Read Online The Guardians (Book 2) by Dan O'Sullivan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Dan O'Sullivan
Ads: Link
‘Go on then guardian. Tell them the message.’
‘ How did you know I’m a guardian,’ Louisa whispered curiously.
‘ You crushed your mug almost in half when Simon dropped his,’ Ethan explained. ‘Now tell them please.’
Louisa glanced down at her crumpled mug in surprise and then blushed as she looked up at the crowd who were waiting expectantly for her to speak. ‘Colonel Mulgrew said to send reinforcements,’ she said, looking intently around at the faces in the room.
There was complete silence for a few seconds then everyone began to speak at once.
‘Stop! Quiet! Please!’ Neither Ethan’s nor Simon’s shouts made any difference in lowering the volume of the voices. There was a piercing whistle from the tavern master and hands flew over ears. Everyone became quiet and waited for Ethan to speak.
‘ If you are willing to come with me,’ he said quickly, ‘arm yourselves and we’ll meet back here in ten minutes. If you can’t come, I will remind you that Colonel Mulgrew would not have sent this message without necessity. Make sure your families are safe.’
‘ And just how do we keep our families safe if we aren’t here, Ethan?’ complained a tall thin man with a dark angry looking face.
‘ Bert, we’ve discussed this so many times I weary of your stupidity. You are supposed to have a plan in place for your family if ever we are threatened by the fallen. You are supposed to have chosen someone to defend them, someone who can handle weapons.’ He turned his back on Bert, ignoring his indignant look. The people rushed from the tavern and disappeared into the street, leaving Louisa standing in the corner with Ethan.
‘ I’ll be back in a few minutes, guardian,’ he said and he ran through the door and turned towards his home. Louisa found she was the only person who remained. Even the tavern master had disappeared. She sat down on one of the stools and waited patiently.
Chapter 8
The Nest
Dale moved stealthily through the tunnel under the street until he came to the door leading into the warehouse. He reached up and took the handle and turned it gently, moving it slowly and just enough to open the door. He mentally cursed when the door creaked as it opened. He crouched and pushed against the huge sack of flour at the bottom of the neatly stacked goods. It refused to move so Dale braced himself against the wall and pushed against the sack with his feet. Still nothing happened and he knew that he was going to have to climb the pile of supplies. Using the stack of goods and the wall for support, he gradually pushed himself upwards until he could see into the warehouse. There was no-one in sight so he dragged himself over the bags and crates and began to climb towards the floor. There was an incredible crash as the pile gave way. Dale stifled a shout as he landed awkwardly on the floor, bursting a bag of flour and smashing several clay jars of oil which splashed over his entire body. He grimaced as he saw that the black clothing and the dark cloak and hood he had chosen for his venture were now covered in white flour. He began to beat his clothing with his hands to remove the flour that was gripping the oil. He stopped for a second and frowned. For a moment he was sure he had heard someone laugh. He waited, straining his ears. There was a movement in a corner of the warehouse and a rat scuttled across the floor and disappeared between broken boards. Dale relaxed. He moved noiselessly from the warehouse and circled around the castle, following the outer curtain wall.
‘ Enri?’ he called, looking up to the top of the wall, and Enri’s head appeared between the merlons.
‘ Head’s up!’ Enri’s voice said cheerfully. A pack suspended on a length of rope appeared over the edge of the wall and descended towards Dale. Dale quickly untied it and gave the rope a sharp tug. The rope disappeared and then reappeared a moment later tied to blanket containing a bow with a full quiver and
‘ How did you know I’m a guardian,’ Louisa whispered curiously.
‘ You crushed your mug almost in half when Simon dropped his,’ Ethan explained. ‘Now tell them please.’
Louisa glanced down at her crumpled mug in surprise and then blushed as she looked up at the crowd who were waiting expectantly for her to speak. ‘Colonel Mulgrew said to send reinforcements,’ she said, looking intently around at the faces in the room.
There was complete silence for a few seconds then everyone began to speak at once.
‘Stop! Quiet! Please!’ Neither Ethan’s nor Simon’s shouts made any difference in lowering the volume of the voices. There was a piercing whistle from the tavern master and hands flew over ears. Everyone became quiet and waited for Ethan to speak.
‘ If you are willing to come with me,’ he said quickly, ‘arm yourselves and we’ll meet back here in ten minutes. If you can’t come, I will remind you that Colonel Mulgrew would not have sent this message without necessity. Make sure your families are safe.’
‘ And just how do we keep our families safe if we aren’t here, Ethan?’ complained a tall thin man with a dark angry looking face.
‘ Bert, we’ve discussed this so many times I weary of your stupidity. You are supposed to have a plan in place for your family if ever we are threatened by the fallen. You are supposed to have chosen someone to defend them, someone who can handle weapons.’ He turned his back on Bert, ignoring his indignant look. The people rushed from the tavern and disappeared into the street, leaving Louisa standing in the corner with Ethan.
‘ I’ll be back in a few minutes, guardian,’ he said and he ran through the door and turned towards his home. Louisa found she was the only person who remained. Even the tavern master had disappeared. She sat down on one of the stools and waited patiently.
Chapter 8
The Nest
Dale moved stealthily through the tunnel under the street until he came to the door leading into the warehouse. He reached up and took the handle and turned it gently, moving it slowly and just enough to open the door. He mentally cursed when the door creaked as it opened. He crouched and pushed against the huge sack of flour at the bottom of the neatly stacked goods. It refused to move so Dale braced himself against the wall and pushed against the sack with his feet. Still nothing happened and he knew that he was going to have to climb the pile of supplies. Using the stack of goods and the wall for support, he gradually pushed himself upwards until he could see into the warehouse. There was no-one in sight so he dragged himself over the bags and crates and began to climb towards the floor. There was an incredible crash as the pile gave way. Dale stifled a shout as he landed awkwardly on the floor, bursting a bag of flour and smashing several clay jars of oil which splashed over his entire body. He grimaced as he saw that the black clothing and the dark cloak and hood he had chosen for his venture were now covered in white flour. He began to beat his clothing with his hands to remove the flour that was gripping the oil. He stopped for a second and frowned. For a moment he was sure he had heard someone laugh. He waited, straining his ears. There was a movement in a corner of the warehouse and a rat scuttled across the floor and disappeared between broken boards. Dale relaxed. He moved noiselessly from the warehouse and circled around the castle, following the outer curtain wall.
‘ Enri?’ he called, looking up to the top of the wall, and Enri’s head appeared between the merlons.
‘ Head’s up!’ Enri’s voice said cheerfully. A pack suspended on a length of rope appeared over the edge of the wall and descended towards Dale. Dale quickly untied it and gave the rope a sharp tug. The rope disappeared and then reappeared a moment later tied to blanket containing a bow with a full quiver and
Similar Books
