Jack Staples and the City of Shadows Read Online Free Page A

“It’s a way of traveling a great distance in a few steps. We had one in Agartha, but it was destroyed when the city fell. There are four more scattered throughout Great Britain. The portal we have chosen is inside the palace, located just below the dungeons. Andreal and Miel are already inside and have a plan to take us to the portal without being seen.”
    Jack felt a pang of fear. “Andreal wants to kill me. He thinks I will serve the Assassin. How could you trust him?”
    Mrs. Dumphry fixed Jack with a cold stare. “Andreal was misguided in his desire to kill you, I admit,” she said. “But he is a giant, and giants are often hasty and quick-tempered. They are also fiercely loyal, and I promise you, he can be trusted.”
    Jack didn’t care what Mrs. Dumphry said. The giant hated him. The prophecy that spoke of Jack and Alexia said a lot of strange things. But part of it said that at least one of them would bow before the Assassin and destroy the world. Andreal had been sure Jack was that child, and his answer had been to kill Jack so he’d never have the chance.
    The prophecy said, “The child will both destroy the world and save it.” It also said, “The child will bow before the Assassin and defeat him once and for all.” It didn’t make a lick of sense. Until recently everyone had thought there was only one child, but now there were two. While every human in the history of the world had been born with invisible scales covering their eyes, Jack and Alexia had been born without them. This apparently meant they both were “the Child of Prophecy.”
    â€œIf all goes well, we will be through the portal within the hour,” Mrs. Dumphry continued. “If all does not go well”—she hesitated—“no matter what happens, I need you to stay with me and do exactly as I say. We must not be separated!”
    Mrs. Dumphry reached into a bag and pulled out two brown cloaks. “These are Atherial Cloaks. They are a gift from Elion. When you wear them, you are almost invisible.”
    Jack squinted at the cloaks. They didn’t look like anything special.
    â€œThe cloak will also act as a shield and will block a sword or spear thrust, so long as it is not a direct hit,” Mrs. Dumphry said. “Each is worth more than all the gold in London.” She handed one cloak to Jack and the other to Alexia and didn’t seem to notice Arthur’s disappointed look.
    â€œIf you have any questions, now would be the time to ask,” Mrs. Dumphry said briskly.
    â€œWhere will the World Portal take us?” Jack asked. It seemed the only question that mattered.
    â€œI do not know.”
    â€œWhat’s that supposed to mean?” Alexia said.
    â€œIt means what it means, child. We are searching for the Forbidden Garden, but the garden is never in the same place and is always moving.”
    Aias leaned into the coach window. “We’re nearly there,” he said in a hushed voice. Arthur jumped at Aias’s unexpected appearance, then blushed. Aias rolled his eyes. “Once we’re in the gates, stay together. Anyone could be a dark servant, and those who aren’t are almost as dangerous.”
    When Aias closed the curtain, Arthur whispered, “Is Elion going to help us?”
    Mrs. Dumphry smiled. “She already is, child. You didn’t think all this fog was natural, did you?”
    A minute later someone shouted outside. “Halt in the name of King Edward! Who are you and what are you doing here this time of night?” The carriage stopped abruptly as Mrs. Dumphry placed a finger to her lips.
    Jack pulled the curtain aside to peek out.
    â€œI said stop, stranger!” The shouting man had a thick beard and wore the red and black uniform of the King’s Guard. Jack and Arthur shared a fearful look as he unsheathed his sword. Aias nudged his stallion steadily forward.
    â€œTake one more