Read Online Storm of Prophecy: Book 1, Dark Awakening by Michael Von Werner, Felix Diroma - Free Book Online

have seen but didn’t say so. He also couldn’t be sure it was true either. They had been untrustworthy and unreliable in the past, and his desire for such information on the strange happenings could be clouding his judgment.
    “I’m sick to death of their excuses,” Master Clemens continued irately, “being boys doesn’t excuse them. They’re fifteen and sixteen years old, and it’s time they started acting like men. I told them that I’m going to randomly drop by to see if they are still standing guard. If one of them isn’t when he’s supposed to be, I’m going to put in a request before the rest of the council that he be expelled from the academy. I think they got my drift and will serve well or not at all.”
    “I’m sure they will.” The master crafter stared at him without saying anything. Vincent blinked and stammered, “…perform their duty, I mean.”
    His supervisor stood up straight and took a breath to calm his frustration. “I hope that you recover soon in case they don’t. Then I’ll at least have you to protect the vault.” He held his hand out for Vincent to shake once more, and Vincent took it without hesitation. He was surprised to find it more gentle this time. “I’m supposed to be teaching a class right now, and I’m afraid I must leave. Take care.” Vincent nodded to him and then he left.
    With the master crafter gone, his friends approached the rest of the way to share a few words. He was sure they had heard everything. Stacy looked preoccupied and anxious to leave, which wasn’t unusual with how busy she was. The fact that she came at all was a nice courtesy and not one that many others of her stature would dare pay to one as low as him. In fact, most who shared her rank had no respect for him at all.
    Karl looked mildly pleased, and Rick looked alive, awake, and alert as always. Since Stacy seemed most eager to be off, she said her peace first. “Well done, Vincent. I’m sure it was quite an ordeal. I’d stay but I’m needed in an advanced class with Master Anthony, which he’s heading back toward right now. Try to get better soon. We all appreciate what you’ve done for us.”
    “Thanks for coming,” Vincent acknowledged. She gave a quick, polite smile as she backed away and walked quickly to catch up with Master Anthony down the hall. Rick and Karl watched her leave briefly before returning their attention to Vincent.
    “She has a skill for using few words when she needs to,” Karl noted.
    Vincent nodded. “It was still a nice gesture though. From all of you.”
    Rick couldn’t contain his flippant tongue. “You’d think that with all the words our illustrious Grandmaster uses, he wouldn’t have left out the most crucial thing you did for us.” Vincent felt slightly puzzled. Though Rick lowered his voice, his enthusiasm was undiminished, nor was his emphasis on certain words. “He never mentioned how without you, we would have never even known that they were here.”
    “I’m not sure what you mean,” Karl said. “I thought you raised the alarm.”
    Rick’s teeth were showing with a devilish grin beneath his red handlebar mustache as he turned to look at him. “After I got off of guard duty myself, I was about to go talk to Vincent before I went to bed, and that’s when I ran into those bastards. One of them had both of his legs showing, not much mind you, but they kept appearing and disappearing in certain spots. That’s how I was able to catch him in the hall. And boy was he sorry.” Vincent looked down, feeling disinterested in this part of the conversation. He wasn’t fond of killing, even if it was necessary, and knew that Rick’s attack could have only been just as gruesome.
    “Why were his legs not fully covered by the seal?” Karl asked next.
    “I don’t know. I saw some blood dripping on the floor, and I’m sure Vincent had something to do with it. Too bad the other one was such a slippery little cuss, otherwise I would have had him