Read Online Legends of the Saloli: Vengeance and Mercy by Adam Bolander - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Adam Bolander
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Mask.
“How did he describe them?” Blaze asked.
“He said that one was completely white, and had blood red eyes. The other was gray, but had a black patch of fur along her eyes.”
“Specter and Mask,” Blaze said, confirming his suspicions.
“Friends of yours?” Rust inquired.
“Hardly. They’re the two leaders of NoTribe.”
“I’m having the patrol that caught them bring them in for questioning. Is there anything I should know?”
“Nothing I can think of.”
It was at that moment that a patrol of ten saloli came into Icefire’s camp, circled around the two outsiders. Rust walked over to get a closer look at the two unusual saloli, “Did they put up a fight?” he asked.
“No sir, they came quietly. They said they wanted to speak to Blaze.”
Blaze came forward, “Well, here I am, Specter. What do you want?”
“I’ve come to collect your debt, Blaze.” Specter said, casually.
“Debt?” Rust repeated, “What is he talking about?” Too late, Blaze remembered the agreement he’d been forced to make to Specter and Mask before leaving.
“They saved my life once. Now I owe them a debt.”
Rust turned to face the intruders, “What is it that he owes you?”
“Anything I want.” Specter replied, smiling malevolently.
Eyeing the outsiders suspiciously, Rust said, “Very well, what is it that you want?”
Blaze wasn’t very worried about this. Specter would probably demand food, something that Icefire was not yet in short supply of. Things would work out fine.
“I want a son,” Specter answered.
Rusts’ eyes widened in disbelief, “What?” he demanded.
“I want a son,” Specter repeated, “I’ve been thinking. It would be nice to have someone to take my place as chief of NoTribe after I’m gone. I want a son for that reason, which means. . .” He paused dramatically, “I’ll need a mate.”
“Why don’t you choose one of your outsiders to mate with?” Rust challenged him.
Specter shrugged, “None of them strike my interest.”
“What about her?” Rust motioned towards his companion.
“Mask? She’s far too aggressive to be a mother. No, I will choose one of your saloli, and you will give her to me.”
Without another word, Specter’s eyes began to travel around the assembled saloli. To Blaze’s horror, they came to rest on Sunbeam.
“I think you will do fine, my dear,” He said, smiling in a cruel manner and taking a step towards her. Without thinking, Blaze dashed forward to stand between the two.
“You will not touch her!” He yelled, baring his claws threateningly.
Specter’s eyes flashed with anger, and then went neutral again, “I don’t think you’re in any position to refuse me, Blaze.”
“I don’t care. If you touch Sunbeam, I’ll kill you!”
“But your debt. . .”
“I don’t care!” Blaze said again, “I’ll fight you if I have to, but you will not have her!”
“We all will,” Rust agreed. “You will not take anyone from our tribe to use as a slave.”
Specter gazed around the tribe, as if weighing his options, “From what I understand,” he said, turning to Rust “You are already in a war. Do you think you can handle being in two?” Rust’s eyes widened in shock. “My tribe is large enough to slaughter yours without breaking a sweat. Give me that saloli, or you will all die.”
Rust’s mouth fell open at Specter’s words. Blaze felt himself go numb. A war against NoTribe? Rust had never seen it, but Blaze had. Specter was telling the truth, NoTribe’s numbers clearly outmatched any single tribe’s. Blaze wouldn’t have been surprised to learn that they outnumbered all four tribes at once. Icefire was strong and well trained, but they simply could not win against such impossible odds. But to give up Sunbeam would almost be just as bad.
“Give me that saloli, and
“How did he describe them?” Blaze asked.
“He said that one was completely white, and had blood red eyes. The other was gray, but had a black patch of fur along her eyes.”
“Specter and Mask,” Blaze said, confirming his suspicions.
“Friends of yours?” Rust inquired.
“Hardly. They’re the two leaders of NoTribe.”
“I’m having the patrol that caught them bring them in for questioning. Is there anything I should know?”
“Nothing I can think of.”
It was at that moment that a patrol of ten saloli came into Icefire’s camp, circled around the two outsiders. Rust walked over to get a closer look at the two unusual saloli, “Did they put up a fight?” he asked.
“No sir, they came quietly. They said they wanted to speak to Blaze.”
Blaze came forward, “Well, here I am, Specter. What do you want?”
“I’ve come to collect your debt, Blaze.” Specter said, casually.
“Debt?” Rust repeated, “What is he talking about?” Too late, Blaze remembered the agreement he’d been forced to make to Specter and Mask before leaving.
“They saved my life once. Now I owe them a debt.”
Rust turned to face the intruders, “What is it that he owes you?”
“Anything I want.” Specter replied, smiling malevolently.
Eyeing the outsiders suspiciously, Rust said, “Very well, what is it that you want?”
Blaze wasn’t very worried about this. Specter would probably demand food, something that Icefire was not yet in short supply of. Things would work out fine.
“I want a son,” Specter answered.
Rusts’ eyes widened in disbelief, “What?” he demanded.
“I want a son,” Specter repeated, “I’ve been thinking. It would be nice to have someone to take my place as chief of NoTribe after I’m gone. I want a son for that reason, which means. . .” He paused dramatically, “I’ll need a mate.”
“Why don’t you choose one of your outsiders to mate with?” Rust challenged him.
Specter shrugged, “None of them strike my interest.”
“What about her?” Rust motioned towards his companion.
“Mask? She’s far too aggressive to be a mother. No, I will choose one of your saloli, and you will give her to me.”
Without another word, Specter’s eyes began to travel around the assembled saloli. To Blaze’s horror, they came to rest on Sunbeam.
“I think you will do fine, my dear,” He said, smiling in a cruel manner and taking a step towards her. Without thinking, Blaze dashed forward to stand between the two.
“You will not touch her!” He yelled, baring his claws threateningly.
Specter’s eyes flashed with anger, and then went neutral again, “I don’t think you’re in any position to refuse me, Blaze.”
“I don’t care. If you touch Sunbeam, I’ll kill you!”
“But your debt. . .”
“I don’t care!” Blaze said again, “I’ll fight you if I have to, but you will not have her!”
“We all will,” Rust agreed. “You will not take anyone from our tribe to use as a slave.”
Specter gazed around the tribe, as if weighing his options, “From what I understand,” he said, turning to Rust “You are already in a war. Do you think you can handle being in two?” Rust’s eyes widened in shock. “My tribe is large enough to slaughter yours without breaking a sweat. Give me that saloli, or you will all die.”
Rust’s mouth fell open at Specter’s words. Blaze felt himself go numb. A war against NoTribe? Rust had never seen it, but Blaze had. Specter was telling the truth, NoTribe’s numbers clearly outmatched any single tribe’s. Blaze wouldn’t have been surprised to learn that they outnumbered all four tribes at once. Icefire was strong and well trained, but they simply could not win against such impossible odds. But to give up Sunbeam would almost be just as bad.
“Give me that saloli, and
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