The Shadowhand Covenant by Brian Farrey Read Free Book Online Page A

budge.
    â€œMove away from him or I’ll cut out your liver!”
    I turned slowly, hands in the air. Two figures stepped into the cave. They were dressed like the men who’d attacked us: ragged vests and tattered pants that cut off at the knees. The taller, a girl about my age, held out a serrated daggerat arm’s length. Her hair was short and spiky, and her dark skin glistened with sweat. Her fierce stare told me that if I so much as looked at Maloch’s ropes, she’d follow through on the threat she’d just made.
    I smiled. “Happy to. That way, your knife can stay clean, my innards can stay . . . in, where they belong. Everyone wins.”
    Based on the strong resemblance, I guessed that the small boy with her, who looked to be around Aubrin’s age, was her brother. His hair gathered in curls that gripped his head tightly. His eyes, big and wide, didn’t blink. It was very creepy.
    Instead of a weapon, the boy held a large clay bowl filled with clear liquid. At a nod from his sister, he stepped forward and laid the bowl at my feet, then scooped up a small cup full of the liquid and handed it to me.
    â€œNow is not the time to think, now it is the time to drink!” he said in a remarkably low voice.
    â€œUh . . . right,” I said, taking the cup. I swirled the liquid around and gave it a sniff. It certainly seemed like water. I tried to forget everything the Lymmaris Creed—the ancient code by which all thieves lived—said about drinking with your enemies. It said a lot and none of it good. But why poison me if they could have killed me in my sleep? So I gulpedit down. The water had a hint of sweetness.
    Before I could thank him, the boy snatched the cup away, filled it up again, and knelt near Maloch.
    My ex-friend sneered. “You’re a complete naff-nut if you think I’m drinking even a drop of that!”
    The girl rushed forward and stood directly over Maloch. “Everyone drinks at First Rise. It’s our way. You will not insult our way.” She poked the side of his head with the tip of her dagger, making Maloch yelp.
    The boy held up his hand, as if to calm his sister. He closed his eyes and said, “Let the weapon go today, he will drink another way.” With that, he stomped on Maloch’s foot. Maloch yowled in pain. In that moment, the boy shoved the cup forward and poured the water into Maloch’s mouth.
    Maloch gagged and coughed. I caught the serious-faced girl smirking for just a moment. Then her face went hard again, and she started waving the dagger around.
    I held up my hands. “So, yeah, thanks for the drink. It really hit the spot. I feel much better. I’m sure I’d feel better still if you put the dagger away and maybe told us what’s going on.”
    â€œYou’re our prisoners,” the girl said, signaling for herbrother to step back.
    â€œWe know that!” Maloch said, seething. “Now go get someone we can deal with.”
    The girl put a hand on her hip. “You’ll deal with whoever you’re sent, and this morning, that’s us. If that’s a problem, you won’t see another drop of water or a lick of food until tomorrow morning. Got it?”
    â€œRight, right,” I said. “We’re happy to deal with you. It might be easier, though, if you told us your names.”
    The boy looked up at his sister, who frowned uncertainly. Then she said, “I’m Reenakarutysor. And this is my brother, Holminjarlamaxin.”
    Maloch scoffed. “Those aren’t names. Those are medications.”
    The girl’s nostrils flared, but it was the boy who responded. “This is not a foolish game, you shall not insult my name!” With that, he kicked Maloch in the stomach, eliciting another squeal of pain.
    â€œDoes he,” I said to the sister, “know that he speaks in rhyme?”
    The girl’s jaw hardened. “Of course he