Read Online Jack Templar and the Monster Hunter Academy: The Templar Chronicles: Book 2 by Jeff Gunhus - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jeff Gunhus
Ads: Link
here to get answers.”
Aquinas turned toward me slowly, sizing me up with those crystal-clear blue eyes. “Everyone wants answers, young Templar. Unfortunately, there’s a shortage of them in this world,” she said.
“Where is my father?” I asked. “Is Ren Lucre still alive? What are the Jerusalem Stones?”
Aquinas shuffled close to me until we were standing face-to-face. She reached up with a shaking, gnarled hand and placed it carefully on my cheek. “You look so very much like him,” she whispered. “Is it too much to hope that your heart is like his as well? Tell me, what do you stand for?”
The directness of the question took me aback. Her hand cradled my face, holding it so that I couldn’t look away from her piercing eyes.
“What do you mean?” I muttered.
“What do you stand for!” she said, her voice deep and powerful. This was no longer a question, it was a command.
I searched for an answer but nothing came to me. I froze, suddenly terrified of this frail, old woman who seemed able to see right through me. She searched my face, then finally exhaled, smiled and patted my cheek. “The day you can answer that question is the day you will find your true power. Sleep, young one. Tomorrow your training begins.”
She took her hand away, turned her back and slowly walked toward the stone staircase in the back of the room. I stood there, stupidly, shocked by the sudden end to the conversation. Even though my hands trembled, I couldn’t believe that she was walking away from me. “That’s it?” I asked. “You’re not going to answer any of my questions?”
Aquinas hummed quietly to herself as she walked, clearly meaning to ignore me.
“But I came halfway around the world looking for answers.”
“Then, by all means, you must find them,” Aquinas said.
“I don’t understand. I came because Eva told me you had answers.”
She slowly climbed the stairs, whistling a tune as she did, her cane thumping heavily on each step. Finally, she disappeared into the room above.
I felt an overwhelming urge to follow her and demand that she tell me what she knew. But I felt Eva grab my elbow and pull me toward her. “Come on,” she whispered. “There will be time for answers later.”
Frustrated, I pulled my arm from her and marched out of the room and onto the balcony. The courtyard below was now empty except for the guards at the gate. Above, the winter storm had blown past and revealed a brilliant sky of bright stars. I pulled my cloak around me to ward off the chill and looked out of over the wall into the forest. A wolf’s howl rose up from the trees, haunting and beautiful.
Eva, Will and T-Rex came up and stood beside me, each of us lost in our own thoughts. Finally, it was Eva who broke the silence. “Aquinas practically raised me after Ren Lucre killed my family. Without her…” she held up her left arm with the missing hand, “I would have been a Ratling. She means the best.”
“Sorry, but it’s hard to see that right now,” I said. “I’m here to find out where my father is being held. Once I find that out, or if Aquinas can’t help me, I need to go look on my own.”
“Come on, I’ll show you to your room. You need to get a good night’s sleep. Even with the excitement tonight, the Academy is open for business at first light. You boys are going to need to be at the top of your game.”
We let her lead us down into the courtyard and into one of the wide barracks built into the side of the wall. Rows of bunk beds lined the room and the soft sounds of breathing filled the air. Eva pointed to two empty beds at the end of the room. “It’s not much, but it’ll be warm in here.”
“There are only two beds,” I said.
“Ratlings don’t sleep in the hunters’ dorm. I’ll show T-Rex to his bed,” she said.
“Where are you sleeping?” Will asked.
“Instructor’s lodging. Two buildings down,” she whispered. “I might not see you at first. Just follow the
Aquinas turned toward me slowly, sizing me up with those crystal-clear blue eyes. “Everyone wants answers, young Templar. Unfortunately, there’s a shortage of them in this world,” she said.
“Where is my father?” I asked. “Is Ren Lucre still alive? What are the Jerusalem Stones?”
Aquinas shuffled close to me until we were standing face-to-face. She reached up with a shaking, gnarled hand and placed it carefully on my cheek. “You look so very much like him,” she whispered. “Is it too much to hope that your heart is like his as well? Tell me, what do you stand for?”
The directness of the question took me aback. Her hand cradled my face, holding it so that I couldn’t look away from her piercing eyes.
“What do you mean?” I muttered.
“What do you stand for!” she said, her voice deep and powerful. This was no longer a question, it was a command.
I searched for an answer but nothing came to me. I froze, suddenly terrified of this frail, old woman who seemed able to see right through me. She searched my face, then finally exhaled, smiled and patted my cheek. “The day you can answer that question is the day you will find your true power. Sleep, young one. Tomorrow your training begins.”
She took her hand away, turned her back and slowly walked toward the stone staircase in the back of the room. I stood there, stupidly, shocked by the sudden end to the conversation. Even though my hands trembled, I couldn’t believe that she was walking away from me. “That’s it?” I asked. “You’re not going to answer any of my questions?”
Aquinas hummed quietly to herself as she walked, clearly meaning to ignore me.
“But I came halfway around the world looking for answers.”
“Then, by all means, you must find them,” Aquinas said.
“I don’t understand. I came because Eva told me you had answers.”
She slowly climbed the stairs, whistling a tune as she did, her cane thumping heavily on each step. Finally, she disappeared into the room above.
I felt an overwhelming urge to follow her and demand that she tell me what she knew. But I felt Eva grab my elbow and pull me toward her. “Come on,” she whispered. “There will be time for answers later.”
Frustrated, I pulled my arm from her and marched out of the room and onto the balcony. The courtyard below was now empty except for the guards at the gate. Above, the winter storm had blown past and revealed a brilliant sky of bright stars. I pulled my cloak around me to ward off the chill and looked out of over the wall into the forest. A wolf’s howl rose up from the trees, haunting and beautiful.
Eva, Will and T-Rex came up and stood beside me, each of us lost in our own thoughts. Finally, it was Eva who broke the silence. “Aquinas practically raised me after Ren Lucre killed my family. Without her…” she held up her left arm with the missing hand, “I would have been a Ratling. She means the best.”
“Sorry, but it’s hard to see that right now,” I said. “I’m here to find out where my father is being held. Once I find that out, or if Aquinas can’t help me, I need to go look on my own.”
“Come on, I’ll show you to your room. You need to get a good night’s sleep. Even with the excitement tonight, the Academy is open for business at first light. You boys are going to need to be at the top of your game.”
We let her lead us down into the courtyard and into one of the wide barracks built into the side of the wall. Rows of bunk beds lined the room and the soft sounds of breathing filled the air. Eva pointed to two empty beds at the end of the room. “It’s not much, but it’ll be warm in here.”
“There are only two beds,” I said.
“Ratlings don’t sleep in the hunters’ dorm. I’ll show T-Rex to his bed,” she said.
“Where are you sleeping?” Will asked.
“Instructor’s lodging. Two buildings down,” she whispered. “I might not see you at first. Just follow the
Similar Books
