Rise of the Red Harbinger by Khalid Uddin Read Free Book Online Page A

fa…in the past few weeks.”
    “You don’t have to avoid it. I know my father’s dead. Nothing will change that now. That’s part of the reason why I’m here. I needed to come back and be around all this one last time. It makes it so much more real.”
    Yasaman looked on the verge of sleep, getting comfortable in his bed, her eyes fighting to stay open. “Were you in the Square last night?” she paused to yawn. “I couldn’t bring myself to go, but I had a nervous feeling you might go and try to save him. I heard a fire broke out. Many were hurt and killed. They blamed that on your father as well.”
    “I didn’t go. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. And now I feel guilty about hiding in the forest while it happened.” She didn’t have to know what Baltaszar really did. Bo’az really did feel guilty about not going now, and at least he could let it all out.
    “I’m glad you can finally open up to me. For so long, I felt something was wrong with me because you’d never admit that anything bothered you. But maybe everything is different now.” She sat up and kissed him again.
    Bo’az seized the opportunity and kissed her back more vigorously. This was wrong. She led him closer with one hand until he lay on top of her slender frame. I…I can’t do this. I’ve got to tell her. She pulled him closer, more tightly. Bo’az pulled away, “Yasaman, I can’t d…”
    A thunderous voice boomed from the front of the house. “Baltaszar Kontez! Come out! We saw you enter the house!”
    Bo’az froze. Yasaman’s eyes popped open, no sign of drowsiness left in them. He put his finger to his lips. Perhaps the men were bluffing. There was no way he would just walk out of the house and give himself up.
    The thundering voice continued, “Baltaszar! We mean you no harm! My name is Linas Nasreddine; I have come with my two acquaintances from afar! We were sent here to help you escape and to protect you!”
    Linas Nasreddine. That wasn’t a name that Bo’az had ever heard before. Ducking out of view from anything outside, he glanced over at Yasaman. Her expression was difficult to decipher, but she shook her head as well, equally confused. Whether he could really trust them, Bo’az wasn’t sure. But he knew eventually they would come inside and check it for themselves, and if that was the case, things could get violent and careless very quickly in the dark. Bo’az put up a hand toward Yasaman, implying for her to stay put, then cautiously crept out of the room and down the hall to the left. He had to calculate every footstep, as most of the upstairs floor creaked. While he tiptoed to the window facing the front yard, the wooden floor let out a massive groan at his last step before the window. Diving from in front of the window, he knew he’d reacted too late. Damn it!
    A gravelly voice exposed him, “I saw him up there Linas!”
    “Baltaszar!” Linas repeated. “Look out the window, my friend! You have nothing to fear! We have no weapons drawn. We do not look or dress like the people of your village; we are not trying to kill you. The longer you wait the more danger you will face. Again, my name is Linas Nasreddine. I have come to save your life.” Linas’ voice now seemed pleading.
    Why is it always Baltaszar? Why couldn’t they be looking for me? Bo’az, huddled beneath the window, arose to see for himself. He scanned the front yard, noticing that only one man stood on the porch, while two others stood as far back as the fence, all in plain sight, not trying to hide. They were larger men than any he’d seen in Haedon. The one closest to the house, Linas Nasreddine, seemed the biggest of the three. All wore long coats with high collars hiding their faces and any armor or weapons they might be carrying beneath.
    Realizing he’d been standing with his mouth agape the whole time, Bo’az finally found something to say. “Even if you’re not from Haedon, how do I know I can trust you? Do you think I’m