Read Online Jack Templar and the Monster Hunter Academy: The Templar Chronicles: Book 2 by Jeff Gunhus - Free Book Online

tumbling down a flight of stairs. They came from his father. Getting away to come to the Academy had been the best possible thing for him. Now, only minutes after arriving, he found himself about to be sent home.
    “I won’t go,” he declared firmly.
    Aquinas raised an eyebrow and studied him. “What did you just say?”
    “I said I won’t go. You’re going to have to drag me out of here and it’s going to take more than a few people to do it. And I don’t care if you take me all the way back to America. The second I’m free, I’ll start my way back here. And when I get here I’ll just climb right over that wall and do it all over again.”
    “Just words,” Aquinas hummed. “Easily said, but harder to do.”
    “Send me home and you’ll see that I’m telling the truth,” Will said, tears welling in his eyes now. “I swear on my life that I will just keep coming back until you let me stay.”
    Aquinas looked at Eva, who couldn’t help but crack a smile. “You were right, Eva,” Aquinas said. “He is a feisty one. And you vouch for him?”
    Eva looked Will over and then nodded. “I do. I vouch for him.” 
    Aquinas lifted her walking stick up and poked Will in the chest with it gently. “If you stay, you will follow every command given to you. You will do exactly as you are told, exactly when you are told to do it. You’re loyalty is to the Black Guard if you stay. Nothing else. Do we have an understanding?”
    Will beamed with excitement. “Yes, of course. Thank you. I won’t let you down. I promise.” He acknowledged Eva with a nod of the head.
    “Yes, yes, we’ll see about that,” Aquinas said. “And what to do with this one?” she asked herself, sizing up T-Rex, who immediately stuck a finger in his nose. She knocked his hand away with her cane and then poked his belly with it. She shook her head disapprovingly. “What to do, indeed.”
    “Begging your pardon, ma’am,” T-Rex said nervously. “But Eva told me there might be a fit for me in the kitchens. A Ratling, she called it.”
    Aquinas arched an eyebrow. “A Ratling? This is for hunters who cannot complete their training, either because of an injury or because they lack the courage.”
    “Oh yes, that’s perfect,” T-Rex said eagerly.
    “It means not being a hunter and not going out to fight the monsters,” Aquinas said.
    “That sounds great!” T-Rex exclaimed before catching himself. He looked at Will and me. “Not that I don’t want to fight…it’s just…you know…”
    “You’d just rather be around the food,” Will said.
    “Exactly,” T-Rex said.
    Aquinas broke out into a wide smile and placed a hand on T-Rex’s shoulder. “Then so you shall. There is a bell in the central courtyard. In the morning, you will go to it and ring it three times. Only three times, mind you. Any hunter who wishes to stop his or her training may ring the bell at any time. Afterward, you will see Bacho and he will train you.”
    “Three times. Got it,” T-Rex said.
    “Only three,” Aquinas said, her voice laced with warning. “Make certain of it.”
    “What happens if he rings it more than three times?” Will asked.
    “The Trial of the Cave,” Eva said. “It is…”
    “…quite a long story,” Aquinas interjected. “And the hour is late, Eva. Wouldn’t you agree?”
    Eva nodded and fell silent. If she was trying to stop us from wanting to find out what the Trial of the Cave was, she had just done the opposite. I made a mental note to ask Eva at the first chance.
    Master Aquinas turned to me and I felt a small burst of adrenaline. While I was happy that both Will and T-Rex were being allowed to stay, I found myself battling a rising anger as I stood waiting for Aquinas to address me. I reminded myself that Aquinas had used me as bait for Ren Lucre. A dangerous game that resulted in the death of both my Aunt Sophie and Hester.
    “This is all well and good,” I said, unable to hide the anger in my voice, “but I came