Read Online Shine Light by Marianne de Pierres - Free Book Online

everything rolled up into one. Without spirit we die.’
    Naif thought quickly. Suki’s explanation made sense. The Elders had used their explanation as another way of controlling their people.
    ‘If Tanel was consuming your spirit, how is it you are still . . . you?’
    ‘Am I?’ said Suki. A hint of hysteria had crept into her voice. ‘That frossin’ Riper put his mouth to me. Stra’ knows what poison is inside me now.’
    ‘Did you get Schel to bathe your hand?’
    Suki glared at her fiercely. ‘No one must know. You swore.’
    ‘But it could be making you sick.’
    ‘Eve will keep me from the fight –’ Suki broke off suddenly.
    ‘What fight? Suki? Tell me! All those weapons. What’s Eve planning?’
    Suki shook her head. ‘Best you don’t know.’
    ‘Don’t treat me like that!’ Naif said in sudden fury. ‘I’m not a frossin’ child.’
    Suki leaned back on her heels against the rock wall and laughed. ‘My Naif has grown teeth. Perhaps Eve will let you join the League yet.’
    Naif tossed her head and parted the creeper to look out. The scent of the moonflowers overwhelmed her; so sweetly pungent. Clash and the others were climbing towards them. Clash held Charlonge’s hand and several torches, while behind them Brenny, Liam and Jarrold each carried books.
    Naif went to step out to call to them but Suki held her back.
    ‘What?’
    ‘Look,’ said Suki.
    As the group reached the halfway point, a shadow glided along the tier below Clash and the others.
    Naif went to shout a warning but Suki clapped her healthy hand across Naif’s mouth.
    ‘Not yet!’
    Naif resisted her instinct to call Lenoir for help. What was Suki waiting for?
    They were only a few tiers from the top when Suki took her fingers from Naif’s lips. She quickly unhooked some rope from her belt. ‘I want you to step into the open when I say. Call to them. When the Riper comes, I’ll rope it.’
    ‘A rope won’t hold a Riper,’ said Naif quickly.
    ‘This one will,’ said Suki. ‘I know. Now call to Charlonge.’
    Naif stepped into the open and shouted. ‘Charlonge, Clash, quick. A Riper stalks you.’
    Clash reacted instantly, pushing Charlonge ahead and whipping the sword from his belt. He stepped lightly around Jarrold and Liam, barking at them to hurry on. Brenny piled his books onto Jarrold and followed Clash’s lead. He lifted a club from the holster on his shoulder.
    ‘No!’ whispered Suki angrily. ‘Why must they always do that? The direct fight is not always the smart fight. Tell them to get up here.’
    ‘Clash, leave him! Come. Please! ’
    The Riper halted a few arm’s lengths away, eyeing Clash and Brenny close by and the others who were escaping. Naif could see it trying to decide which prey to pursue.
    ‘It’s a rogue!’ Clash cried. He charged forward with his sword but the Riper shifted position in an eye-blink, dodging him easily. Brenny followed quickly and caught the Riper with a glancing blow.
    The attack angered the creature and in another blur of movement it slashed Brenny across the neck. The boy toppled forward and fell awkwardly.
    Clash bellowed in fury, stabbing again and again.
    But the Riper leapt upwards, chasing the three fleeing quarries, and Clash’s blow sliced empty air. Naif’s brother spun and fell to his knees, scooping Brenny in his arms.
    Suki sprang from behind the curtain of creeper. ‘Call them over here, close as you can. Tell them there’s a way out,’ she instructed Naif.
    ‘Here! There’s a way out!’ Naif beckoned frantically into the moonlit Grotto, stepping back and up towards Suki as she did.
    Liam reached them first, his tentacles wound around a load of books. Jarrold lagged behind, slowed by the extra burden of Brenny’s load, and the fact he kept pausing to urge Charlonge on. Char was glancing over her shoulder at Clash.
    ‘Char!’ shrieked Naif. ‘Don’t look back. Hurry!’
    ‘Naif, get in here too!’ called Suki.
    ‘Not yet! Char!