The Soul Forge by Andrew Lashway Read Free Book Online

cheek. He didn’t look older than twelve, but his eyes said differently. Two other men stood at his side. They appeared to be twins with blond hair and a parallel scar on their cheeks. They also were both built like small mountains.
    “We have a job offer for you,” the woman said, sitting next to him on the impromptu bed composed of a table. Their thighs touched, and she looked at him almost bashfully. If it wasn’t for the fact that a chill ran up his spine, Thomas may have done something rash then and there.
    “A job? Doing what?” Thomas’ eyes narrowed. Somehow, he doubted this was a job he would readily apply for.
    “We need something… procured,” the woman responded, “from a client. If you collect it, we’ll be able to reward you for your efforts.”
    Thomas knew he should turn her down flat, but to do so in their territory where he was not only an outsider but completely at their mercy seemed a foolish thing to do. Stalling for time, he replied, “and what’s this item?” 
    “A staff. That once belonged to King Ofan the Dark Priest.”
    Thomas’ blood ran cold. Even he knew that name, and the vile deeds attached to it. Wars had been waged, people had died because of that name. Their entire civilization had been threatened because of that name.
    And this woman wanted him to steal something with that name attached to it? Not likely.
    “Sorry sweetheart. But I want nothing to do with this.”
    “Oh don’t be so quick. You haven’t heard the best part.”
    Thomas made to stand up, but her hand was suddenly on his thigh and he found he couldn’t move it.
    “What’s the best part?” Thomas asked out of necessity, not curiosity.
    “If you don’t help us… a lot of people are going to die.”
    Thomas looked at her, eyes wide. “W… what?”
    “You see, we aren’t the only ones that want the staff. And if our competition gets it, they are going to start a war with it.”
    “Start a…” Thomas simply stared at her, his mind unable to process – or believe – what she was telling him. “How? Why? Tell me from the beginning, what’s goin’ on here.”
    “I will… but only if you promise you’ll help.”
    “I ain’t promising a thing, ma’am. Cause I don’t know if anything you’re saying is true. For all I know, you’re the ones planning on hurting people.”
    “We have our sources. The castle will be invaded, tonight, by a group of well-trained assassins. They’ll be trying to get the staff and return it to the Dark Priest.”
    “The Dark Priest is dead,” Thomas interrupted, “killed by General Chromwell.”
    “And General Chromwell put the staff into a vault,” the woman continued, “we need to get it first. You have no idea the power that staff has.”
    “This doesn’t make sense. None of it.”
    The woman looked torn, but eventually she shrugged and snapped her fingers. Immediately, one of the twins turned and walked out of the room, and he heard a familiar whinny sound from the back room.
    “Look,” the woman said, “we don’t have time to debate this. You’ve got a pretty horse, and…”
    “You hurt…” Thomas choked out, a rage he had so rarely felt pouring through his blood, “one hair on that horse…”
    She held up a hand to silence him. “We won’t hurt the horse as long as you cooperate. I’m sorry, I really am, but we have no time.”
    Thomas shook in his anger, but he knew his hands were tied. He wouldn’t risk any hurt coming to the horse.
    “What…” he could almost feel the bile crawling up his throat as the words were torn from him, “what do I have to do?”
    The woman, for her part, did legitimately look saddened at what she was forcing him to do, but that hardly mollified him. All he could do was go along with the job, and hope against hope that he could find a way out of this mess.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 5: Wooden