The Orphan Wars (Book One) Read Online Free Page B

this place.  I want you to leave this place with me and never look back."
    "You know that escaping from here is impossibl e," whispered Bastilone.  "You'd have an easier chance getting away with murder here than being able to pull off a successful escape.  You know that it's punishable by death.  Is that a risk you're willing to take?"
    " Oh come on," whispered Nemeth.  "You know that's not true.  There have been students that tried to escape from here and succeeded.  It is a risk I'm willing to take.  I'm tired of all of the rules here.  I want to find out if I have a real family out there.  Don't you want to find out if your real family is alive as well?"
    " How many times do I have to tell you?" whispered Bastilone.  "My family is dead.  No student in this entire school has a family.  We're all orphans.  We were all brought here to get a second chance at life."
    "How can you still believe the lies they have told us?" whispered Nemeth.  "All of our families cannot possibly be dead.  I don't believe that they abandoned us here as babies either.  There are thousands of students here.  Surely at least one of us has a living famil y member outside of Lord Dragomir's Academy."
    "You're probably right," whispered Bastilone.  " We probably both have family members alive.  It could be an aunt, a brother, who knows really.  I'm up for trying to escape but we probably need to wait a few years to gain enough power to succeed.  The youngest student I recall who succeeded in escaping was Mahon.  He was 12 years old and a fifth year student."
    "Don't underestimate our capabilities," whispered Nemeth.  "If we manage to escape, that means we'll break the record for the youngest people to escape from Lord Dragomir's Academy."
    Professor Nomiki approached Nemeth and Bastilone.  She placed her cold, clammy hands on their shoulders.
    "Boys, take your seats right now!" exclaimed Professor Nomiki.  "I'm sure whatever it is you are talking about you can finish talking about later."
    "Sure thing Professor Nomiki," said Bastilone.  "I was just wishing Nemeth good luck with his speech."
    Bastilone turned around and made his way back to his seat.  Nemeth didn't feel like staring at Professor Nomiki's grotesque face again, so he looked down at his feet.
    " I'll just be headed to my seat now," said Nemeth.  "Thanks for all of your help Professor Nomiki.  What would I do without you?"
    Nemeth promptly made his way to the front row where the most prestigious students were sat.  Nemeth sat down in his chair which he found to be surprisingly comfortable and looked out in front towards the stage.  In his peripheral vision, he could see that Rorok was sitting in the chair to his right.  He hoped that Rorok wouldn't bother him anymore.
    "Don't trip when you go up on stage," whispered Rorok.  "You wouldn't want that to happen two years in a row now would you?"
    "I should have kicked your teeth in earlier," whispered Nemeth.  "Now shut up otherwise we're both going to get in trouble."
    A purple light began to appear on stage.  Its color grew in intensity and suddenly Professor Phantas, magically appeared on the stage.  The purple light then vanished.  Professor Phantas was wearing a crimson colored uniform similar to Nemeth's but with multiple golden insignias of D'hal Natar on it.  His presence on stage was the indication that the ceremony was to begin immediately.
    "Attention everyone !" exclaimed Professor Phantas.  "Everyone please be quiet and settle down!  Eyes up here everyone!"
    The chat ter amongst the students came to a sudden halt.  Each student sat facing forward in their seats and looked at Professor Phantas.  The remaining guests also became silent and focused on Professor Phantas.
    " Greetings to everyone here today," said Professor Phantas.  "It is a great pleasure for me to be here at the graduation ceremony for the third year students.  This will be the final graduation ceremony for the year as the