Escape From Riddler's Pass by Amy Green Read Free Book Online Page A

back toward the mines. “The shaft is just beyond Miner’s Supply.”
    â€œMaybe we don’t want to go with you,” Rae pointed out. “After all, you held a spear to my throat.” She glanced significantly at Bern, and the rest of her meaning was clear. The spear you no longer have .
    â€œYou must follow me,” Bern said simply, nodding at the heap of rubble that was once the way to the ruins of Urad. “You can’t go back now.”

 
Chapter 5
    The shaft Bern had mentioned was just a rough hole in the ground that had been dug by Roaric miners. At least Jesse assumed they had dug it. Bern didn’t know what the shaft was originally used for—just that it now held the iron stairs leading to New Urad.
    Jesse did not feel comfortable descending into the ground. But, like Silas had muttered to a very agitated Rae, “We have a better chance of survival by following Bern peacefully.”
    Even though the glowing stones provided enough light to see the stairs, Jesse still tested each step with his walking stick. This deep in the mines, there might be pits and holes anywhere.
    Then, abruptly, the stairs stopped. Jesse tried to imagine how far down into the ground they were, then shuddered. Focus on getting to the surface .
    At the bottom of the stairs was a small archway, which Silas, at least, had to stoop to enter. “Welcome to New Urad,” Bern said simply, leading them into a small cavern.
    A quick scan of the buildings of New Urad told Jesse the city’s population had shrunk drastically. Only two-dozen homes, all of them tiny and shabby, crouched against the rock. Jesse took a closer look at one nearest the path and saw burn marks scarring the wood.
    They built their homes out of rubble from the original Urad , he realized.
    No people were in the dwellings or sitting outside of them. Jesse got the strange feeling he was walking through another set of ruins, until Bern led them to the center of the city. Standing quietly in a town square of sorts were the Roaric dwarves of New Urad.
    The dwarves turned to look at the procession of strangers as they passed, but only the youngest began to whisper. The rest looked away and returned their attention to the platform, where a female Roaric stood, addressing the people.
    â€œKasha, of the ruling clan,” Bern muttered. He had straightened to attention and held his head high as he led them through the crowd to the platform.
    â€œâ€¦Rations this month will be slightly smaller than last,” Kasha was saying. “Reports from the hunter clan show that….”
    Bern cleared his throat, and the woman looked down at him. She expressed only the slightest surprise at seeing three ragtag Above-grounders with him and motioned him to join her on the platform.
    â€œGo on,” Bern said gruffly, shuffling them up three short steps onto the platform. He stood back in the shadows, clearly not used to the attention.
    Jesse, Silas, and Rae stood in front of Kasha, waiting for her to question them. Dozens of faces looked up at them. Although Jesse could see they were all different ages and had different features, they all had squinting eyes, just like Bern. And no wonder . Without torches, the only light came from the glowing stones that paved the streets of New Urad. I imagine the first Urad was the same before it was destroyed.
    No questions came. Maybe it’s customary for strangers to introduce themselves first .
    Apparently Silas thought the same, because he stepped forward. “Greetings,” Silas said, his voice echoing in the hollow cavern, “I am Silas, of Davior in District Two, and these are my friends Rae and Jesse. We stumbled into this cave by accident on a journey. Bern found us near the entrance. We are merely lost travelers who mean you no harm.” He paused, clearly not sure what else to say.
    Jesse hoped Bern wouldn’t mention the cave-in and the Patrol members who were chasing