Ethan Wright and the Curse of Silence Read Online Free Page B

barrage of attacks. He was able to clumsily block two of the attacks but was hit in the chest by a third. Crack!
    A judge immediately chimed in. “ Fatal blow, two points! ”
    “Fatal! C’mon, it was barely a scratch,” protested Auren.
    But his plea went unanswered and the judge chimed in again. “ Begin! ”
    Auren was met with a similar barrage of attacks, but this time he was ready and counter-attacked, striking the boy’s sword to the ground and then thrusting him in the chest.
    “ One point awarded! ”
    “So that one wasn’t fatal then?” yelled Auren in protest again. He looked over at Ethan. “Can you believe this guy?”
    The judge continued the match; this time Auren took the offensive and lunged at the boy. Auren was easily blocked, but then stepped past his opponent and slapped his sword on top of the boy’s head, hitting his padded helmet.
    “ Fatal blow, two points! ”
    “Now that’s more like it, judge! You and me buddy!”
    “ Your winner, Auren Faryndon .”
    Auren was so excited he almost jumped out of his shoes. He scrambled over to Ethan to give his impersonation of the match.
    “Yeah yeah, I was here the whole time, remember?” said Ethan.
    “Well yeah, but did you see how I finished him with that spin move?” said Auren exitedly.
    “You didn’t spin,” replied Ethan.
    “I did so,” argued Auren.
    “I didn’t once see you spin,” bickered Ethan.
    “Probly cuz I’m lightning fast,” answered Auren with a smile.
    Auren started taking off his padded helmet. “So anyway, like I was saying — had to enter the competition.”
    “Why on earth would you have to enter?” challenged Ethan. “That doesn’t make any sense at all!”
    “It does so!” Auren started to look annoyed. “Look … last night I was on my way home when I ran into Marcus Grenwise and a bunch of his idiot friends — what they were doing in Strahlung, I have no idea. He started talkin’ foul about you and your brother Isaac — said if he met either one of you in the contest today, that he would finish the job he started a few years back. Well, I knew you wouldn’t enter, so I did. Thought someone should give that idiot a wallopin’!”
    Ethan smiled. “Thanks.”
    “No problem really — well besides the fact that there are so many people here and the chances of me being matched up are …” Auren was cut off by the announcer.
    “ Would Availia Tanbe and Marcus Grenwise report for a match .”
    “Looks like Marcus is up for a match right now,” said Ethan.
    Sure enough, Marcus and his followers shoved their way through the crowds of people. As he passed, he sneered at Ethan and Auren and stepped up to the line. His followers budged in front of Ethan and Auren, blocking their view. They reluctantly walked to the other side to cheer for Marcus’ opponent. Ethan overheard some of the audience talking behind them. Marcus’ opponent was an eleven-year-old girl. Neither of the boys had paid any attention to the name until they saw Margret Tanbe’s little sister step into the ring. Ethan instantly thought of himself and Auren setting loose the forty-two toads in their house, and suddenly felt embarrassed by playing such a prank.
    “It’s Availia,” exclaimed Auren.
    “Yeah, Margret’s little sister,” replied Ethan.
    Availia stretched out a bit, and with a strong voice let out a yell as she lunged forward with her bamboo sword. She had always been a bit smaller than the rest of the girls her age, but compared to Marcus, she was tiny.
    “Don’t think she’ll fare well,” stated Auren.
    “I’m not too sure either,” replied Ethan.
    “ To the line ,” declared the judge.
    “Oh, a stupid little girl eh?” snarled Marcus. “Don’t you have some dollies to play with?” he taunted.
    “ Begin ,” yelled the judge.
    Marcus immediately lunged forward and with all his might brought his sword down toward Availia’s face. She lost her balance and was barely able to move out of the way,