Curse of the Forbidden Book by Amy Lynn Green Read Free Book Online Page B

still staring at Parvel, the foreigner sprang up in a burst of color, delivering a perfect kick to the thief’s midsection.
    While the thief gasped for breath, the foreigner grabbed his wrist and twisted it. The knife clattered to the ground. Then the foreigner took the knife and bashed the dull hilt against the thief’s skull. He crumpled silently to the ground.
    â€œImpressive,” Parvel said. All Jesse could do was stare.
    â€œThank you,” the foreigner said calmly. “I do not imagine he will be waking any time soon.” He had no foreign accent, but each word he spoke was unnecessarily clean and crisp. If Amarian is not his native language, he is certainly fluent in it.
    â€œI thank you both for your assistance,” the foreigner continued, brushing dirt from his robe.
    â€œIt seems you were not entirely defenseless,” Parvel said.
    There was a glint of laughter in the foreigner’s eyes. “Perhaps not. Still, I…”
    â€œParvel,” Jesse interrupted, staring down the alley.
    There, stomping menacingly toward them, were three men, not quite as big as the first, but just as sinister-looking. One of them, seeing the thief slumped on the ground, pointed at Jesse and shouted.
    â€œAny more surprise moves?” Parvel muttered to the foreigner.
    He began to back away too. “Not against three.”
    â€œThen I suggest a more direct plan.”
    â€œWhich is?” Jesse asked.
    Parvel glanced at the mob of bandits grimly. “Run.”
    It seems that a large portion of being in the Youth Guard involves running from danger , which I am not good at , Jesse observed as he ducked down the side street toward Silas and Rae.
    Silas and Rae were still standing where they had left them. “What happened?” Rae demanded, before Jesse and Parvel had even reached her.
    â€œNo time,” Parvel explained. “Just run!”
    Jesse glanced backward. There was no sign of the foreigner. We’re on our own now.
    â€œHow much farther to One-Eyed Roddy’s?” Rae called.
    â€œA few more streets,” Silas replied. A shout from behind let them know that at least one of the bandits was following.
    They all began to run faster.
    Jesse groaned. It seemed that since he had left his nice, safe home in Mir, they had done nothing but run. With his limp, he was always one step behind. And one step closer to danger.
    The man behind them shouted as they disappeared down the street, but they were still a good distance ahead of him. Silas led them on a twisted route down alleys, through fenced-in yards, and across crowded streets.
    No one gave them a second glance, going on with their business as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. Apparently in this part of the city, running for your life is no unusual experience .
    Come on , he scolded himself, leaning on his walking stick. Catch up with the others . With a renewed burst of energy, Jesse turned the corner.
    And saw no one. They had disappeared.
    â€œOver here, Jesse,” Parvel’s voice called. They had ducked into an alleyway, and were leaning against the stone wall, breathing hard.
    â€œI think we lost them,” Silas said. “This is the back door to Roddy’s place. It’s locked. We’ll have to go around front.”
    Jesse thought he heard something behind him. Probably another rat. He turned and peered out from the alley. At the end of the street, a man with a knife and a cruel smile was coming toward them.
    â€œRun!” Jesse shouted, abandoning the doorway.
    But Jesse had only taken a few steps when he felt his foot catch in a jagged crack in the street. He tried to regain balance, but it was too late. As soon as his falling body hit the street, he grabbed his staff and tried to stand. Once he did, he found himself looking into the face of the man with the knife.
    â€œAlone, are we, peasant boy?” the man said in a low voice. It was smooth and oily, not a