Read Online Foundling Wizard (Book 1) by James Eggebeen - Free Book Online

boy.
    They carefully made their way back down the hallway to the room where Lorit had entered. If his map was accurate, they would be able to access a side entrance from here, and make their way out. He steered Chedel towards the archway that led to the side doorway when the family that Lorit had followed entered the room.
    “Father, I don’t want to stay for Morning Prayer,” the girl complained.
    “Well, you don’t have much choice. You’re a part of this family, and as a part of this family, you go to temple for Morning Prayer. Like it or not,” said the father.
    Lorit tried to squeeze past the family dispute, hoping to get around them and out of the door without incident. Just as they passed behind the girl, she stomped her foot and said, “But I don’t want to go to Prayer.”
    Her father reached out to take hold of her. She pulled back to escape his grasp and bumped into Chedel. The boy let out a startled grunt before he caught himself.
    The girl turned and looked at the space where they stood. “I felt someone here!” she cried out. “Someone’s in the room with us! I just bumped into them.”
    She started swinging her arms around as if attempting to swat the invisible perpetrator. “I know there’s someone here.”
    Lorit grabbed Chedel and pulled him quickly down the hall. He put his hand over the boy’s mouth to silence him. They stood pressed against the wall breathing hard and trying to do it quietly. When the girl didn’t follow them, Lorit headed for the side door.
    When they reached the door, Lorit twisted the knob and pushed. The door was old and rusty and didn’t want to budge. He heaved his weight against it until it started to move. It creaked loudly and opened almost enough for him to fit through.
    “Down here,” called a voice from the room where the family still argued. “I think I heard something.”
    Lorit gave another shove, and the door moved enough to let him squeeze through. He pulled Chedel after him into the crisp morning air.
    Once outside, they both heaved against the heavy door. They managed to push it shut just as something hit it from the inside. Lorit grabbed a shattered brick from down the alleyway and jammed it under the door as the guards attempted to force it open.
    “Run! Follow me,” Lorit called to Chedel. He headed down the alley that Zhimosom traced out for him on the map.
    Overhead, he could hear the sound of the priest as he sang out the prayer.
    “We need to get far away from here before the guards report us,” Lorit explained. “We have to find a way out of the city and fast.”
    “I know a way,” Chedel offered. “My uncle runs wagons in and out of town all day. They should be heading back to the homestead with an empty soon. They always deliver the fist load just after sunup.”
    “Lead the way, then,” Lorit replied.
    The two young men headed off down the avenue to find Chedel’s uncle.
     

Sojourn
    Lorit and Chedel hid beneath a tarp stretched across the meager remnants of straw that littered the bed of the wagon. The straw was scratchy and constantly poked both of the boys. The dust not only had a strong tendency to itch but also threatened to make Lorit sneeze. He was worried that any noise would reveal their hiding place, so he forced himself to endure the agony all the while the wagon made its way to their destination. When they reached the fork in the road, Chedel’s uncle halted the wagon.
    “We’re here,” he called out.
    “Is there anyone on the road?” Lorit whispered.
    “No. The road is clear. There’s a small stand of trees just off to the right where you can take cover. Head for them and you should be out of sight before anyone else comes along,” the driver answered.
    “Thanks for the ride,” Lorit called as they headed for the trees. He and Chedel ran as fast as their cramped legs would take them until they reached the small grove of trees that marked the beginning of the woods proper. The trees provided them shelter