Redemption Of The Sacred Land (Book 3) by Mark Tyson Read Free Book Online Page B

Kimala’s ear. “Forgive me for this, dear lady.”
    “No,” Kimala said weakly, but Sanmir was already whispering magic commands. Tongues of fire began leaping from his fingertips and connecting with the metal of the shackles. After a few moments, they were red hot. Flesh burned and sizzled, causing a sickly, putrid smell. Kimala whimpered, too weak to cry out. Sanmir reached up and pulled the metal apart like taffy candy. As soon as he had Kimala to the floor, he scraped up the dirt and dust, covered her burned hands, and began his whispering again. The dirt transmuted into a yellow salve. Kimala was still moaning from the pain, but Trendan could tell by her feeble gasps she had little need to continue.
    “Naneden will know,” she whispered.
    “Naneden will know what?” Trendan asked.
    “Naneden will know someone is touching his woman.”
    “Pay no attention. She is delirious,” Sanmir said.
    Naneden abruptly appeared from the darkness. “I will have you both executed!”
    Without hesitation, Sanmir grabbed ahold of both Trendan’s and Kimala’s arms with each of his hands, and they all three passed through the stone floor as if they fell through water. All three fell into the cell directly below the one in which they found Kimala. Trendan examined the iron grate. “This cell is locked. We are trapped in here.”
    Sanmir looked at him as if he were a begging village idiot. “Come back here.”
    “He wasn’t real,” Kimala tried to say, but it came out in hesitations. “It was an illusion of Naneden. I don’t have control.”
    “Sshhh, Kimala, don’t speak.”
    Trendan shook his head. “Sorry, Sanmir. I don’t think I will ever get used to magic. It just felt like we fell through a pool of water. I didn’t even think.”
    “Will you listen to me?” Kimala rasped.
    “Aye, my lady, I hear you, but I am more concerned about getting out of here than some illusion of Naneden.” Sanmir held her hands reassuringly. “This time, the trip will be a bit longer, so hold your breath.” He picked up Kimala into his arms. “All right, Trendan, grab ahold of my arm, and whatever you do, don’t let go, or you will be stuck permanently in stone forever. I will be moving at a good pace. Walk with me and don’t trip or again, you will be lost.” Trendan nodded and drew a deep breath. “And close your eyes. Short trips won’t hurt them, but longer stone walks can blind you.” A moment later, the three of them disappeared into the stone wall.
    Trendan felt like he was trying to walk through dense water. He resisted opening his eyes and just trusted Sanmir to lead them through. Occasionally he could feel a harder pull on his shoulder or leg, and he surmised it was due to walking through denser stone. He was relieved when they finally emerged into one of the upper corridors of the dungeon.
    Sanmir propped Kimala up against the corridor wall. “Are you all right?” he asked Trendan, who was breathing heavily.
    “Not exactly a normal way for man to travel, is it?” Trendan said.
    “I wouldn’t know. I have been doing it all my life. It seems perfectly natural to me.”
    “I thought we would be outside. You just took us up higher in the dungeon.”
    “Neither you nor Kimala would survive a walk that far. I had to get us somewhere where the walls are closer to the outside to rest a moment.” He took Kimala’s weak head in his hands and began to recite his spell. The entire time he was speaking, his hands were glowing a soft white light. “There, that should revitalize you a bit.”
    Kimala, now a little more active and alert, grabbed ahold of Sanmir’s arm. “I have been trying to tell you. Naneden will ambush you as soon as you appear outside the walls. What you saw before was just an illusion. He put his image within me to discourage people from coming near me. I can’t control it. I will give us away!” She passed out.
    “Is she delirious?” Trendan asked.
    “Aye, she is bonkers,” he said.