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

does!”
    I blinked. “And . . . no one finds that odd?”
    â€œIf you must know, he’s training to be a warrior-bard.”
    I blinked again. There hadn’t been any warrior-bards for over a hundred years. The vocation had been quite popular in its day. Problem was: they were easily killed in battle. Given the choice between composing a rhyming couplet and parrying a lethal blow, too few chose to parry.
    â€œOkay,” I said. “Great. Erm, could I have your names again?”
    The girl folded her arms. “Call me Reena. And he’s Holm.”
    â€œReena.” I nodded, then smiled at her brother. “Holm. The warrior-bard. Got it. So, any chance you can explain why we’re here?”
    Holm picked up his bowl as Reena pointed her knife right at my chest. “Not for us to explain. We’re taking you and Mighty Boy here to someone who can.”
    I held my hands up. “Okay. Let’s go do some talking. Lead the way.”
    Reena shook her head. “No. After you.”
    I shuffled out of the chamber. Reena shoved the rag back in Maloch’s mouth. Together with Holm, they each grabbed an end of Maloch and carried him behind me.
    I considered bolting. If Maloch’s theory was right, and it was him they wanted, they’d be more concerned with keeping him secure. I could get away and bring help back. But there was something about Reena that told me she could bury that dagger in my spine before I could run three steps. So, that most honorable Grimjinx tradition—running—was out.
    When we came to an intersection, Reena barked directions. She guided me through an elaborate network of tunnels, glowing with the same unearthly purple light.
    â€œNot that I’m, you know, objecting to violence against Maloch—sometimes it seems necessary, in fact—but I have to say that it’s out of character for the Sarosans.”
    Holm gasped. Reena froze in place.
    â€œSorry, was I not supposed to know?” I smiled weakly. “You sort of gave yourselves away. Drinking at First Rise? That’s a Sarosan custom, isn’t it? To honor the world by taking a drink first thing in the morning.”
    Holm started to speak, but Reena shushed him.
    â€œHe’d have found out eventually,” she said. Then she narrowed her eyes at me. “Move.”
    I continued forward. “It’s okay, you know. I’m sympathetic. I know a lot of people who are upset about what theHigh Laird is doing to you.”
    Before I realized what was happening, Reena had dropped Maloch and forced me up against the wall. The cold point of her dagger touched the underside of my chin.
    â€œWhat do you know about it?” Reena said angrily. “Do you know what it’s like to have your family arrested without a reason? Do you know what it’s like to be regarded with suspicion wherever you go?”
    Well, yes, I knew a lot about all that.
    But I got the feeling it was all new and scary to her. And by family, I don’t think she meant the Sarosans. Had Reena and Holm’s parents been among those arrested?
    Reena’s eyes grew darker as her agitation rose. “Do you know what it’s like to be forced to live like animals underground?”
    â€œAh, yes,” I said, “speaking of animals . . . I’m not sure if you know this, but these tunnels are vessapede warrens. They’re very dangerous.”
    â€œThe tunnels suit our present needs, there are no signs of vessapedes,” Holm said.
    I looked at Reena, trying to make her understand how serious this was. “Maybe not now, but . . .” I swiped my handacross the dirt wall and moved the splinters of purple light to my fingertips. “When vessapedes burrow, they secrete this goo that crystallizes when it mixes with the earth. That’s where the purple light comes from—these little crystals. The light can burn for up to two months after the