?

Who is the mysterious Maggie, and what force is it that drives her forward on her strange missions?

Alone and injured, is Melna finally defeated?

Answer these questions and more when you purchase your copy of The Changing. For now, please enjoy this excerpt:

~~~~~

Trae knelt back down and began searching for tracks he knew he wouldn’t see. “We should take the southern path.”

“Why?” Pentra asked squatting back to the ground to see what she had missed.

“Because Bendar said he was trying to get to the Orften Mountains. The mountain range starts more south, so that’ll be the more direct route.” Trae pointed down the southern path.

P nodded, “That makes sense. Since we can’t see tracks, we might as well pick one and get going.”

Trae liked the sound of moving again. Sitting around looking for foot prints was very bothersome. They both mounted and cantered south, hoping to make up some lost time. They came to two more forks in the road, and each time they followed the path that led south, at mid-day they found the first sign that made Pentra stop. She pointed at the sapling. “What do you see?”

“It looks like a broken branch.” Trae answered. “Can’t a broken branch just be a broken branch?”

“In this case, no. See how it is snapped off close to the ground? And look at the ground next to it, a partial hoof print like the ones we were following.”

“Or it could be a broken branch.” He muttered sarcastically under his breath.

“You really can be stubborn, you know that?” she said without turning to look at him.

Trae exhaled and looked at her back. She could really be frustrating when she wanted to be, and her heightened hearing caught everything. “I can’t even have a private thought with you around, can I?”

“If you wanted to keep it to yourself, keep your mouth closed.” she replied, then she turned to look at him critically. “We’re going south because you suggested it, now you’re discrediting the first sign that shows you were right. You make no sense.”

“I’m just trying to think logically through this, it could just be a…”

Before he could finish, a panicked look crossed Pentra’s face. “Get down!” she gasped, jumping toward Trae. Before she could reach him, Trae looked into the woods and saw what Pentra had heard. A crossbow bolt was flying toward him.

In a heartbeat Trae had a flood of thoughts that all came with crystal clarity: That Bolt will kill me if I don’t move. I can’t move quickly enough to dodge a crossbow bolt. Wait a minute, I’m wearing impenetrable armor, I’ll be fine. Is Pentra trying to jump in the path of the bolt? She’s nuts! I’d better get her out of harm’s way.