Trail of Bones: A Young Adult Fantasy Novel by Chris Salisbury Read Free Book Online Page A

and the panther rolled unconscious to the ground.
    The beast-man scrambled on all fours and crawled to the cage door and the Warden was right behind his servant. Once both were outside of the enclosure, the master slammed the door shut and secured it with the padlock.

 
    CHAPTER 5
     
    Stupid, arrogant! thought the Warden. Turn your back on a panther? You’re lucky to be alive. But then he looked at Kitra and her companions’ faces. Their expressions were a mix of horror, shock, and satisfaction.
    The Warden smiled. Well done, Dox! That couldn’t have gone any better! Not only were the cats awake, they almost tore your arm off. You just doubled my asking price! Well done, thought the Warden as he helped the Minotaur back to his feet.
    “Are you alright?” the Warden asked as he looked at Dox’s shredded arm. “I can get you something for the pain. We’ll need to stitch that up.”
    Blood gushed from several large gashes in the beast-man’s forearm, but he didn’t seem bothered by it. “I’m fine, master. The pain is gone,” answered Dox.
    “You’re making a mess, Dox; go get that cleaned up.”
    The beast-man nodded. He grabbed a cloth, wrapped his wounded arm, and left the tent.
    “I must have him,” said the war maiden.
    “Excellent! Now, we only need settle on a price, and the beast is yours. The one with the four white socks, correct?” asked the Warden.
    The war maiden didn’t even bother looking at Kai or the Warden as she answered. Her gaze was still fixed on Kelor. “I said I want this one. The one with no fear,” said Kitra as she pointed to Kelor.
    I knew you were going to say that. The little pain put on too good of a show. I could make a fortune with him in the arena, thought the Warden. “Are you sure, my lady? As I mentioned before, the panthers can be a stubborn and ill tempered race, this one most of all… as you can clearly see.”
    Kitra stood up and faced the Warden. “I want him. He’s perfect,” she said as she pointed at Kelor. “Let’s be done with it; I have other duties that require my attention.”
    The Warden forced a smile as he ushered the group back to the receiving area of the tent. Fine, have it your way, but it’s gonna cost you, he thought.
    Once back in the main tent, Kitra produced the pouch of coin. “Twenty platinum should more than cover it. That’s more than double the asking price of any such beast.” She tossed the pouch onto the wooden table.
    “A fair price… for the cub with white socks. But the one you chose is the first born, and strongest of the litter,” the Warden stated. “I’m afraid I must know your purpose before I sell him to you. What do you plan to do with the beast?”
    “That is none of your concern! Do we have a deal or not?” Kitra snapped.
    The Warden prepared another drink from containers stored behind the table. He spoke as he poured the liquid into a mug. “Ah… it is my concern. If this were a corgan, or a hippogriff, your purpose would be obvious. But a giant panther, cub or not, still lethal… well, that changes things. It ups the stakes, don’t you think?” he asked.
    “It’s a fair price.”
    “But at what risk? In a few months, he’ll be even more deadly. What would happen if, let’s say, you released him within the city walls of Cordale? Or perhaps Draghone? Wars have begun over far less,” said the Warden as he replaced the cork into the bottle.
    “Too many questions, and sooner or later, that would lead them back to me. What if you put him in the arenas? Not exactly the most effective use of such a magnificent specimen. Even so, I would demand a royalty on his winnings. So you see, it is very much my concern, and rightly so,” he said.
    How dare this, this trapper try to threaten me! she thought as she fumed with anger. “Or perhaps I should just run you through, take the cub, and do whatever I please with him!” she said as she took the handle of her sword.
    The Warden did not back down, but