Clash of Wills by S.G. Rogers Read Free Book Online Page B

across the Baltair Passage.” He laughed at their shocked expressions. “On the other hand, the fastest way is up the Stairs of Tears.”
    “Why is it called that?” Samantha asked.
    “If you make the climb, you’ll find out for yourself. Only the hardiest souls can manage it. Three hours of steep stairs straight up the mountain, with only two places to break the journey along the way. Most folks quit before they reach the first lookout.”
    A few patrons straggled in, and the owner left to attend to their needs. As he stumped off, Samantha noticed he had a wooden peg where his right boot should have been. She shuddered. “The Uncharted Region is indeed a rough place.”
    “At least we know where to find your brother. I vote for the stairs, if you’re game. It’ll be difficult, but we’d only have the elements to battle and not a bunch of cutthroats.”
    “I agree. Time is against us so we’ve little choice.”
    Will drained his tea and stood. “I’ll fetch the map and fill our water skins at the well.”
    “I’ll come too.”
    “No, stay here where it’s warm, and I’ll be back before you know it.”
    He hoisted his pack over one shoulder and made his way out of the tavern. Although she was impatient to get started, Samantha had little choice but to wait. She’d just finished her second cup of tea when an unsavory group of men entered the tavern. She stifled a gasp. The same highwaymen who’d tried to rob us a few days ago! They all had footwear, so they’d either managed to retrieve their boots from the stream or found some other unfortunate people to rob. I must go before they recognize me.
    Samantha left a few coins on the table to pay for the tea, retrieved her pack, and quickly left the tavern. Although she tried to catch up to Wills, she didn’t see him anywhere. Someone pointed her down an alleyway leading to the general store, but when she arrived he’d already come and gone. Panic quickened her pace as she retraced her steps, and her heart began to pound.
    Halfway through the alley, two unpleasantly familiar men blocked her exit. The highwaymen must have recognized me at the tavern! A sense of dread gripped her so tightly she found it hard to breathe.
    “Well, looky here, we got ourselves a scared little mouse,” one of them sneered.
    His snaggle-toothed companion laughed. “More like a piece of cheese, I reckon. We can use him to catch the bigger rat.”
    Samantha turned to find her retreat cut off by the other two men. She dropped her pack to the ground, but before she could reach for her sling, the scarred bandit rushed forward and held a knife to her throat. “Your tall friend is just ’round the corner,” he muttered. “Call him.”
    “No.”
    “Do it, lad, or I’ll ventilate your windpipe.”
    Samantha flinched as she felt the blade slicing into her skin. If I call Wills, the men will kill us both. One of us should live. “Would that your hands burn with the strength of your evil!”
    In the next moment, the men began to scream in pain. Their blades fell from their blistering fingers, and the smell of burning flesh filled the air.
    “It’s a demon!”
    Blubbering like children, the four bandits ran—their faces twisted with fear and agony. Samantha crouched with her hands over her ears in a fruitless effort to block out the sound of their screams. Eventually silence came, punctuated only by the staccato pounding of her heart. I burnt those men! How is that possible?
    When she finally lowered her hands, she heard Wills calling her name. If he knows what I did, he’ll think me a monster! Clutching her pack, she stumbled over the remnants of melted steel—the only thing left of her assailants’ weapons.
    The furrow of worry that creased Wills’ brow relaxed when Samantha came into view. “There you are! You weren’t in the tavern, and when I heard screaming, I thought the worst.”
    “I-I went looking for you.”
    “Elturon is no place to sightsee! I thought you