Book I of III: The Swords of the Sultan Read Online Free Page A

sat in posts at every corner in this quarter-mile-long
passage. From somewhere ahead, they could hear a multitude of
echoing noises, ranging from the clanging of metals and other
objects, to people yelling.
    This tunnel inevitably opened up into a
gargantuan underground cavern that contained tens of thousands of
stalagmites and stalactites spread all about in various-sized and
-shaped clusters, as well nearly a dozen other tunnels that Baltor
could see, thanks to all the lit torches posted on all three
levels.
    Also spread all about this rather noisy
cavern were dozens of people engaged in hardcore training—most
looked to be teenagers or older. A few raced through obstacle
courses, while some taught others how to fight or wrestle. The
remainder of the people sparred ferociously with other opponents,
some using weapons of wood, or steel!
    As for Lydia, she stood quietly by and
allowed the boy his time to explore his new surroundings.
    Finally, he walked right up next to Lydia and
whispered so no one else could hear, “Would you now please answer
my question?”
    “We are thieves,” she began, “but not the
conventional type. For all around this world are priceless
treasures and artifacts waiting for the properly trained thief to
discover and steal. Most are not only heavily guarded, but also
booby-trapped!”
    After taking a deep breath through her nose,
she added, “We never steal from the poor, and quite often, we give
them a portion of our wealth. Still, good and honest thieves are
hard to come by, especially these days. Therefore, we have certain
secret oaths that a prospect must swear to before that person can
join our very special thieves’ guild—what we simply call ‘The
Guild.’”
    Once she had given the boy about five seconds
to digest this information, she continued, “Before I go on any
further, I should inform you that if this place was to be
discovered, the Sultan would not only plunder our rich treasures,
but have us all executed.”
    “So why are you showing all of this to me?”
he asked. Without waiting for the answer, he asked another
question, “How do you know that I will not spill my guts out to the
Sultan once I’m gone?”
    She laughed for a few moments, but did not
answer his questions—his facial expression instantly turned
suspicious.
    Once she had stopped laughing a few moments
later, she answered quite seriously, “Well, Baltor, I’m showing all
of this to you because I’m about to give you the opportunity you
never had. However, should you try to leave now; you’ll have your
guts spilled out before you even make it to the ladder, as this
place must remain top secret .” She whispered those last two
words.
    The boy gulped.
    She laughed yet again for a couple seconds,
before she sighed and said, “Relax—if I didn’t think I could trust
you, I wouldn’t have brought you here.”
    “I see,” he answered. “I won’t tell
anyone.”
    “Great,” she said with an elated smile. She
then said, “I have a couple questions for you, Baltor. First
question—would you like to become powerful, get rich and become a
master thief? Second—are you ready to begin your training?”
    Without hesitation, the boy answered, “Yes to
both questions. Are you going to train me?”
    She shook her head twice, before answering,
“No, not right now….perhaps later. I only train those who have
completed all their student training, completed their quest,
achieved the official rank of Thief, spent at least five years of
loyal service with us, spent an additional six years successfully
training students as a Drill Instructor, spent five more years
successfully training Drill Instructors, and passed all the
pretests to be trained as an Officer of the Guild. Even though
there are many higher grades before one can become a ruling member
of the High Council like me, it is obviously possible, even at my
young age. Finally, the last thing I do, though in very rare
circumstances like yours, I