Sneak Peak 1
Something caught Levi’s eye. He looked and saw a group of three people around his age huddled around something. They were dressed in tattered clothes and had packs on their backs. One of them, a blonde girl, looked around furtively. She caught Levi looking and quickly turned back, making motions to her companions.
Levi shrugged as they passed by the trio. “Those three look like they’re headed somewhere.”
“Indeed,” Marcus agreed. “And they don’t want to be found. They’ll be out of here as soon as possible.”
Levi looked at Marcus, his face scrunched up. “Huh? How do you know that?”
Marcus turned down a street with a little bakery on the corner. “Their packs, packed quickly and not efficiently, yet with items that suggest frequent camps and quick setup. They were also armed, mostly daggers, but also a sword mostly hidden under cloaks. The way they were huddled indicates they were trying to figure something out quickly, but without anyone knowing what it was they were looking at. My guess; a map. And finally, the way the girl scanned the crowd and immediately ducked when eye contact was made, a clear sign of them being hunted.”
Levi stared in awe. “That was incredible. How do you know all of that?”
Marcus shrugged, grinning. “You pick up on things when you live this cloak and dagger life.”
“Awesome,” Levi said. “You can sense everything. We’ll never fall into a trap!”
“I sincerely wish that is true,” Marcus said, his voice hinting at past experiences.
The moment the words left his mouth, Marcus’ shoulders drooped. Four big men stepped out from behind a cart and into the road, looking directly at the two of them.
Marcus swore, eyes darting for an escape path. His hand reached behind his cloak. Levi had assumed that’s where he kept his weapon, but now it was confirmed.
Levi sighed. “The world has a really sick sense of humour, doesn’t it?”
One of the men, a bull of a man, pointed an accusing finger. “Aurelios!” he yelled in a deep, guttural voice.
“This is gonna get messy, kid,” Marcus said through gritted teeth, “But at least they haven’t noticed you.”
The bull dude yelled again, drawing a massive broadsword. “Hand over the kid and we’ll kill you quickly!”
Chapter 5, The Road To Blackthrush
Sneak Peak 2
Chapter 13, The Forsaken
“What have you lost?” Kyner asked.
“My medallion,” Levi said, searching along the walls.
“What does it look like?”
“Uh, it’s a golden bird.”
“Like a raptor?” Kyner assumed.
“Yes, definitely a raptor,” Levi said.
“About two inches long?”
“Yes.”
Kyner continued. “It has a spot for a chain, but no chain.”
Levi glanced at Kyner. “How do you know?” He inhaled sharply. Kyner was holding the Elder Gem between his thumb and index finger.
“How do you have it?”
Kyner shrugged. “Fell out of your pocket when the guards threw you in here.”
Levi took a step toward Kyner. “Give it here.”
Kyner flipped the medallion over, examining it. “Special, is it?”
“You have no idea,” Levi growled. “Now, give it here!”
Kyner cocked his head. “You know, I could use this to bribe a guard to let me out. It’s gold, so it’s gotta be worth a good amount.”
“No!” Levi lunged ahead. His breath exploded from his lungs as he ran into Kyner’s outstretched leg. He fell to the floor, coughing.
Kyner stood. “You really want this, don’t you?”
Levi surged to his feet, only to be brought down by an elbow to the head.