Death Weavers by Brandon Mull Read Free Book Online Page A

recognized. We didn’t have lots of interactions with echoes, but we already might have accidentally given the wrong hint to the wrong person. At least Cole got a lead. If we want some serious background about Destiny, we know where to go.”
    â€œShould we split up from Cole?” Jace asked. “We know to visit the Cave of Memory. We don’t need him to get there. Maybe he can go his own way for a while until we see how the binding plays out?”
    Cole noticed Dalton looking at him. If they wanted to take off and look for Jenna, this was a golden opportunity.
    â€œNot unless he wants to leave,” Mira said firmly. “Cole has saved us more than once. If he doesn’t think he left an opening for trouble, that’s good enough for me. He may have struck a good bargain. That does happen. And even if he didn’t, we’ll figure it out together.”
    â€œEvery minute we’re in Necronum, we risk blowing our cover,” Hunter said. “The road won’t be smooth no matter what precautions we take. We should count ourselves lucky that we know where to start our search. The Cave of Memory is roughly the same direction as Destiny’s star. I think we should head that way and find a decent inn.”
    â€œSounds good to me,” Cole said, avoiding eye contact with Dalton.
    â€œNice work, Cole,” Mira said. “We didn’t expose ourselves too much at the shrine, and we still walked away with new knowledge. Without your binding, we’d know nothing.”
    â€œI hope it doesn’t get us in trouble,” Cole said.
    â€œSo do I,” Jace said heavily. “So do I.”

C HAPTER
5
HORSES
    C ole snapped awake, certain he needed to get out of bed. Sitting up, he wiped grit from the corners of his eyes. Orange moonlight filtered into the dim room through the cracks in the shutters. He could hear Dalton breathing evenly.
    It looked suspiciously like the middle of the night. He heard no threatening sounds. Why exactly did he need to get out of bed? His bladder didn’t feel strained. Had he been dreaming? If so, he couldn’t recall any details.
    Something felt wrong. He hadn’t awakened in a natural way. Cole remembered arriving at the large inn as the brightest stars began to appear in the sky. After a hearty meal of beef ribs, potatoes, and bread, he and Dalton had decided to share a room. Hunter had bunked with Jace. Joe and Mira each had their own rooms.
    Was he being paranoid? Should he go back to sleep? The residue of his urgent feeling remained, but Cole slouched onto his pillow. He couldn’t get comfortable. He had no desire to close his eyes. An internal tug coaxed him to get up. He stretched one hand toward a far corner of the room. That somehow felt right.
    Weird! Was he turning psychic or losing it?
    Cole kicked back his covers and slid his legs off the edge of the thin mattress. The far corner of the room inexplicably beckoned.
    He got out of bed and crossed to the corner, where he had left his clothes on a chair. Almost without thinking, he picked up his pants and started rummaging through the pockets.
    A sense of relief struck as his fingers closed around a ringer. Pulling it out, he found it was silver. Had it been a mistake to leave the ringer in his pants? Did it always need to be touching him?
    Cole? a familiar voice spoke in his mind. Even without physically hearing the word, Cole recognized the speaker as Sando.
    â€œYeah,” Cole whispered.
    Thank Fortune I could reach you, Sando continued. Depart the inn immediately. You and anyone in your company. Ride north for now. Stay off the roads. Some local Enforcers have caught wind of you. They’re coming your way. Hurry!
    â€œThanks,” Cole said, crossing to Dalton.
    My pleasure, young sir. I’ll try to reach you again. Keep our ringer in hand.
    â€œGot it,” Cole murmured. He shook Dalton’s shoulder. “Get up! We have to scram!”
    Dalton