Child of the Sword, Book 1 of The Gods Within Read Online Free Page B

and each time he was racked with convulsions and
fainted.
    A fourth time he awoke, naked and alone. And
a fourth time he made his way to the courtyard below, but this time
he could not escape. There was an invisible something that filled
the gaps between the bars of the gate. He could feel it, but not
see it, and it prevented his passing. He tried the wall, but it was
too high and he found no purchase for climbing. He spent the entire
day working his way around the compound, seeking some means of
escape, and found every path blocked in one fashion or another.
    Late that afternoon he returned to the front
gate, desperate, exhausted, and hungry for gesh . In his
frustration he began chewing on the lock and rattling its
mechanism.
    “You’re a stubborn one, aren’t you?”
    At the sound of the voice Rat dove for the
nearest shadow, froze, and looked on as one of the witchwomen
approached. She stopped some distance from him and smiled
pleasantly. “Don’t be afraid, Rat. I won’t hurt you. I am AnnaRail,
and I am here to teach you, for you have much to learn, and the
first thing you must learn is your new name. From this moment on
you will be called ‘Morgin’, and no one will ever again call you
‘Rat.’”
    She finished speaking by passing her hand
before her as if to emphasize her words, though for an instant
Morgin thought he saw a faint red flash dance among her fingertips.
But he dismissed that thought quickly, and his eyes darted between
her and the gate.
    “Now that is the second thing you must
learn, Morgin. I have placed a spell upon you. You will not again
leave this compound without my permission.”
    “ Gesh ,” he croaked, his voice
guttural and harsh.
    “And that, Morgin, is the third thing you
must learn.” Her voice surprised Morgin, for there was sadness in
it. “You have sampled the pleasures of gesh , and now you
must pay a price for that pleasure, and I am afraid you will find
that lesson harsh in the extreme.
    “Never again will you enjoy gesh , for
I have placed another spell upon you, a spell that will remain
until you are old enough to remove it yourself. And that will not
be for a very long time. You will suffer in the learning of this
lesson, but I will be by your side, and I will help you as much as
I can.”
    She held out her hand. “Come with me now,
Morgin. It’s time for you to begin a new life.”
    He hissed at her like a snake,
“Ssssssssss!”
    Her eyes saddened. “Won’t you be my friend?
Come now. Take my hand.”
    Morgin was tempted—this witch seemed kind.
He considered her carefully for a moment, then slowly, cautiously,
he emerged from his shadow, and with distrust written in every
move, he edged closer, step by step, until he was near enough to
lean forward and sniff the outstretched hand.
    It was sweet, and soft, and gentle.
    Quickly he scanned the courtyard, assuring
himself that this was no trap, that there were no other witches
waiting in hiding to snare him. Then warily he reached out and
placed his hand in hers, and began a journey from which there could
be no return.

Chapter 2: In the Witches Den

     
    AnnaRail stood quietly to one side while
Malka and Olivia spoke in subdued tones. She cared little about
what was said and was wisely silent, forcing herself to remain
calm. Olivia’s machinations were a constant source of irritation.
The old woman thrived on intimidation, and one of her favorite
tactics was to force someone to stand idly by after being summoned
urgently to her audience chamber. Sometimes she would even talk
about a person as if they weren’t there, when all along they stood
nearby waiting patiently to be acknowledged. And the gods help any fool brash enough to speak before being acknowledged.
    A crude squeeze on AnnaRail’s left buttock
startled her out of her thoughts. Turning, she found Roland and
fixed him with an angry stare. He looked back with an evil grin.
Quickly she scanned the room, assuring herself that no one had seen
his