Redemption of Thieves (Book 4) by C.Greenwood Read Free Book Online Page B

until I watched the last of the Skeltai warriors leap into the burning hole in the earth and disappear from view, carrying the hapless village prisoners with them.
    Dradac collided into me, Ada right behind him, and together, we approached the fiery ring with caution. The main body of the Praetor’s soldiers arrived. There was a general milling and confusion as no one was over eager to be the first to approach the magic portal.
    “Captain Delecarte.” I heard the Praetor raise his voice above the confusion. “Get your men through that portal before it closes.”
    No answer followed his order. One of the Fists said, “The captain’s not here, my lord. He was unhorsed during the fight.”
    The Praetor cursed and demanded, “Where’s my lieutenant then?”
    No one knew.
    “Allow me to go, my lord.”
    As the brave offer fell on my ears, I squeezed my eyes closed.  Not now, priest boy. Make a hero of yourself some other day.
    But of course Terrac couldn’t hear my thoughts and he stepped confidently forward, signaling others to follow. They did so with obvious reluctance until about half our number stood gathered around the edge of the fiery hole, looking down into the darkness on the other side.
    I was among them.
    Terrac caught my eye and frowned at me for joining him, but he kept silent. I knew he couldn’t attempt to dissuade me from coming without injuring the courage of his men.
    Below us, I could see sticks and leaves littering a forest floor that looked much like this one. But it was ever darker on that side of the portal than this. I pushed my way to the front of the men ringing the glowing portal and signaled Dradac and the others of my circle back when they would have joined me. I willed them to obey me this once, and for a wonder, they did. I savored that victory, aware it could be my last. If I stepped through that portal, I had no solid expectation of returning to see any of them again.
    But I looked at Terrac, apparently fearless, as he prepared to descend through the glowing ring, and I knew I had no choice but to follow him.
    Why? The question came in the same breath. The Praetor had given no orders to me. Even the bow remained strangely silent. There was nothing forcing me to join the others on this fatal mission. Nothing save the fact my one-time friend was among those embarking on the suicidal quest. Common sense and every survival instinct I possessed cautioned me to pull out while I still could. But as I watched Terrac step into the portal, his head and shoulders disappearing into the darkness below, I knew I would give in to a pull stronger than either of these.
    I was next through the hole.
     
    * * *
     
    I fell a short distance, landing across Terrac’s legs, and we scrambled to one side, out of the way of the next fellow leaping down. It was even darker on this side of the portal than it had been in Dimming, and the treetops were so thick and dense overhead they blocked out even the occasional moonbeams that had dotted the canopy in that other forest. I knew it was Terrac who offered a hand to haul me to my feet only by the sense of him and the fact the next men were still scrambling through the portal behind us.
    Five. Six. I counted the dark figures dropping down through the window above and lost track of what happened to them after they collapsed together in a confused heap in the darkness. Only the creak and chink of armor, heavy breathing sounds and muffled curses could be heard as they scrambled to their feet told me they remained nearby. Even these odd sounds were comforting as they were the only assurance I had I wasn’t stranded alone in this new world. There was also the solid feel of Terrac beside me. I didn’t even pause to consider whether it was his actual physical form I felt or merely the sense of his presence. Either was all the reassurance I needed.
    I kept my eyes on the Fists dropping through the hole, and at the count of eleven, I noticed something was wrong. The eerie