The Tomni'Tai Scroll (Book 1) by Sam Ferguson Read Free Book Online Page A

view of the stars as we walk.” Mandhar said as he pulled out a few gold coins and set them on the table to pay for the food.
    Jenedina shot Sebina a disapproving look, but she said nothing. The four of them rose from the table. Sebina smiled at Jenedina, trying to cheer her up a bit. Jenedina returned the gesture and walked over to take Mandhar’s arm. Mandhar smiled and he and Jenedina went for the door. Stefan came up beside Sebina and offered his arm to her. As she took it she felt a swell of warmth generate within her bosom. They smiled at each other and hurried to catch up with the others.
    A cool breeze relieved the arid air in Rasselin. The night sky had become a dark shade of blue, with the crescent moon and stars giving off a pale light. The foursome was quiet as they ambled through the dimly lit streets.
    None of them noticed Kai as he stalked the shadows behind them, ensuring that the intentions of the two men were nothing but honorable. Kai followed the group for most of the way back to his house. Then, finally deciding that the men meant his sister no harm, he turned down a different street and took a shortcut.
    The group continued on through the streets. The women asked questions about faraway places that the men had spoken of and dreamed of what it would be like to see them in person. Then, Stefan stopped abruptly and pointed down an alley to the left.
    “Did you see that?” Stefan whispered.
    “See what?” Sebina asked.
    “There was something that shimmered in the moonlight over there,” he said.
    “It was probably just a liquor bottle,” Sebina shrugged. “The alleys are usually full of trash like that in these parts.”
    “No, I don’t think it was a bottle,” Stefan said as he gently slipped his arm out from Sebina’s grasp and wandered into the darkness. The other three waited on the road for a couple of moments before Stefan beckoned for his friend to join him.
    “Mandhar, come here!” Stefan demanded excitedly. Mandhar rushed into the darkness with Jenedina still holding his hand and trailing slightly behind him as they ran. Sebina started to follow them, but a sudden feeling in her stomach stopped her for a moment. She shook her head and pushed the sensation out of her mind. As the three of them approached they could barely discern the outline of Stefan’s body in the dark.
    “What is it, Stefan?” Jenedina asked.
    “Yeah, what did you find?” Mandhar asked.
    Sebina stepped closer to Stefan and bent down next to him in the dark alleyway. She was about to ask what he was looking at, but at that moment a door in one of the buildings burst open. Sebina shielded her eyes from the sudden flood of light. She stood up and then felt Stefan grab her around the waist and yank her from her feet.
    “What are you doing?” she shrieked.
    “Sebina!” Jenedina screamed.
    Within moments, there were more hands grabbing and pulling her into the building. Sebina’s eyes adjusted just as she heard the door slam shut.
    “What is going on?” she yelled as she kicked and clawed at her captors.
    A sudden, forceful blow knocked her to the floor. Sebina’s head reeled. She could barely make out Jenedina’s shouts for help over the ringing in her ears. Sebina looked up and saw three or four men wrestling with her friend and carrying her farther into the building. Just then a pair of large legs obscured her view. Sebina rolled onto her back and looked up at the man standing directly over her.
    “Who –who are you?” Sebina asked. The man said nothing. Sebina looked over to Stefan and stared at him, her mouth open in shock. Stefan smirked and followed the other men down a hallway. “What do you want?” she asked as she turned back to the man standing over her.
    The man laughed heartily, and reached down, grabbing her by the neck and shoulder.
     
    *****
     
    As the clock struck nine, Kai became anxious and started pacing near the door. It had only taken him two minutes to run home from where he