Slave Line (The Young Ancients) by P.S. Power Read Free Book Online Page A

first five minutes she smirked a little and hugged him again.
    "Well, we kind of stole the kid they had answering the device, so that's probably slowing everything down a bit. I have to hand it to the Austrans, they really did a good job setting up spies in the palace. The only thing they didn't have was someone sleeping with the King passing along his pillow talk. Well, they didn't have that for anyone there, so at least there was that, but it was too close." Trice didn't seem happy about it either, for all that she sounded grudgingly impressed.
    "I know. Well, everyone there is getting checked out from now on. The Royal guard will see to it. If they don't I will. What would have happened if Glost had ordered them all poisoned or just stabbed in their sleep? They might not have gotten everyone, but one or two of the royal family being killed would be devastating."
    Almost as if it were planned the device picked up suddenly, the sound that came across took a second to understand, since at least ten people were yelling, and it didn't sound happy. In fact it sounded like a fight was going on, with someone crying in the background.
    "Tor?" It was Rolph, Prince Alphonse Tor amended, since they were in the Capital, not back at school. "Um, help!" Then there was a clatter and the device turned off again.
    Tor started running. His body protested and he moved too slowly, so he tapped the front of his shirt, activating his Not-flyer, which let him levitate along about four inches from the ground. Then he moved a lot faster than was safe indoors. His friends were under attack. He had to hurry.
    "Help! Help! The palace is under attack!" He tried to think of what he was supposed to say if something like that happened but didn't know at all what to yell.
    Trice did.
    "To arms! Defend the King!" It got a response. Not a huge one, but it was real enough. The Royal guards that were watching the spies boiled out of the dining room along with Quavel and Kenner. The others stayed behind, which was probably wise. Except Denno Brown, who ran out as well. Sam and Lyn came down the stairs with Guide and Weasel following hard behind. It wasn't exactly an inspired combat group, but they all had shields and weapons. Well, the Lairdgren group and Trice did. Tor grabbed the box kept by the door noticing that it was back out already. The light tan thing looked plain, except for the glowing stone pieces within. It didn't have weapons in it, but had an assortment of nearly everything else.
    "If you don't have a shield get one from me now. We're going in hard. Two waves, guards and builders first... everyone else in the second wave. Go!" Tor didn't wait to see who was getting what, just passing the box to Quavel the spy. He started handing things out as Tor floated over to the front door faster than a person could run. He had his Fast Craft set up with a few deft movements and a thought to activate it, climbing in painfully, the door still open. Ten seconds later it shut, all the guards inside along with Trice, the Ancients, and Sam, who was clutching something hard in his right hand.
    It was a good point and Tor reached in to his own pocket for his multi-weapon. Having it out just made sense, not knowing what they were facing on the other side of this thing. He should have thought of it himself, but he wasn't a warrior. That Sam had... Probably meant something about the life he'd lived. Tor didn't have time to figure out what, but it almost certainly wasn't good.
    "Shields on, we're going in hard and fast if we can. Hang on!" He yelled the words, which got most of the people to actually grab something. It wasn't needed though. The whole thing moved as a single piece and slowed the same way. It didn't feel like you moved much at all when it took off and he landed it faster than he ever had before, not bothering with a slow settling that was the normal protocol at the palace. The trip normally took several minutes even though his house wasn't far. This time