The Coldstone Conflict Read Online Free Page A

They’ve closed us in …”
    “Where do you think that zombified duo are?”
    “Who knows?” Obegarde shrugged. “They could be anywhere. We need to move.”
    “But where?”
    “The harbor: it’s our only choice. Even if they are blocking the gates, we might still be able to get out on a ship.”
    Jimmy looked doubtful. “You reckon?”
    “What other options are there?”
    “None.”
    “Exactly. Mind you, I’m not sure quite how we’re going to get out of this alley. That dragon can probably spot a cockroach from half a mile away …”
    Jimmy grinned.
    “Leave that to me,” he said and, jumping to his feet, began to sidle carefully along the alley.
    “Psst … Oi!”
    The thief glanced over his shoulder. “What?”
    “Where are you going?”
    “Through the door over there!” Jimmy pointed at a small wooden portal which opened on to the alley.
    “Why, where does it go?”
    “To number thirteen, Market Street.”
    “And?”
    The thief rolled his eyes. “And the window in the top back room of Thirteen Market Street can get us on to the roof walkway to number Nine. When we get to number Nine, there is a beam connecting the roof with the roof of the big green house on The Goodwalk. Then we go along the city wall, over Crest Hill and straight into the harbor.”
    Obegarde was silent for a moment. Then he said: “I’ve just realized how glad I am that I didn’t go with Nazz or Effigy.”
    Jimmy winked back at him.
    “They don’t call me Quickstint for nothing,” he said.
    On the other side of town, Effigy Spatula and Nazz were looking out from beneath a battered-up carriage on the south end of Tanner Street. Neither of them had spoken in quite some time, and it wasn’t because they had nothing to say to each other. They weren’t speaking because the situation in the street had them both holding their breath and praying for a miracle.
    One of the obsidian dragons had landed atop the North Gate, and was carefully scrutinizing the street … in particular a young girl who was standing, frozen to the spot with fear, in the middle of it.
    Nobody moved.
    “It’s seen her! We’ve got to do something, Effigy; we can’t just leave her there to die! She looks about twelve!”
    “Stay where you are,” Effigy snapped. “Don’t be a fool.”
    “But she’s not moving!”
    “Neither is the dragon.”
    “Yeah, but—”
    “Shhh!”
    The girl was of medium height, with a pale, pretty face and curly brown hair. Her black robes betrayed her as a pupil of Candleford’s new preparatory school for girls.
    Effigy squinted up at the dragon; the great beast was beginning to unfurl its wings.
    “Effigy!”
    “I see it, I see it!”
    “What’re we going to do? It’s taking off.”
    “Just stay put, damn it!”
    “No!”
    Nazz swung out from beneath the carriage and bolted toward the girl, just as the dragon took off from its gate-perch.
    “Nazz! Come baaaaack!”
    The ogre was oblivious of Effigy’s cries; he dashed over to the girl, scooped her into his arms and bolted for the sanctuary of a nearby alley. Effigy could see that he wasn’t going to make it: the dragon had already taken flight and was about to dive.
    “Arrrgghghghghghghhhhh!” Effigy screamed, rolling out from under the carriage and leaping to his feet. “IT’S ME YOUR MASTERS WANT, YOU GREAT NOTHING! MEEEEEEEEEE!”
    The freedom fighter turned on his heel and ran, the black shadow rising over him with remarkable speed.
    He tried to run in an unpredictable zigzag, reasoning that the beast wouldn’t be able to use its molten breath if it couldn’t focus on a target. He was wrong.
    A jet of flame erupted just behind and to the left of him. There were screams as the upper floors of several buildings caught alight. Effigy ran on, but he knew he was done for; the flames had been so close … and he couldn’t keep up his current pace for long.
    “OOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIII! DRAGON FILTH! TAKE MEEE!”
    The booming roar had come from Nazz,