Read Online Death Weavers by Brandon Mull - Free Book Online

newcomer. The new horse ran wild, leaping and bucking, crashing into the lesser horses and sending their riders flying.
    The Enforcers had no answer to the sudden assault. A pair of them who had fallen to the ground were promptly trampled by the fierce horse. Cole held his sword ready, prepared to jump out of the way when the wild horse turned on him, but the crazed steed paid him no mind.
    Though the rampaging horse appeared out of control, it soon became clear that it was targeting the Enforcers. Moving like a rodeo cowboy’s worst nightmare, the huge steed kicked horse and rider alike, ruthlessly stomping the Enforcers when they flopped to the ground.
    Within less than a minute, the wild horse galloped off into the night, spewing clods of soil. Six Enforcers lay motionless, along with two of their horses. The other four mounts cantered away, empty stirrups flapping.
    Cole sheathed his sword as Hunter ran up to him.
    â€œHow’d you do that?” Cole asked.
    â€œWasn’t me,” Hunter said, surveying the fallen riders. “I could hardly believe my eyes.”
    Stunned and relieved, Cole found himself laughing. “It was like a tornado.”
    Hunter laughed too.
    Cole walked over to a fallen Enforcer, taking in the dented armor. “No way did that just happen. I was doomed. Do horses get rabies?”
    â€œThat wasn’t rabies,” Hunter said seriously. “That horse was an assassin. I had a great view. It couldn’t have taken out those Enforcers more efficiently. And then it stormed off.”
    â€œWhere’d it come from?” Cole asked.
    Hunter rubbed his chin. “Some echoes can influence animals. Maybe the echo you’re working with guided it. If so, he’s really powerful.”
    Cole held up the silver ringer. He still sensed no communication. “That makes more sense than some random horse protecting me.”
    Hunter laughed again. “Those Enforcers had no clue what to do. It caught them totally flat-footed. Not one of them even tried to use their weapons. I can hardly blame them.”
    â€œWhat now?” Cole asked.
    â€œEnforcers tend to work in isolated units,” Hunter said. “I doubt they involved legionnaires or guardsmen. I scattered the echoes that were trailing us. The short-term threat might be over. Finding Dalton and the others in the dark will be tricky, especially since they’re on the run. Let’s get farther from the inn. Tomorrow, we’ll buy horses and make our way to Rincomere. The others can catch up with us there. I think all the Enforcers followed us.”
    They started trotting away from the fallen Enforcers.
    â€œDid the horse look weird to you?” Cole asked.
    â€œWhile it pummeled those Enforcers to death?”
    â€œAlmost fiery,” Cole said.
    â€œI noticed. Kind of like fire reflecting off smoke.”
    Cole nodded at the perfect description. “Yeah.”
    â€œThe reddish moon is up. Just a trick of the moonlight.”
    â€œThe other horses had dark coats. But they didn’t look like that.”
    â€œNo,” Hunter agreed pensively. “They didn’t.”

C HAPTER
6
CAVE
    C ole and Hunter found Joe and Mira lounging near a well in the town square of Rincomere. Joe stood and waved as they rode up to them.
    â€œWhat took you so long?” Mira asked.
    â€œWe had to kill six Enforcers,” Hunter said, dismounting.
    â€œYou’re not serious,” Joe checked.
    â€œThere’s a story to it,” Hunter said. “We’ll fill you in later.”
    Fewer than a hundred buildings formed the village of Rincomere, most of a modest size, with walls of gray stone and roofs of dark shingles. All could have been designed and built by the same team. Every structure looked like it had stood for a long time. Cole noticed swallows flying in and out of muddy nests clustered under many of the eaves.
    Weathered flagstones paved the few streets in town and