Page 58
Story: Truth's Blade
“So, where did Marchant go?” Theo asked her. His sword was back in his hand.
“He ran up the hill through the forest, but who knows if he kept going in that direction. I threatened him with the net and he bolted.”
“He would not want to have that net on him,” Theo said softly. “He would lose all control.”
“Also.” Melodie hesitated, then fluttered her hands in distress. “Gus told me . . .”
Theo had moved closer to her, his gaze worried. “What is it?”
“He said . . .” She drew in a breath. “He said that Marchant has run a slave trade for years. I can only believe the children are his latest victims.”
Theo went very still, and she could see him trying to bank his rage. “How has he managed to keep from drawing attention to himself all these years?”
“Maybe because he sells to powerful people.” She didn’t think any but the truly wealthy could afford to buy a magical person.
She had lived with the fear of it happening to her, but sometimes she wondered if the fear was overblown. Now she knew better.
“Well, he’s come to my attention, now,” Theo said. “And I’m going to make him regret it.”
CHAPTER 23
The door burst open,and Marchant—because the soldiers had told them that was his name—stepped in, sides heaving, hand gripping his hip.
He caught Viviane’s eye, grimaced in pain, and did a quick scan of the room, visibly counting heads. Then he stepped back and she heard the door lock behind him.
She could hear him running down the gravel path.
He hadn’t spoken a single word.
“Theo,” Gallain murmured. “Theo got him thinking his captives might be gone.”
“Or Melodie,” Caro said.
“Maybe,” Ivan agreed, nodding. “So how do we get ready to run?”
“We’ve been mulling that for days,” Jon said. “We’re out of ideas.”
“What about the tray?” Caro said. “It looks like it’s metal.”
The soldiers had eaten their food and the tray was empty except for the water jug.
“Possible,” Ivan agreed, pulling it closer. He set the jug aside and stood, holding the tray horizontally.
He lifted his massive arms, aimed at the metal disc that held the chain to the wall, angled it, and smashed it down.
The tray buckled.
Ivan swore, his face a little red, and he bent the tray inward with his bare hands.
“Marchant’s had practice,” Viviane said, so he didn’t feel bad. “I think he’s been holding people in here for a very long time.”
“He’s got every possible means of escape covered. Maybe a few managed to get out in the beginning, and he learned all the weak points.” Jacinta flopped back against the wall.
“You think Theo bested him, somehow?” Viviane asked, because she wanted to hold onto the little flare of hope burning inside her.
“He clearly doesn’t have Theo, and he thought we might have been rescued, which is why he came in here all wild-eyed.” Gallain shrugged. “That’s got to be good for us.”
Yes, that had to be good for them. And Theo had never, ever let her down.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58 (Reading here)
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96