Read Online The Trials Of Ashbarn ( Book 5) by Jeff Gunzel - Free Book Online
Authors: Jeff Gunzel
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by the doorway inhaled sharply when a large hand wrapped across his neck. “Looking for someone?” Eric whispered in his ear. His shrill screech quickly became a sickly gurgle as the fiery blade worked through his back and out the front of his chest. Eric turned and drove the corpse through the door. It exploded into a bloom of wood chips, the dead man skidding into the street.
Seeing the target ’s back, the remaining two rushed him. But when Eric turned, they stopped cold. This was the first time they had gotten a good look at the proposed target, who was large and muscular, with long, curly, brown hair that hung over his face. He possessed a face they couldn’t quite see, bordered in shadow from the subtle light coming through the broken doorway. Yellow eyes glowed through the curtain of brown hair. The man was gripping a jeweled blade pulsing with fire from hilt to tip. The assassins froze in place, petrified at the supernatural sight.
“Did you think it would be so easy?” Eric hissed. “Well, here I am. Which one of you wants the glory?” The distinct smell of burned flesh filled the room as his fizzling sword steamed with dry blood. “Who sent you?” There was the sound of a quick skirmish just outside, followed by calls for backup. Eric ignored the commotion, calmly waiting for an answer to his question.
Soldiers began to filter in from outside. Some quickly walled off the Shantie Rhoe with their bodies, even though it was clear he was in no danger at all. The others surrounded the assassins, spear tips pushing at their necks. “Take them alive,” said Eric calmly. “I’ll be having words with them soon enough.”
Chapter 4
“We cannot continue taking such risks,” said Kelus, driving a fist into his open hand. “Double—no, triple the guard from now on.” The usually calm chieftain was more than a bit rattled. “How did they ever get so close to him?”
“And do we even know who they is?” said Wara, her sharp green eyes burning like emeralds. Her yellow dress drooped loosely below her shoulders, as if the fabric were wet. Several gold hoops ran up and down her thin, boney arms, so many it seemed impossible they wouldn’t burden her frail body. Yet the old woman moved about with an unnerving grace, a sort of finesse no one that age should still possess. “Have you learned anything new about the attackers? We must gain some understanding of their motives.”
Kelus walked across the bearskin rug and stood before one of the tan canvas pictures strung to the wall. Although he’d seen them many times before, he looked on, pretending to admire them. “The interrogation is already underway,” he said, never lifting his gaze from the wall. “We’ll have some answers soon enough.”
“We have our answers now , sir.” The curtain of colored beads scattered to the side. In walked a burly soldier with black tattoos running up and down his bare arms. “At least, we know more than before.” Despite the apparent good news, the man did not look particularly pleased. With a solemn expression, he pulled a red-stained white cloth from inside his vest, then snapped the wrapping like a whip, sending a small flap of skin to the floor. “They all have the mark, I’m afraid,” he said, staring down at the chunk of flesh. In a flash he was gone, beads clicking against each other in the doorway.
Kelus sighed as he picked up the fresh, wet strip. He held it up and pulled it tight, revealing a tattoo of a blue rose floating in a cloud of white smoke. “They won’t talk,” said the twins, voices dry and emotionless. Their bald heads bobbed down and then up with a cracking sound.
“ I don’t believe what I’m seeing,” said Wara. She nervously ran her slender fingers through her long, white hair. “I’m afraid Eric has made some powerful enemies. And no, there is no chance they’re going to talk.”
“That has yet to be seen ,” said Eric, slapping back the stringed beads and entering the
Seeing the target ’s back, the remaining two rushed him. But when Eric turned, they stopped cold. This was the first time they had gotten a good look at the proposed target, who was large and muscular, with long, curly, brown hair that hung over his face. He possessed a face they couldn’t quite see, bordered in shadow from the subtle light coming through the broken doorway. Yellow eyes glowed through the curtain of brown hair. The man was gripping a jeweled blade pulsing with fire from hilt to tip. The assassins froze in place, petrified at the supernatural sight.
“Did you think it would be so easy?” Eric hissed. “Well, here I am. Which one of you wants the glory?” The distinct smell of burned flesh filled the room as his fizzling sword steamed with dry blood. “Who sent you?” There was the sound of a quick skirmish just outside, followed by calls for backup. Eric ignored the commotion, calmly waiting for an answer to his question.
Soldiers began to filter in from outside. Some quickly walled off the Shantie Rhoe with their bodies, even though it was clear he was in no danger at all. The others surrounded the assassins, spear tips pushing at their necks. “Take them alive,” said Eric calmly. “I’ll be having words with them soon enough.”
Chapter 4
“We cannot continue taking such risks,” said Kelus, driving a fist into his open hand. “Double—no, triple the guard from now on.” The usually calm chieftain was more than a bit rattled. “How did they ever get so close to him?”
“And do we even know who they is?” said Wara, her sharp green eyes burning like emeralds. Her yellow dress drooped loosely below her shoulders, as if the fabric were wet. Several gold hoops ran up and down her thin, boney arms, so many it seemed impossible they wouldn’t burden her frail body. Yet the old woman moved about with an unnerving grace, a sort of finesse no one that age should still possess. “Have you learned anything new about the attackers? We must gain some understanding of their motives.”
Kelus walked across the bearskin rug and stood before one of the tan canvas pictures strung to the wall. Although he’d seen them many times before, he looked on, pretending to admire them. “The interrogation is already underway,” he said, never lifting his gaze from the wall. “We’ll have some answers soon enough.”
“We have our answers now , sir.” The curtain of colored beads scattered to the side. In walked a burly soldier with black tattoos running up and down his bare arms. “At least, we know more than before.” Despite the apparent good news, the man did not look particularly pleased. With a solemn expression, he pulled a red-stained white cloth from inside his vest, then snapped the wrapping like a whip, sending a small flap of skin to the floor. “They all have the mark, I’m afraid,” he said, staring down at the chunk of flesh. In a flash he was gone, beads clicking against each other in the doorway.
Kelus sighed as he picked up the fresh, wet strip. He held it up and pulled it tight, revealing a tattoo of a blue rose floating in a cloud of white smoke. “They won’t talk,” said the twins, voices dry and emotionless. Their bald heads bobbed down and then up with a cracking sound.
“ I don’t believe what I’m seeing,” said Wara. She nervously ran her slender fingers through her long, white hair. “I’m afraid Eric has made some powerful enemies. And no, there is no chance they’re going to talk.”
“That has yet to be seen ,” said Eric, slapping back the stringed beads and entering the
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