Target Of The Orders (Book 3) by Ron Collins Read Free Book Online Page A

justice.”
    “Yes, there is,” Garrick said. “Justice is the natural consequence of abusing power.”
    Braxidane opened his arms to the nighttime, and gave a wide smile.
    “Who am I to argue with such logic?”
    Garrick glared. “I’m not doing this to give you comfort in your logic.”
    “I don’t care about your motives, Garrick. But since you have decided to help, you should know that the Freeborn are in Dorfort as we speak.”
    Garrick nodded, glancing south toward the city.
    When he returned his gaze to the planewalker, Braxidane had blinked out of existence.

    The planewalker’s disappearance left both Garrick and Will in stunned silence.
    Garrick looked at the boy and tousled his hair.
    “Hey!” Will called, putting his hand to his head. “Who was that, Master Garrick?”
    “I’ll tell you about him later,” Garrick said. “The Lectodinians will see through that illusion soon enough, so right now we had best move.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    He grabbed the rope around Kalomar’s neck and stroked the horse's flank.
    “But, Will.”
    “Yes, sir?”
    “Just call me Garrick. All right? No ‘sir’ and no ‘master.’ Just Garrick.”
    “Whatever you say, sir.”
    Garrick glared at the boy, and Will giggled. “Sorry, Master Garrick.” He giggled again.
    Garrick couldn’t help but smile. It felt good to be with the boy. They mounted up, Garrick first, then Will.
    “So, are we going to Dorfort?” Will asked, his smile growing wide and toothy.
    “Yes. It will be good to see the city again. I have some unfinished business there.”
    “I’ve never been to Dorfort. Will it be very exciting?”
    “Yes,” Garrick said as the boy settled back into his chest. “I’m sure it will all be very exciting.”

Chapter 10

    “I don’t know what happened, Lord Superior,” Elman said with fear in his voice. “I’ve had my hands on Garrick twice now, and twice he has slipped away.”
    The mirror before him showed Zutrian Esta. His eyes were sharp points and his lips were wrinkled up into webs of age. The lord superior’s gaze alone might burn holes into him.
    “Tell me exactly what happened
this
time,” Zutrian Esta said.
    Elman recounted the evening’s efforts. He described how he had captured Garrick, and brought him back to Caledena to make him available for the discussion that he and the lord superior were having right now, then having the mage, the boy, and the horse all disappear into thin air upon reaching the city.
    Elman finished the story, his palms up, his voice nasal and whining. “He
is
god-touched, after all,” Elman said. “His magic is different from others.”
    Another unhappy expression crossed Zutrian’s face.
    Elman continued.
    “I’ve been studying Garrick for some time now, though, Lord Esta,” he said, pausing to lick his lips. “As you might expect, this has become quite personal for me. I’ve had spies working his case, and I think I know where he will go. I would like authorization to hunt him down one more time.”
    “Where will Garrick head?”
    Elman’s eyes glittered in the candlelight.
    “To Dorfort, Lord Esta. He has lived much of his life in that area. He will go to a young woman’s house.”
    “A woman?”
    “Her name is Arianna. The daughter of a farmer and blacksmith. Garrick had a relationship with her before this all began.”
    Zutrian nodded slowly, information settling. He raised a bushy eyebrow.
    “You have approval to follow your plan. But we cannot continue to fall on our faces before the Koradictines, Elman. Any error this time will result in severe punishment.”
    “I understand, Lord Superior. I will not fail.”

Chapter 11

    The sun was setting as Garrick and Will entered Dorfort, the city known as the crown jewel of eastern Adruin. It was a sprawling metropolis that grew along the Blue Lake, its architecture a mixture of brick, stone, thatch, and wood, an eclectic collection of architectures that stretched to the sky and hugged the coast.