The Hidden Relic (The Evermen Saga, Book Two) Read Online Free Page B

closer he realised that there were only black-clad legionnaires here; where were the Halrana dead, or the Alturans? Perhaps some constructs had been the cause of this destruction?
    But there were only dead legionnaires. And these bodies weren't burnt; there hadn't been an explosion; these were sword wounds. An epic battle had been fought here; a battle that had taken the lives of at least a hundred, no, perhaps two-hundred legionnaires.
    Tapel moved between the bodies, trying to keep his distance, anxiously looking back at the setting sun. He no longer looked for jewellery; he just wanted to get out of this terrible place and go home to his mother.
    Then Tapel's heart stopped and his blood ran cold. Something had grabbed hold of his ankle; a hand was wrapped around his foot and, try as he might, Tapel couldn't move. Despite himself, a whimper came from his throat and he nearly voided his bowels.
    He looked down.
    A soldier lay by Tapel's feet, an Alturan by the colour of his clothing and the sword and flower of his raj hada , but this man wore no armour, instead his body was covered in light, reflective green fabric. Silk? A sword lay by the Alturan soldier's side, a long, slightly curved blade, free from dent or scratch, and inscribed with arcane symbols. Symbols also covered the Alturan's clothing.
    Tapel realised that this was the man who had left behind so many of the enemy dead, at the same time also realising what he was. A bladesinger.
    But he was old, with dark hair turning grey and faded scars on his face mingling with new wounds. He had his hand wrapped around his throat, where fresh red blood welled out from between his fingers.
    "Agh…" the Alturan looked up at Tapel, and tried to speak.
    Tapel realised he was going to have to answer his mother's questions about where he had been, whether he liked it or not.
     
    ~
     
    T HAT had been many weeks ago, and as they nursed him back to health Tapel and his mother still wondered who the stranger was. The jewellery Tapel had found paid for food — the Alturan was a ravenous eater — and day by day the Alturan's colour slowly returned.
    He could not speak, although both Tapel and Amelia knew he was desperate to. They had never seen him try as hard as he had when word arrived about the great battle that was fought at the Bridge of Sutanesta, and the miraculous events that led to the rescue of the Halrana refugees and the salvation of what was left of the allied army.
    It was a victory, clawed back from the jaws of defeat. The Alturan tried time and again to express himself, gripping Tapel's hand inside his huge one, squeezing until it hurt. Finally the Alturan gave up, and tears came out of his eyes, spilling down his cheeks.
    Not knowing what to do, Tapel had looked away.
    Now, for the hundredth time, Tapel wondered who he was.
    "Try again," Tapel said to him. "No, don't try to rise. Just try to speak."
    The Alturan opened his mouth, but nothing came out except a ragged croak.
    "I know you can do it," Tapel said. "Your name. Start with your name."
    "Stop it, Tapel," his mother's voice sounded from behind him. "I've told you. He'll speak when he's ready."
    "What if he never talks?"
    Amelia came and sat by her son on the bed, where the Alturan lay watching them soberly. "Perhaps he won't. But he fought to free us and our people, and we'll help him nonetheless."
    "Can he write?" Tapel asked.
    Amelia sighed. "I've tried, but his fingers shake too much. He can grip my hand, but he can't hold the chalk."
    The Alturan's face contorted as he tried to speak. Amelia made soothing motions, but he kept trying, his forehead creasing into lines and the breath popping from his mouth in little gasps.
    "You can do it," Tapel said. "I know you can!"
    "Shhh, Tapel," Amelia said. "Leave the poor man be."
    "Your name, what's your name?" Tapel went over and knelt beside the bed, his ear close to the Alturan's lips.
    "Tapel, stop it!"
    "He's speaking!"
    "He can't speak!"
    Tapel moved his head