The Vengekeep Prophecies by Brian Farrey Read Free Book Online Page B

slowly, scorching anything in their path. I watched as a third and finally a fourth figure emerged from the growing molten pool.
    We had a strong instinct for self-preservation, us Grimjinxes. No matter the con, we knew that fleeing a desperate situation was always the easiest and most sound solution. With that in mind, I planned my exit. But with a manic mob behind me and the lava creatures before me, my options were severely limited. A trickle of water from the tower overhead reminded me I had only one sensible option at this point: going up. With a quick prayer to any deity willing to help me overcome my clumsiness just once, I scrambled up the ladder to the water tower’s underbelly.
    I only almost fell to my death twice. A record.
    Atop the high platform beneath the water drum, I could see that Nanni and Aubrin had joined Ma at a safe distance while the rest of the crowd ran past. I scanned the neighboring streets, hoping for a sign of the fire brigade or stateguard or anyone else capable of helping. Nothing.
    Unsure what to do, I peered through the hazy, hot air that rose from the lava and saw Da, trapped in a corner. The fissure had cut him off from all escape routes. It was around this time that the lava creatures noticed him as well. They stopped their slow, wanton destruction and turned toward my father.
    I gripped the platform’s rail. “Da!” I cried, hoping he could hear me over the crowd’s screams. Reaching up, I took hold of the silver chain that released the water. Unfortunately, the slide from which the water would flow was pointed in the wrong direction and wouldn’t go anywhere near the lava.
    I stepped forward. The decrepit tower creaked and trembled under my meager weight. Staying up there much longer wasn’t a good idea. Looking down, I examined the metal struts that crisscrossed to link the tower’s three thin legs. The struts themselves were rusty and each time I moved, the bolts securing them to the legs shook. I got an idea. And I hated it.
    Da had backed as far as he could go into the corner. Smoke began to cloud my view of him. All I could see were the creatures advancing on my helpless father. After another quick prayer, I descended the ladder until I was next to a loose strut. Wrapping my arms and legs around it, I shimmied down to the point where it connected to the tower’s leg. The leg’s rotted wood barely held the bolts. Standing at the juncture of leg and strut, I started jumping.
    With each stomp, the tower squeaked and shuddered. Chunks of wood dropped to the ground far below as the rusty struts whined. Gripping the tower leg, I thrust myself up as high as I could go, yelling, “Yah!”
    Coming down, I heard a mighty crack. Not only had the strut come undone but the leg of the tower had snapped in two. I hugged what remained of the leg as I felt the entire structure teeter and sway. My teeth hurt as the sound of grinding metal and snapping wood filled the air. The tower groaned and finally fell forward.
    I braced myself as the support beams collapsed around me, pelting my body with the tower’s remains. I fell twice my height and, before I disappeared under the rubble, I saw the great wooden drum hit the cobblestones and splinter into a thousand pieces. A huge wave of water flooded the Promenade. As the water met the lava, a roaring hiss of steam perforated the air. Within seconds, the advancing lava men froze as the molten rock hardened into obsidian.
    Silence. I peeked out from under the tower wreckage. Miraculously, as the tower had fallen away from me, I’d escaped any major damage. I was sore all over but, apart from a few scrapes, unharmed. The next thing I knew, Da was throwing bits of the tower aside to pull me out. Once I was free of the debris, he carried me toward the Promenade perimeter. We hugged each other for a long time. A moment later, the rest of the family emerged from where they’d been waiting, unable to get