Slavers of the Savage Catacombs Read Online Free

surely you can spare me some help? I only ask in the name of all the hidden gods.”
    The words hit him like a punch between his eyes. Ran nearly stumbled back in disbelief, but managed to keep his composure as the old man removed his hand and let it fall back into his lap.
    The words the beggar had used marked him as a fellow shadow warrior.

C HAPTER T HREE
    Before Ran could recover himself, the old man spoke quietly. “At the end of this street, you’ll find an alley running west. Take it to the end and you’ll see an alcove. Above the alcove is a chalk mark. Wait for me there.” Then resuming the stature of a beggar, the old man hobbled away singing to himself and rattling some coins in his bowl.
    Ran watched him go for a second and then resumed his travel down the street. At the end, he saw the alley and veered into it. The buildings on either side closed in and gave the alley a very tight feeling. It would be difficult to fight anyone in the tight confines of the alley, which made Ran more than a little apprehensive. While the old man had said the right words, could he truly be trusted? Ran had never run into anyone from his clan in the outside world. The novelty of the experience made him feel like an acolyte all over again.
    He saw the alcove and the chalk mark above it. The interior of the alcove smelled like festering urine and excrement, and as the horrible stench assailed his nostrils, Ran wondered how long he would have to wait for the old man to arrive. He certainly didn’t seem to be in very good physical condition.
    Ran sighed and counted away the minutes. After a half an hour, Ran was almost ready to leave. Then he felt a tap behind him and nearly shouted in surprise.
    In the dim light of the alcove, a toothless grin greeted him. “Sorry I’m late. Had to make sure we hadn’t attracted any followers.” He held up a finger. “Follow me and stay low and quiet as we go, all right?”
    Ran nodded, still marveling that the wall at the back of the alcove wasn’t a wall at all, but a hidden door. The old man waited until he had passed through it into the tunnel beyond before once again closing and locking it. He smiled in the darkness. “The smell usually keep most people away. But the lock ensures they don’t discover my tunnel.”
    “Where are we going?”
    “Someplace where we can talk without being overheard,” said the old man. “Now, low and quiet, like I said.”
    With that, he took off down the tunnel. He didn’t use a light, and Ran had no need of it anyway. During the training, all shadow warriors learned how to best see in the darkness. It was practiced so often, it became a natural instinct anytime lighting conditions were less than ideal. Since they operated frequently at night, the skill was essential.
    The old man took a turn, and Ran could hear voices all around them. But they kept walking, careful of their footing. At times, the tunnel led up and then down again. It bent, twisted, and turned. Ran spotted several options going left and right as they went, but the old man kept them in the main tunnel the entire time. If he’d been down here by himself, Ran surely would have gotten lost in the maze of tunnels. He supposed that was the point. If anyone discovered the old man’s secret, they’d have a hard time locating him in here.
    Finally, after twenty minutes of travel, they drew up to a wall, and the old man pressed a brick near the top of it. Instantly, the wall slid back to reveal a modest apartment appointed with a bed, kitchen, and dining area. Bookshelves lined the wall, including the one they now stepped out of. The old man waited until Ran had cleared the entry and then pushed a brazier. The entry disappeared behind another bookcase. Looking at the wall he’d just come through, Ran wasn’t even sure he could pick out the outline of the secret door.
    “Impressive.”
    The old man shrugged. “We can talk here. No one lives around me. I’ve taken steps to make sure I