Read Online Death Weavers by Brandon Mull - Free Book Online Page A

covered the entirety of the square. The whole village had a sleepy feel. Cole had seen a few women sweeping porches and a couple of men leading mules. The square around the well was vacant except for a few scrawny kids playing marbles in one corner.
    â€œNo sign of Dalton?” Cole asked.
    â€œNot yet,” Mira said. “We got here last night.”
    â€œI expected to be first,” Joe said. “We swiped a pair of horses from a farm just south of the crossroads. We left more than their value.”
    â€œWe bought ours the morning after we escaped,” Cole said. “No trouble since then.”
    â€œWhen in doubt, steal horses and ride hard,” Joe said. “The Outskirts has taught me that much. There are worse lessons to learn, I guess. Rincomere is quiet. A bunch of old folks hang around the two inns. A big ranch just outside of town breeds mules. There is some farming and some sheepherders in the hills to the east.”
    Hunter handed his reins to Joe and sat down by the well. Cole swung down from his horse as well, keeping the reins in his hand. Hunter bowed his head and pressed his knuckles together. After a moment he looked up.
    â€œLots of echoes,” Hunter said. “I didn’t feel special attention from any of them. They’re regulars, I think. Feels like this town has been here for a long time. I’ll shield our conversation just to be safe.”
    â€œWe learned the way to the cave,” Mira said. “We just follow a trail outside of town. I think Cole should go inside.”
    â€œWon’t your sister’s imprint be more likely to talk to you?” Cole replied.
    â€œJoe and I talked about it,” Mira said. “If I go in, I leave behind proof I was here. That doesn’t make sense if we can avoid it. Same with proof of Hunter. We need somebody who can win Destiny’s trust and who will leave behind a smart imprint that won’t blow our secrets. Joe would do well, but I worry about Destiny trusting a strange adult. She’s always been more open to young people. Cole, I think you’ve proven yourself more reliable than Jace and Dalton for this sort of mission. Jace is brave but not always careful. Dalton hasn’t been tested enough.”
    â€œI’m pretty great,” Cole said, unable to resist a grin. “I get why you would pick me over those wannabes. But don’t forget that Nazeem is after me too. An imprint of me could heat up the hunt.”
    â€œWe thought about that,” Joe said. “After your interactions at the Seven-Cornered Shrine, your cover might already be blown. We heard all the Enforcers turn north, the way you went.”
    â€œNot only that,” Hunter added. “They went straight to him. There must have been a perceptive with them. I don’t know exactly how the secret got out, but they were after Cole.”
    â€œHow’d you get away?” Mira asked.
    â€œA wild horse came and killed them all,” Cole said.
    Joe and Mira exchanged a look.
    â€œSix Enforcers?” Joe verified.
    â€œAnd two of their mounts,” Hunter said.
    â€œA horse did that?” Mira asked. “Working alone?”
    â€œIt came galloping out of the night,” Cole said. “It went on a rampage and then ran off.”
    â€œMy best guess is an echo controlled the animal,” Hunter said. “Maybe the echo that bargained with Cole.”
    â€œThat would be one powerful echo,” Mira said.
    â€œIt’s a guess,” Cole said. “All we know for sure is it happened. We hadn’t seen the horse before, and we haven’t seen it since.”
    â€œSomebody is on our side,” Mira said. “Cole’s echo gave us a key tip. The warning got us out of there.”
    Cole slid his hand into the pocket with the ringer. “It sure seemed like the echo meant to help, whether or not he controlled the horse.”
    â€œSo will you go?” Mira asked.