The Shadowhand Covenant by Brian Farrey Read Free Book Online

was—the better.
    I took two steps and tripped. For once, it wasn’t my fault. In the dim light, I’d failed to notice Maloch in a lump next to me.
    Thick rope bound his wrists to his ankles. A dirty rag had been shoved into his mouth. He didn’t look comfortable. I guessed that from the way he was wincing.
    â€œSorry, did I kick you when I tripped?” I asked, pushing myself up to all fours. “Well, might not be so bad if I did. I owe you a kick or two for everything you’ve done to me over the years. Maybe three.” I surveyed the scene. Just a few steps away, an opening led from the chamber to a tunnelwhere more purple light, embedded in the walls, sparkled. This appeared to be the only way out. “How long have you been awake?”
    Maloch began squirming. He was muttering, which I guessed was really cursing. I listened for evidence we were being guarded. I heard nothing.
    â€œNo guard. No door to block our escape. Too easy, wouldn’t you say, Maloch?” I took a cautious step toward the entrance, scooped up a handful of purple sparkling dirt, and tossed it over the threshold. Nothing happened. “Still could be booby-trapped, I suppose. What do you think?”
    Maloch had stopped thrashing around and was now screaming full volume into his gag.
    â€œYou know, Maloch, I like you this way: quiet. Well, not exactly quiet. But ‘nonverbal’ is definitely an improvement.” If he could have, he’d have murdered me with his eyes. His grunting became a steady, low, dangerous roar. I sighed. “Still, as much as I hate to say this, we’re sort of stuck together here, and we won’t get very far if we can’t talk.”
    I yanked the rag from his mouth. He sucked in a massive breath, then spent a few moments heaving and coughing.
    â€œI’m going . . . to pound you . . . you little zochead . . . ,” hesputtered, his voice hoarse from all the restrained screaming.
    I shook my head and tsked. “Not a persuasive argument for me to untie you.”
    â€œWhy did they tie me up and not you?” he asked.
    I held up my hands and ticked off the reasons. “You’re disagreeable, you kicked several of them in the head, you’re ornery, you called some of their mothers terrible names, you smell funny—that might not be a reason for tying you up, but I thought it worth mentioning—and, if your theory is right, you’re the son of a Shadowhand and very valuable to them.”
    â€œThen untie me before they check in on us.”
    I examined the ropes. “Every time you move, you make the knots tighter. I need something to cut through them.” I kicked around in the dirt, hoping to find a sharp-edged stone.
    Maloch smacked his lips. “Do you see any water? I’m thirsty.”
    â€œThat’ll be the aftereffects of the sleeping draught. I’m thirsty too. And hungry.” I reached for my copy of The Kolohendriseenax Formulary, which I kept on my belt with my pouches, only to discover that all three—belt, book,and pouches—were missing. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to recall what the book said about camma bark/seris oil infusion. “It’s a pretty potent sleeping draught. My guess is we could have been out for as long as a day. Maybe a little longer.”
    â€œYeah, that’s fascinating. Now untie me! ”
    I’ll admit: I was taking my time. Maloch had spent two years tormenting me. I didn’t mind seeing him helpless for a change. But truthfully, the purple, twinkling glow all around us worried me far more than I’d let on. We needed to leave quickly.
    I knelt over him and wormed my fingers into the knots. “Listen, we have to be careful. The thing about these caves is—”
    From behind, in the direction of our only exit, I heard voices. Our captors were coming. I tugged as hard as I could at the ropes, but the knots wouldn’t