Read Online A World of Ash: The Territory 3 by Justin Woolley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Justin Woolley
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reclaim the earth.”
“Praise be to the Pure,” one of the Holy Order proclaimed, and the rest of the clergymen, including Lieutenant Werther, echoed the chant.
“You will hand over these fugitives and give us the weapon you recovered from Big Smoke. I will not ask again. If you refuse you will be shot.”
Ernest turned to Squid. “Now do you see why we don’t like people from the Central Territory?”
“It’s all right,” Nim said, his eyes not leaving the lieutenant, his voice still rough. “We don’t like them either.”
Clergy-Lieutenant Werther grinned. “Yes, well, we consider Nomads to be among the furthest from the Pure, so you’ll forgive me for not being concerned with your opinion.”
Nim made to move forward. Squid reached out and grasped his arm, restraining him. “Don’t,” he whispered.
Nim halted. He looked at Squid. His jaw was set wide as his teeth clenched hard against each other.
“Your friend is wise, Nomad,” Werther said. “You should listen to him. Now,” he continued, returning his attention to Ernest, “the weapon first and then the boys.”
“We don’t have any weapon,” Ernest said. “They never found it.”
Clergy-Lieutenant Werther sighed with feigned exasperation, letting his lips vibrate against each other. “Let’s not play games,” he said. “I know you have it in those bags. Besides, you wouldn’t have bothered bringing those two with you if they hadn’t found it. They’d be dead somewhere in Big Smoke. By the way, what happened to the other two who were with you?”
“They didn’t make it,” Squid said. “They died so that we could live. They’re heroes.” He knew the Holy Order wouldn’t care, but he wanted to make sure that was known, at least by someone.
“Pity,” Werther said. “They would have been entertaining in the colosseum. Now, can we finish this up, please? I would prefer not to spend a moment longer in the cursed lands than I need to. Weapon first, then the boys.”
Squid saw the moment Ernest deflated as he gave in. Squid knew he felt securing this weapon was as much his destiny as it was Squid’s own. Despite the fact that Ernest had intended to steal it, Squid did feel sorry for him. He would have preferred the people of Reach to have the vaccine than see it handed over to the Holy Order.
“If I give you the bags, why do you need Squid and Nim?”
“They must return to Pitt and answer for their crimes.”
“And if I refuse?”
“The only way you and your men are walking away from this situation is if you hand over the bags and those two boys.”
Ernest looked back at Squid.
“I’m sorry, lad,” he said. “I’ve got a responsibility to my men. I need to get them home to their families if I can.”
Squid nodded. “I understand,” he said. “Come on, Nim.”
“We’re not just gonna give up?” Nim said. “Hand ourselves over?”
But Squid had already begun walking toward Clergy-Lieutenant Werther.
“Give him the bags,” Ernest said.
The men of Reach began slipping the bags of mechanical birds off their backs and placing them on the ground. Several clergymen moved forward to grab them.
“Squid,” Ernest said, “always remember that you succeeded where no one had before. We’ll find a way to help the people you’ve fought for.”
“Tie them up,” Werther said.
Squid and Nim’s hands were bound in short loops of rope that were both fastened to the end of a long length, leaving them individually restrained but linked together. A Holy Order clergyman yanked hard on the other end of the rope, causing both Squid and Nim to stumble forward like roughly treated dogs on a leash. The clergyman snickered.
Squid looked back over his shoulder as the Holy Order led them away from the outpost. Ernest’s face was as cold and unmoving as stone. Squid willed him to do something, to order his men to rescue them or, at the very least, to try and recover the vaccine. There were many more shelves of those
“Praise be to the Pure,” one of the Holy Order proclaimed, and the rest of the clergymen, including Lieutenant Werther, echoed the chant.
“You will hand over these fugitives and give us the weapon you recovered from Big Smoke. I will not ask again. If you refuse you will be shot.”
Ernest turned to Squid. “Now do you see why we don’t like people from the Central Territory?”
“It’s all right,” Nim said, his eyes not leaving the lieutenant, his voice still rough. “We don’t like them either.”
Clergy-Lieutenant Werther grinned. “Yes, well, we consider Nomads to be among the furthest from the Pure, so you’ll forgive me for not being concerned with your opinion.”
Nim made to move forward. Squid reached out and grasped his arm, restraining him. “Don’t,” he whispered.
Nim halted. He looked at Squid. His jaw was set wide as his teeth clenched hard against each other.
“Your friend is wise, Nomad,” Werther said. “You should listen to him. Now,” he continued, returning his attention to Ernest, “the weapon first and then the boys.”
“We don’t have any weapon,” Ernest said. “They never found it.”
Clergy-Lieutenant Werther sighed with feigned exasperation, letting his lips vibrate against each other. “Let’s not play games,” he said. “I know you have it in those bags. Besides, you wouldn’t have bothered bringing those two with you if they hadn’t found it. They’d be dead somewhere in Big Smoke. By the way, what happened to the other two who were with you?”
“They didn’t make it,” Squid said. “They died so that we could live. They’re heroes.” He knew the Holy Order wouldn’t care, but he wanted to make sure that was known, at least by someone.
“Pity,” Werther said. “They would have been entertaining in the colosseum. Now, can we finish this up, please? I would prefer not to spend a moment longer in the cursed lands than I need to. Weapon first, then the boys.”
Squid saw the moment Ernest deflated as he gave in. Squid knew he felt securing this weapon was as much his destiny as it was Squid’s own. Despite the fact that Ernest had intended to steal it, Squid did feel sorry for him. He would have preferred the people of Reach to have the vaccine than see it handed over to the Holy Order.
“If I give you the bags, why do you need Squid and Nim?”
“They must return to Pitt and answer for their crimes.”
“And if I refuse?”
“The only way you and your men are walking away from this situation is if you hand over the bags and those two boys.”
Ernest looked back at Squid.
“I’m sorry, lad,” he said. “I’ve got a responsibility to my men. I need to get them home to their families if I can.”
Squid nodded. “I understand,” he said. “Come on, Nim.”
“We’re not just gonna give up?” Nim said. “Hand ourselves over?”
But Squid had already begun walking toward Clergy-Lieutenant Werther.
“Give him the bags,” Ernest said.
The men of Reach began slipping the bags of mechanical birds off their backs and placing them on the ground. Several clergymen moved forward to grab them.
“Squid,” Ernest said, “always remember that you succeeded where no one had before. We’ll find a way to help the people you’ve fought for.”
“Tie them up,” Werther said.
Squid and Nim’s hands were bound in short loops of rope that were both fastened to the end of a long length, leaving them individually restrained but linked together. A Holy Order clergyman yanked hard on the other end of the rope, causing both Squid and Nim to stumble forward like roughly treated dogs on a leash. The clergyman snickered.
Squid looked back over his shoulder as the Holy Order led them away from the outpost. Ernest’s face was as cold and unmoving as stone. Squid willed him to do something, to order his men to rescue them or, at the very least, to try and recover the vaccine. There were many more shelves of those
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