Defenders of Kron - The Black Dragon by Ritu Ghosh Read Free Book Online

carefully. He walked cautiously as he doubted that the animal could be hiding right behind the trees. But the prints did not stop. They went on till the dry lands and then they turned to wet patches.
    “ This is going towards Flynn’s house! ” Aaron panicked but then he took a deep breath and consoled himself .
    Aaron knew that there was only one house on the hills, and it was Flynn’s.
    Aaron’s heart started pounding. He ran faster hoping that Flynn and his father would be alright.
    Flynn’s house had no gates. He crossed the pathway quickly and ran towards the door. The door was wide open. Inside, fire was still burning in the fireplace. He called out to Flynn several times but nobody answered. Aaron went into the kitchen and found several broken tea cups and plates. There was a crushed metal mug on the big table in the hall.
    Aaron examined the whole house carefully. The small portrait of Flynn’s mother was slashed in half and the curtains were torn with something very sharp. The pillows and bed covers were fallen in all directions. The cloth Aaron had used to tie Zack’s wound yesterday was now lying near the bed, covered in blood. It seemed like Flynn and Zack were there last night. Aaron tried to make sense of the wreckage.
    ‘ They must have left for the market today morning and someone else might have wrecked this place’ He hoped as he came outside and closed the door behind him. Surprisingly, the door had no visible damages. But the sheep were all gone and so were the chickens. He knew that someone else had come there.
    Aaron rushed to the marketplace. Not many shops were up after the last night’s incident. Flynn’s shop was closed as well. He asked a few neighboring shopkeepers about Flynn and they told him that Flynn and his father had not come to the shop yet.
    Aaron sat on the shop ledge desperately waiting for Flynn and Zack.
    “ Did the wolves come back and take Flynn and his father? ” Aaron didn’t know what to do, he felt helpless ‘ How do I find Flynn now? It’s all my fault, I should have told him that the wolves were looking for me. I should have warned him. I am the one the wolves want; if I go to the wolves, would they let Flynn and Zack go? ’
    Aaron headed towards the woods, he walked into the forest. ‘ The wolves have done so much damage to the village and now they have taken Flynn and his Father away. What next? Will they destroy uncle’s house or harm Brandon? I will never let that happen’ Aaron thought as he reached the deep forests.
    He suddenly shouted “I am here! you filthy beasts. If it is me that you want, let my friends go.”
    No reply came from the forest. Only his own voice echoed back. He paused for a moment and shouted the same words again. After several times of shouting, he knew that nobody was coming. He sat silently on a stone with his face buried in his hands. “What’s happening? Why me?” he murmured to himself.
    It was almost dark; he came out of the forest finally. He passed many ruined farms on his way back. There was a lot of damage everywhere but people seemed to be coping with it pretty well. They were working together to get everything back in order. With heavy steps Aaron reached home.
    “You are not supposed to stay out after dark Master Aaron” Mrs. Renn closed the door behind him in a hurry. “What if the attacks repeat?” she was worried.
    Aaron didn’t say anything. Mrs. Renn never got angry at anyone usually. He knew very well that she must have been worried after what had happened yesterday.
    “Is uncle back?” he asked calmly.
    “Yes, he is in the common balcony talking to Billy.” Mrs.Renn replied.
    Aaron had forgotten all about the fact that Billy had told him about the attack even before it happened.
    He reached the balcony and opened the door. Uncle and Billy were standing there, talking.  He approached them quickly and interrupted.
    “Billy, how did you know?…” Before he could finish he was cut off by Uncle