Read Online The Forbidden Library by David Alastair Hayden - Free Book Online Page B

still go free … my choice.”
    Iniru took his face in her hands. He stared into her deep amber eyes with their slitted pupils. “You must choose Shoma.”
    “I know that, Niru.”
    “I know you know that,” Iniru replied. “But I don’t want you to feel bad because you didn’t pick me.”
    “I love you,” he blurted out. His cheeks reddened.
    She patted his cheeks. “I know that.”
    “I know you know that,” he stuttered in a poor attempt to be clever.
    As they shuffled out, Enashoma tugged on Turesobei’s sleeve. “I’m a bad choice. Iniru can survive in this place. I can’t. I’m not cut out for it.”
    “The goronku, the people who brought me here, who gave me the clothes, they’re good people. They would take care of you.”
    Nodding toward Narbenu and Kemsu who walked ahead of them, Zaiporo whispered, “If they’re good people, why aren’t they fighting to free us?”
    “War would break out between the reitsu and goronku, all through the region, and the last time these two peoples fought they nearly destroyed one another.”
    “I could fight these reitsu, master,” said Motekeru. “And you and the others could make a run for it.”
    “I made a deal, Motekeru. I will fight their champion.”
    “They cannot defeat me, master.”
    “They were bringing out a weapon they believe will harm you. Trust me, it will be best this way. Besides, I won’t lose.”
    “Have you seen how fast they are?” Iniru said with worry. “You sure you know what you’re doing?”
    “I’m certain,” he replied.
    Motekeru rumbled, glaring at Lady Umora. “I do not think the reitsu will honor their bargain with you.”
    Joining them, War Chief Sudorga said, “The goronku will see to it that the bargain is kept.”
    Reitsu and goronku, eyeing one another nervously, gathered in the village commons, forming a circle. Along with the reitsu guarding them, Turesobei and his companions followed Sudorga and Umora into the middle of the circle. 
    “How did you break your arm?” Shoma asked.
    “When I crashed,” he murmured. “Took all I could do to stop being the dragon. When I did, I was in mid-flight.”
    “Why haven’t you healed it?”
    “I don’t have the strength yet. My spirit’s too depleted. All I’ve got is storm energy, and I don’t dare tap it.”
    “And you think you can win?” Iniru said.
    “Only other thing to do is to let the reitsu and Motekeru fight it out and hope he beats them all while we run away. And I don’t think we’d make it far. We’re not in good shape and this land is inhospitable. And while I don’t like the reitsu, I don’t want to kill them all.”
    Shoma shrugged and Zaiporo said, “You didn’t have them attack you when you sought shelter. You didn’t have them pin you and try to … I don’t know what it was they tried on me. But it was like —”
    “All the warmth inside you began to drain away?” Turesobei asked.
    “How’d you know?” Iniru asked.
    “Because that’s what they do,” he replied. “That’s how they feed.”
    Enashoma shivered. “That’s … that’s sick. I hate this place.”
    The reitsu in the circle remained eerily silent as Lady Umora explained the bargain. “Choose the one who goes free when you lose, Chonda Turesobei.”
    He placed his good arm around Enashoma. “My sister, Enashoma, goes free no matter the outcome.”
    “So be it,” Lady Umora proclaimed. She pointed to Enashoma. “This one goes free no matter what. We will do no harm to her, now or ever.”
    The goronku brought blankets out for Turesobei’s companions. Iniru and Zaiporo eagerly wrapped themselves up. Enashoma had Turesobei’s coat, but she still took a blanket and wrapped it around her legs.
    “They won’t need those for long,” Lady Umora told War Chief Sudorga.
    “They should be comfortable while they can,” he said. “You wouldn’t want them to lose too much warmth, would you?”
    She licked her lips. “You make a good point. Chonda