Read Online Beyond the Crimson (The Crimson Cycle) by Danielle Martin Williams - Free Book Online Page A

the blade, forcing Brendelon closer to the ground. The blade was hardly penetrating the monster’s thin stone-like skin, and it seemed not to mind the small gash it caused on its arm, as it continued pressing downwards. Brendelon stopped grinning and worked to move from the monster’s weight, but the beast pressed on.
    He groaned and finally gave up position, somersaulting forward away from the troll’s towering form and popping back up in a defensive stance, swinging his shield forward with one hand, holding his sword in the other, and gracefully moving his feet in what seemed to be choreographed steps. The troll continued to swing its gangly arms over and over—untactful but dangerous—and each time it came near, Brendelon dodged and moved to a new position, never once taking a swing at it. The troll slowed its movements, clearly becoming tired, then threw its hands up to is nauseating face tilting it towards the sky like a wolf, as it let out a ferocious howl, and I wasn’t sure, but I swear the green eyes glitter in amusement. 
    It suddenly sna pped its head back down as if it had been spoken to and grabbed a small tree by the base, ripping it clear out of the ground as though it were merely a weed, and in the same motion, hurled it into the self-assured knight, who crouched down, unable to dodge the line of fire. He used his shield to deflect the blow, but the force hurtled him backwards, landing him on his stomach. The beast grunted a laugh and stomped towards him.
    I screamed at it—not knowing what else to do—b ut it was only concerned with the hunched form of the knight on the ground. It stooped to grab him by the back of the armor again, but as it bent down, Brendelon twisted his body and in one quick thrust jammed his sword right into the beast’s middle eye. By reflex, it dropped its hold on him, wailing miserably as it clutched his oozing pupil. Then with a sideways hack of his sword, the beast’s belly slit open letting disgusting green entrails spill out. My stomach turned, as I watched the troll doubled over—howling in agony—now hunched to a height more equal to Brendelon’s. He took a final swing, silver blade sliding across a green throat, as slime slithered down its miserable body. 
    A tremor ran throughout the ground , as the creature fell forward, never to move again, and Brendelon collapsed besides his conquered beast, panting.
    I squeezed my eyes closed, lowering my face to the ground, trying to fight the acid that continued to spin in my stomach. Taking deep breaths to calm myself, I reopened them catching a sparkle of beautiful green lying in a pile of dead leaves. Mr. Riley’s emerald .  Guilt spilled over to drown out the disturbed feeling I had been fighting, as I thought of all his beautiful artifacts now smashed into nothing. I grabbed it by the chain and slipped it around my neck for safekeeping. The least I could do was return the emerald necklace. I wasn’t sure how I would ever be able to explain this, but at least Mr. Riley believed in magic, maybe he would understand. I shook my head; there was no way. I was experiencing it, and even I still wasn’t sure if I believed it.
    Brendelon slowly began to stand, hair slightly sweaty and the light blush under his cheekbones now a deeper shade. “Are you alright?” I called, running over to him. I was about to reach out to touch him in a simple polite gesture but quickly pulled my hand away suddenly, feeling unsure of his reactions. 
    His eyes flashed bright green , and the right side of his mouth curled into a grin. “Of course.” But he winced as he straightened.
    The stench of the deceased troll rolled into our nostrils , and I scrunched my nose. The smell seemed to protrude from every pore of its disgusting body. He laughed at the look on my face and wrinkled his perfect nose up as well, looking rather adorable. “It will only get worse,” he said. “They are foul creatures.”
    He plucked his bloodied sword from the