Read Online The Balborite Curse (Book 4) by Kristian Alva - Free Book Online

one.” His voice was laced with disdain as he threw the pipe on the ground between them. Endrell snatched it up gleefully and reached out again for the smokeleaf. But Sela didn’t offer him the pouch as she had before. Instead, she reached over and removed the old pipe from Endrell’s hand. Then she grabbed the tiniest pinch of smokeleaf, not even enough to fill the bowl. She filled the pipe slowly, methodically. And instead of using a firestick, she lit the bowl with a tap of her finger. “Incêndio,” she whispered, and a spark flared up.
    Endrell gasped. “Ye’re a sorceress?” Finally, he understood who was before him.
    “More than that,” she said, folding back her lapel to expose her neckline and the carved dragon stone that hung there, glinting in the light.
    Endrell’s eyes rounded. “Ye’re Sela? The dragon-rider witch?”
    “Yes. I am she.” The smile never left her lips, but now her voice was like ice. The light in the room seemed to dim, and she leaned back in her chair, her face a shadowy mask.
    “W-what are you goin’ to do to me?” he whispered.
    Sela ignored the question. “Where do you hail from, Endrell?”
    “I’m from… up north,” he sputtered, flushing deeply.
    “Up north, eh? That’s odd… especially since you seem to know so much about the smoking habits of Starryford’s mayor.” Her voiced lowered menacingly. “Are you absolutely sure of that? ”
    Endrell’s voice trembled. “Ye don’t understand… I can’t tell ye nothin’! I can’t! I can’t!” he cried. “They’ll kill my whole family. I know they will!”
    Sela glanced over her shoulder at Tallin, and he nodded imperceptibly. “Endrell, I realize you’re afraid, but you must tell me what you know. There are other lives at stake here, and I will extract the truth from you, whether you cooperate or not. If you force me to use magical questioning, I can guarantee that you will suffer a great deal. ” She spread her hands, waiting for a response. “The choice is yours.”
    Endrell slumped back against the wall. “I guess it doesn’t matter—I’m dead anyway. I’ll tell ye what I know. But ye have to promise me one thing first. Ye must save my wife and son. Druknor has spies everywhere, and I’m sure he knows I was captured. My wife and son are probably at Hwīt Rock. That’s where the outlanders take all their bounties. They hold their captured fugitives there. I need ye to go get them—ye must save them.”
    “Perhaps,” said Sela. “Once we hear what you have to say.”
    “No!” Endrell shouted, “Ye must promise beforehand! They need safe harbor!”
    “You are in no position to make demands!” she said angrily.
    “My wife and son are innocent!” he barked, neck veins bulging. “Neither of ‘em is involved in this mess! I don’t care what ye do to me, but you’ve got to save ‘em, or I ain’t tellin’ ye nothin, ye can do what ye will!” He sat back, his fists clenched in his lap.
    Sela frowned. “All right,” she agreed, nodding slowly. “I’ll help them if I can.”
    “Take the oath. I want to hear it with my own ears. My son’s name is Marron and my wife’s name is Pinda.”
    Sela sighed. “Fine.” She reached up and touched the dragon stone at her throat. “On my honor, by my stone, I swear to help your wife and son, Marron and Pinda.” A glowing spark flared up. “Satisfied?”
    Endrell nodded and sat back. “What did ye want t’ know?”
    “Who hired you?” asked Sela.
    “Druknor. He handed me the money ‘isself.”
    “Druknor Theoric? The constable of Sut-Burr?” she asked, somewhat surprised. She knew about Druknor. He was a bit of a crook, but he had never given them any major problems.
    “Yep, that’s him. He paid me to carry the vial through the Deaths Sands and into Parthos.”
    “I haven’t heard anything from Druknor in years. Why would he risk his position smuggling something so dangerous?”
    Endrell shrugged. “There must ‘ave been some