Broken World Book Two - StarSword by T C Southwell Read Free Book Online Page B

"A
tattoo?"
    "No, it's the
mark of the Mujar."
    "Like hell," he
growled.
    "We have a
Mujar with us, waiting outside the city. You must believe me."
    Shern glanced
at Kieran, who nodded. The seer turned back to Talsy. "Let me touch
your mark."
    She leant
forward, allowing Shern to place his hand on the mark. The seer
jerked back as if burnt, and his eyes widened and lost their
suspicion.
    "What did you
see?" she asked, curious.
    "Shining eyes."
Shern shook his head in amazement. "I thought we were doomed."
    "The Hashon
Jahar are coming. You must gather the chosen and leave the city.
We'll come with you and guide you to the Mujar."
    The seer's eyes
overflowed, and he bowed his head to hide his tears. "We're to be
saved after all. I've been trying to drown that dream for months.
How cruel to be offered redemption and be unable to take it."
    "We have little
time. We must leave as soon as we can," Talsy urged. "Go and gather
your people, buy a cart and bring food."
    The seer
nodded, wiping his cheeks. Talsy smiled, relieved that her mission
had succeeded so easily.
    The front door
flew open, and a dozen soldiers invaded the house. Kieran’s sword
left its scabbard with a soft hiss, Talsy swung around in surprise
and alarm, and Shern looked up in confusion. Four invaders attacked
Kieran, who held them at bay with vicious sword strokes. The rest
rushed at Talsy, who made a dash for the closest window. Two men
brought her down in a rough tackle that knocked the wind out of
her. Her knife scored a few good cuts before they disarmed her and
twisted her arms behind her. Kieran felled two of his attackers,
then a man got behind him and clubbed him senseless.
    The robed
figure of the elder from the alehouse filled the doorway, and he
cast a jaundiced eye around Shern's humble dwelling. "Shern, you
live like a pig." He raised a linen handkerchief to his nose in a
fastidious gesture.
    "My lord
Morgal!" Shern cried. "Why are you arresting these people? What
have they done?"
    Morgal eyed
Talsy. "She displeased me, and you know how easily I'm peeved these
days. Sorry to take your client. I trust she's paid you?"
    "My Lord, I beg
you, let them go."
    Morgal shook
his head with a pained air. "No, I think not. I need some
distraction in these last days. You have your drunkenness, I have
my wenching."
    Talsy struggled
against the uniformed guardsmen, who tightened their grip with
brutal disregard for the pain they caused, and she bit her lip to
prevent herself from crying out. Kieran sagged in the grip of two
others, blood oozing down his face from a scalp wound. One of the
soldiers examined the black sword curiously, then hid it under his
cloak. Shern rose somewhat shakily to his feet.
    "What are they
charged with?"
    Lord Morgal
shrugged. "Disturbing the peace. Stealing. Who cares?"
    "You can't do
this!" Talsy burst out. "Let us go!"
    "Oh but I can,"
Morgal drawled. "I'm an elder of this city, and we don't tolerate
rudeness here."
    "You were the
rude one, laying your hands on me!" she said. "I'm no trollop!"
    "No one turns
down an offer from an elder, girl."
    Shern said, "My
Lord, I beg you, just this once. She's my cousin from Jaramon. She
didn't know. She's a stranger here."
    Morgal shook
his head. "I'm not feeling generous today. You can visit her in
prison."
    Morgal
signalled to the guards, who dragged Talsy and Kieran out. Kieran
could barely walk, and the guardsmen had to half carry him. Lord
Morgal followed, his long robes sweeping the road, his face
wreathed in a smile as he greeted passers-by. Not many spared a
second glance for the prisoners, and Talsy got the impression that
this was a common occurrence in this town.
    The soldiers
marched them far from the slums where Shern dwelt, to a guardhouse
in a more affluent part of the city. Talsy found it a bit strange
that the City Watch had its quarters amongst the wealthy citizenry,
but then realised that it made perfect sense if the rich folk paid
the guardsmen to keep order in their area.