The Treason Blade (Battle for Alsaar Book 1) by Jenny Rebecca Keech

all
the warm weather I have encountered since my arrival.”
    “How cold
does your holding get in the mountains?” Glyndwr asked with apprehension.
    Ishar smiled.
“We do not actually live in the high mountains, but near the other end of the
island where the sound of the ocean clashing against rock is a constant. The
entire region past the mountains is higher than the south with cliffs
dominating much of all that is near the water. It is one reason the Tourna seek
the south as a landing site. They have tried to invade our highlands several
times. They have come to learn, to their error, it is far more difficult than
planned. Still, we stand prepared. But as to the weather, Ayden, my father’s
holding, was hit hard by several storms this year. The mountain passes have
been impassable at times. It is one reason why I have arrived with the touch of
spring well upon us. The passes through the mountains have only just begun to
thaw.” She glanced around in surprise. “But this area is so green and vibrant
and the air so warm. I suppose I assumed the cold missed much of this part of
the island.”
    Traevyn
shrugged. “We will never get what the north has but the mountain snows dictate
the level the river will raise. Your words tell me this year, the river will be
treacherous. We would do well to gather much meat before crossing proves too
dangerous.”
    Ishar nodded
approvingly. “Then it is good we came to hunt.”
    The three men
shook their head in agreement. They made their way slowly across the flowing river,
letting their horses pick their path since they were still able to feel bottom.
Once on the other side, they let their horses move onward in a heavy trot that
kept them moving yet still helped refresh the horses from their earlier brisk
run. The start of the woodland of the Lute, known as the Daiwen, loomed before
them.
    “Why do they
call it that?” Ishar asked.
    Traevyn
shrugged. “It means dark safety. The woods have always been a refuge for the
Lute, a place to outwit and defeat their enemy. They know every crevice and
accessible tree in that forest.”
    “It is said
that a Lute could be standing in front of you and then disappear before your
eyes into the woodland,” Glyndwr noted. “And I would not believe but I have
seen it happen in battle. These woods are a second skin to these people. Even
to the point that in battle they wear a paint made from a special bush that
grows within the wood, smeared across their bare skin. It enables them to blend
in with their surroundings. It aids in their ability to disappear.”
    Gavin nodded.
“No wonder they consider this place sacred. It hides them, fortifies them,
gives them their weapons, and feeds and clothes them. Everything they need is
here.”
    Ishar
frowned. “And they will have no problem with us hunting these grounds?”
    Traevyn shook
his head. “We have a peace with Wyn, the Lute leader,” he stated. “He does not
mind that we kill for food as long as we are not wasteful. There is plenty of
deer running within the woods for all of us to share.”
    “They even believe
their grove protects them,” Gavin added with a grin.
    Ishar gave
him a perplexed look. “Protects them?”
    Glyndwr
laughed. “Strange as it might seem, their past records, which are of course
only spoken, speak of a time when the Tourna landed on the east side of the
island and set fire to the grove, entering behind to drive the Lute out of
their place of safety. At the time a strong east wind carried the fire inward,
but strangely enough, a sudden west wind appeared, driving the fire back out of
the grove. It surrounded the Tourna and burned them to death. In the mounting
confusion, the Lute poured out of the woods and slaughtered the remaining
Tourna as they tried to reenter their boats and leave the island. The Lute set
every boat afire and the wind blew them back toward the Tourna homeland. Or, so
the story goes,” he added ruefully. “It was before we came to this