Read Online Silent Kingdom by Rachel L. Schade - Free Book Online
Authors: Rachel L. Schade
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strongest, sharpest blades…claws like daggers…thick yellow fangs…
The voice echoed through my head, faint yet so close. My breath was stuck in my throat, and I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t stumble backwards, couldn’t even blink. The eyes were piercingly bright, burning back into mine and imprinting themselves in my mind, so that even when I finally managed to tear my gaze away, I still saw them looking back at me. Everywhere, behind every tree, every log, every bush—merciless golden orbs watched me.
Quiet…almost undetectable in the night but for their bright eyes…
It was going to charge me at any moment, and I couldn’t run. This time, I wouldn’t escape. I was going to die.
With a fierce shriek, like nothing I’d ever heard before, the eyes sprang forward—the creature was leaping toward me—I was trapped—it was too late—
My eyes opened to Lyanna and Rev’s guest room…my room. Lyanna still sat in her chair. She’d set the book down in her lap and was studying me, worry crinkling her brow.
“I hadn’t realized you’d fallen asleep…maybe we should stop. I don’t think reading about these beasts is helping your nightmares,” she finished firmly, plopping the book down on my nightstand.
Sitting up, I wanted to protest, wanted to tell her I needed to know more. What was that? I saw it!
“Maybe if I leave, you will sleep more restfully,” Lyanna continued.
I bit my tongue, swallowed back my words. Hesitantly, I tapped the book’s leather cover.
Her eyes followed mine, tracing the book’s title with trepidation. “Really…I don’t think…” Lyanna hesitated. “It’s not as if you’ll have to worry about the sedwa, as they are called. They are merely creatures of legend, an old tale some still like to share by the fireside to scare children, or perhaps a rumor the people of Evren began years ago to deter travelers from venturing this way. Our village has been safe; I’ve never even heard of one attacking anyone.” She shook her head. “I don’t see why you’d want to know more about these nightmarish things.”
Despite her words, she reseated herself with a sigh and picked up the book resignedly. Skimming through the pages, she paused midway through and cleared her throat. “There isn’t much more about them: Rarely seen by villagers, few accounts of the sedwa exist to give an accurate description. In fact, some insist that these creatures are purely the result of overactive imaginations. Only a few scattered attacks have been attributed to the sedwa, and then only because no other animals were identified as the predators and the victims’ descriptions of their predators matched those above.
“These beasts only attack if threatened or first pursued by humans, and they hunt alone. Once one of their kind is attacked or killed, the sedwa do not forget and continue to pursue humans until their bloodlust is quenched… This is certainly not the type of thing you will be learning about in school, once you’re well enough to attend.” She peered at me over the book’s edge. Returning to scanning the page, she finished, “It looks like that’s about all there is to read. I think it’s safe to say they don’t exist.”
I frowned, craning my neck to see the book and then reaching out to turn the page for her. The text continued, so I gave her a pointed look to say, The chapter continues…see? Why won’t you read it to me?
Lyanna cleared her throat uncomfortably. “Well…this book is old. There isn’t much talk of this these days…I am unsure if it’s because they are foolish tales founded in myth, or if the royal family has tried to block it all out of Misroth’s memory to try to protect us.”
My heart leapt with curiosity and anticipation, and I frowned, hoping my eyes looked pleading enough to convince her to continue. Please read. I need to know. I’m not too frightened.
She sighed, unable to resist. “If you really wish to hear…I suppose there’s
The voice echoed through my head, faint yet so close. My breath was stuck in my throat, and I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t stumble backwards, couldn’t even blink. The eyes were piercingly bright, burning back into mine and imprinting themselves in my mind, so that even when I finally managed to tear my gaze away, I still saw them looking back at me. Everywhere, behind every tree, every log, every bush—merciless golden orbs watched me.
Quiet…almost undetectable in the night but for their bright eyes…
It was going to charge me at any moment, and I couldn’t run. This time, I wouldn’t escape. I was going to die.
With a fierce shriek, like nothing I’d ever heard before, the eyes sprang forward—the creature was leaping toward me—I was trapped—it was too late—
My eyes opened to Lyanna and Rev’s guest room…my room. Lyanna still sat in her chair. She’d set the book down in her lap and was studying me, worry crinkling her brow.
“I hadn’t realized you’d fallen asleep…maybe we should stop. I don’t think reading about these beasts is helping your nightmares,” she finished firmly, plopping the book down on my nightstand.
Sitting up, I wanted to protest, wanted to tell her I needed to know more. What was that? I saw it!
“Maybe if I leave, you will sleep more restfully,” Lyanna continued.
I bit my tongue, swallowed back my words. Hesitantly, I tapped the book’s leather cover.
Her eyes followed mine, tracing the book’s title with trepidation. “Really…I don’t think…” Lyanna hesitated. “It’s not as if you’ll have to worry about the sedwa, as they are called. They are merely creatures of legend, an old tale some still like to share by the fireside to scare children, or perhaps a rumor the people of Evren began years ago to deter travelers from venturing this way. Our village has been safe; I’ve never even heard of one attacking anyone.” She shook her head. “I don’t see why you’d want to know more about these nightmarish things.”
Despite her words, she reseated herself with a sigh and picked up the book resignedly. Skimming through the pages, she paused midway through and cleared her throat. “There isn’t much more about them: Rarely seen by villagers, few accounts of the sedwa exist to give an accurate description. In fact, some insist that these creatures are purely the result of overactive imaginations. Only a few scattered attacks have been attributed to the sedwa, and then only because no other animals were identified as the predators and the victims’ descriptions of their predators matched those above.
“These beasts only attack if threatened or first pursued by humans, and they hunt alone. Once one of their kind is attacked or killed, the sedwa do not forget and continue to pursue humans until their bloodlust is quenched… This is certainly not the type of thing you will be learning about in school, once you’re well enough to attend.” She peered at me over the book’s edge. Returning to scanning the page, she finished, “It looks like that’s about all there is to read. I think it’s safe to say they don’t exist.”
I frowned, craning my neck to see the book and then reaching out to turn the page for her. The text continued, so I gave her a pointed look to say, The chapter continues…see? Why won’t you read it to me?
Lyanna cleared her throat uncomfortably. “Well…this book is old. There isn’t much talk of this these days…I am unsure if it’s because they are foolish tales founded in myth, or if the royal family has tried to block it all out of Misroth’s memory to try to protect us.”
My heart leapt with curiosity and anticipation, and I frowned, hoping my eyes looked pleading enough to convince her to continue. Please read. I need to know. I’m not too frightened.
She sighed, unable to resist. “If you really wish to hear…I suppose there’s
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