The Grimjinx Rebellion by Brian Farrey Read Free Book Online

bring the healers here.”
    â€œI will carry you,” she said, bending over to scoop me up.
    I swatted away her outstretched hands. “Are you naff-nut?” I asked. “Don’t you know anything about human bodies? This is a serious, life-threatening wound. If you move an injured ankle . . . my head could fall off!”
    Not one of my better lies. But I was pressed for time.
    Luda looked from my ankle to my head and back to my ankle, as if trying to decide how one could possibly be related to the other. I cried out again, hoping to speed her along. She glanced around at the passersby.
    â€œIf anyone kidnaps you, do not fear. I am a Satyran Grand Master at tracking. I can find you anywhere.”
    â€œMaster tracker, right, great. Go track down a healer!”
    Luda galloped away at full pace. As soon as she was out of sight, I bolted toward the city gates where Ma, Da, and Maloch were waiting with our mang-drawn wagon. A moment later, Callie appeared with a backpack, and together, we climbed aboard.
    As Da drove the wagon under the portcullis, Callie produced a piece of paper. The edge was jagged, like it had been torn from a book.
    â€œFrom Talian’s secret library,” she said. “It details the Creche’s magical defenses. Between my spellsphere and your pouches, Jaxter, we should have no problem getting to Aubrin.”
    â€œBangers, Callie,” I said. “This’ll be easy.”

    It was not easy.

7
    Gobek and Mavra
    â€œNeed is a fickle taskmaster.”
    â€”par-Goblin proverb
    â€œN ow remember,” I said, “kids sent to work at the Creche are hardened criminals. Only the lowest of the low are punished like this. Callie, stop smiling. Look meaner. Scowl a bit. Maloch, you . . . No, never mind, you’re fine the way you are. Ready?”
    The three of us stood, staring at the Creche looming before us. A perfect sphere of shimmering gold, it was nearly the size of a mountain. Beautiful whorls, wide as rivers, covered the surface. Occasionally, streams of magical energy would race through the whorl gullies, making the entire sphere flicker.
    Nearby, Ma and Da were putting on their stateguard disguises. “Remember,” Ma said, donning her helmet, “you’ve got a week to find Aubrin and then a week to reach Vesta. We’ll be waiting there.”
    Maloch hadn’t stopped gawping at the massive structure. “Is that enough time? This place is huge. If there are only a handful of seers every generation, why is it so big?”
    â€œI guess we’ll find out,” I said.
    Directly in front of us, a small alcove at the base of the sphere hid the only door we could find. Lowering the visors on their helmets, Ma and Da stood on either side of us. Da reached out, gripped the long rope that dangled near the door, and gave a hard tug. A muffled bell clanged.
    Several minutes later, we heard clicks and rattling from within, like locks being unhitched. Then, the round door slid to the side, just enough to reveal a small figure within.
    The creature was unlike anything I’d ever seen. He stood upright like a human, but that’s where the resemblance ended. His eyes took up most of his face, with just a tiny nose and mouth below. Stubby arms hung from the sides of his bulbous body. Broad, gelatinous legs brought him up to my chest. His greasy, mottled gray skin looked like wet clay.
    Those huge eyes glistened when he spotted us. “Is visitors!” he declared joyously with a thick accent. Then he frowned and said, “Is not allowed.” With a tug, he slammed the door shut.
    We stood there, unsure what to do. So Da rang the bell again. When the door slid open, the creature acted like he hadn’t just seen us.
    â€œIs visitors!” he cried again.
    â€œNo!” Ma said, before he could slam the door shut. “We’re not visitors. We’ve been ordered to bring these prisoners to you.”
    Da