The Unknown Man: Book 1 in The Keepers of the Orbs Series by J.G. Gatewood Read Free Book Online Page A

throughout as he walked away, magnified by the expanse of the tall, vaulted ceilings. He walked through an arched doorway and disappeared out of sight. Kos tried to move but couldn’t. With every advance he made, invisible bindings tightened around him and pulled him closer to the pew, growing ever stronger from his strain.
    “Confounded sorcery! There be no place fer it!” Kos exclaimed, as he yelped in pain.
    Within moments, he returned with another cloaked man. This one looked much thinner than the one who had brought them. As they drew closer to the Goblins, Kos and Tuk couldn’t see much of him. He kept his face shrouded well, they could only make out his eyes. They had a red glow about them; blood red. A shiver ran down both of their spines and they realized they should’ve kept their mouths shut back at the tavern. They should’ve never ventured out with this man at all.
    “I’ve released your binds! Now kneel and acknowledge the true master of Askabar, and soon the ruler of all of Nithor, Master Lutheras.” He paused and the two Goblins knelt down. “You two should feel lucky. Few have had the honor of being in his presence and lived long enough to realize it.” The cloaked man took a step back so Lutheras could address them.
    “Thank you, Eldrin. I knew you, if anyone, would find information.” He nodded toward Eldrin, and then turned to face them. “As for you two, he has told me some of your story, but I would like to hear your account of it. Spare me no details.” Lutheras stared at the two, as Tuk and Kos exchanged glances.
    Tuk opened his mouth and was ready to speak when Kos cut him off and told the story instead. He even exaggerated a bit about the hardships of bringing the knight in, to get a larger reward.
    Lutheras’ anger rose while he listened to Kos. He had anticipated this, but had hoped it wouldn’t happen. He began to pace back and forth, mumbling to himself.
    Kos figured this was as good a time as any, “If that be all Luth... I mean Master, we be takin’ our gold and be on our way, it has been...”
    Lutheras interrupted him. “Gold? What gold are you expecting?”
    Eldrin smiled and offered, “That’s right, I promised they would be rewarded for coming with me to explain what they had seen.”
    “I see. You came here and told me my biggest adversary has arrived,” Lutheras’ voice rose in ire. “The one man I despise, the one man who can stand in my way has found out where I am and has followed me, and you expect a reward.” His agitation reached the boiling point. Kos and Tuk were ready to flee, backing up while Lutheras grew nearer. “You gave me the information, and now here is your reward!”
    Tuk and Kos both dropped to their knees. Screaming in agony, Tuk put his hands on his head and started clawing at his face. His unkempt fingernails left long gashes from his scalp to his chin as he tried to rip the flesh from his bones. Their minds filled with visions of death, not of themselves, but of loved ones being tortured and harmed in ways unimaginable. The Goblins carried out the deeds themselves. Kos clawed at his face and ripped out his eyeballs. The left one gone, while the right dangled by the optical nerves—hanging down even with his nose. The torture persisted as the Goblins defiled their own bodies. When Lutheras let his anger subside, so too did the attack on the Goblins.
    Tuk and Kos both dropped to the ground, unconscious from the pain, and the sudden attack. Blood pooled and became larger where Kos’ body lay. It trickled out of the old Goblin's eye sockets, like a river flowing down a mountainside. Lutheras eyed the unconscious pair with disgust as he said, “There is your reward, foolish Goblins! Eldrin, wake the young one.” He glared. “Do it!”
    Eldrin walked over to Tuk. He conjured an invisible stream of energy that brought the Goblin to his feet. The many scratches he’d inflicted upon his face dripped with blood. He shook the Goblin, but