Fate's Hand by Christopher Lynn Read Free Book Online Page A

I will reward you greatly. Kill anyone that gets in your way, but bring me this human alive.”
    One of the dog’s heads —the one that never turned away from Yusar—issued a loud bark. The beast then leaped out the tower window. Yusar ran over to the ledge to watch it crash to the ground, one of its legs snapping from the fall. He slowly stood up as his broken bone snapped back into place. Fully healed before the dust even settled, the dog let out a blood-curling howl from all three heads then took off into the forest.              
    “ When did you learn how to control the tower?” Yusar asked. Drask was whispering to the imp Yarsik and handed him a small ring. The small winged creature jumped off the table and flew out the window after the dog.
    “ We have much work to do, Yusar. I don’t need you brooding around in this tower like a prisoner. I need you and your skills.”
    “ I have no reason—” Yusar began to reply.
    “ Temo,” Drask said, cutting the wizard off. He let the name hang in the air. “This tower is the only thing keeping you safe from him. I can tell you, without a doubt, the mercenary has not given up. He has spent almost every waking hour in search of this tower or any clue that leads to you. You stay and help me, I will deliver him on a silver platter. Here, you will gain more power and wealth than you ever imagined.”
    Yusar stood with his back turned to Drask, silently weighing his options. He lowered his head and finally responded in a defeated tone.
    “Where do we start?”

    “ No, I’m sorry. I must be going,” Val said.
    The bowman turned away and started to unpack knives and rope to clean the day's kill. The other man held his hands out in apology.
    “Hey, man, sorry to freak you out earlier. We are harmless, really. If you’re hungry, please eat. It’s the least I can do for running a boar at you.”
    “ Let the boy go,” the dark stranger said.
    “ Don’t mind him. That’s my brother Asher Clawson. He has people problems. I’m Rylan Ailith.” The young man put on his best smile and held out his hand. Val felt like it was an honest gesture, so he gladly moved to accept the handshake.
    “ Val,” he said.
    Rylan looked at Val’s hand and pulled his own back, quickly losing his smile. Val looked down at the red hand and retracted, embarrassed. He looked over Rylan’s shoulder to see Asher staring him down. Val turned and ran dashed away, off through the woods.
    “Hey, I’m sorry! Come back!”
    Breathless from running, Val stopped and sat on a log to collect his thoughts. He took out his cup to find his bearings. He planned to circle around the brothers and return to the road. Val hiked until just before nightfall, when he found where the trail broke from the trees and into the hills again. Looking up at the grey hills, he could see dark spots and deep cracks in the rocks that could possibly be caves. I can’t go now; they will be on the move soon. I'll rest here for the night and try to find their cave in the morning when they settle back down to sleep , he thought. Val walked an arrow's flight back into the woods and off the road to settle down and make another night's camp. His thoughts turned to roasting pig as he sat by his small fire and chewed his dried beef and cold bread. He recalled the silly look of the half-man, half-squirrel and chuckled to himself.
    Val entered the first cave he came upon, knowing well the orcs wouldn’t be in there, but he wanted to take a look around and get a feel for what to expect. He entered cautiously, keeping his footing on the slippery rocks. He heard a scraping across the stone nearby. His heart pounded in his ears as he held completely still, trying to let his eyes adjust to the dark. The next step he took was cut short when he quickly threw himself backward against the cave wall to escape a creature's attack. He shielded his face and let out a small yelp. Nothing came for him, but he could hear the thing