The Temple of Yellow Skulls Read Online Free Page A

Where have you been? Would I have heard stories of you?”
    “Not likely.”
    “Then tell me some.”
    Raid’s eyes narrowed as he studied the red-haired warrior. The storm in Albanon’s chest turned into a tickle. He started to open his mouth to say something, but Shara gave him a glance so hard he closed his teeth on his words. For once, even Uldane was silent.
    Raid lifted his head. “Ask me what I am,” he said, “and I’ll tell you that I’m a hunter. That’s how I started. Name a creature and chances are I’ve tracked it. I’ve probably even killed it. With that kind of wandering, I think it was only natural I’d turn to an adventuring life. I practically fell into it. Between hunting and adventuring, I’ve probably been everywhere. The Dragon Coast and the Two Rivers Gulf. The ruins of Bael Turath. The cities of the south and the lands of the far west. Jungles, deserts, mountains. I had companions.” His gaze swept the table. “Until they were killed. Sole survivor, that’s me. After that, I left off adventuring—until now. One last adventure. One last mystery that I’ve spent years unraveling. It all comes down to this.”
    Uldane looked like he might burst if he had to hold his curiosity in much longer. Questions buzzed in Albanon’s head, too, but Shara and Raid still held control of the table between them. Shara’s expression hadn’t changed. “You’re avoiding the question,” she said.
    Raid drew a hard breath. “Maybe I don’t feel the need to open up to people I only know by reputation.”
    “But you want us to do the same.” Shara tilted her head. “One question. Answer it square. Are you after treasure, secrets, or revenge?”
    He hesitated for a moment, then said, “Treasure.”
    “How much treasure?” Uldane asked. The words came out in an eager gasp. They brought a smile back to Raid’s face.
    “Enough to get you out of Fallcrest and anywhere you want to go,” he said. “Enough to live like a noble when you get there.” He looked around at them again, then his eyes settled on Shara. “What do you say?”
    She looked back at him. “No,” she said.
    The storm inside Albanon dropped straight into his gut. He stared at Shara. So did Uldane, a little whine creeping up out of his throat. Shara, however, had her eyes solely on Raid.
    The man with the twin axes sat perfectly still for a moment before repeating, “No?”
    “No. We’re not the ones you want. Go try the Lucky Gnome Taphouse. It’s right off the Market Green.”
    A dark look of anger flashed across Raid’s face. Before Albanon could say anything, he was on his feet. “I’m not used to having my offers denied,” he said.
    “You didn’t offer us anything,” said Shara. “Consider it a frank assessment.”
    Raid’s jaw tightened. “Then I thank you for your honesty. May your gods keep you.”
    He turned and stalked off, sliding with angry grace through the crowd of patrons. Shara let out a long breath. Albanon rounded on her. “What are you doing?” he yelped. “That was what we wanted, wasn’t it?”
    Eyes still on the crowd where Raid had disappeared, Shara shook her head. “No,” she said, “it wasn’t. I don’t think I’d go around the corner with Hakken Raid.”
    “Are you insane?” demanded Uldane. “This was perfect!”
    Shara’s lips pressed tight and a flush crept into her cheeks. “There was something about him I didn’t like,” she said. “He wouldn’t tell us where he wanted us to go.”
    “You hardly gave him a chance to,” said Albanon.
    “He traveled alone.”
    Uldane slumped down his chair and crossed his arms. “Right now I can see why he’d want to.”
    Shara looked between them. “Were you two that taken in? How much have you had to drink?”
    “Not that much,” Albanon said hotly. “Maybe he didn’t want to tell a bunch of strangers all of his secrets straight out. What’s wrong with that? Why shouldn’t we have taken a chance with him?”
    “For one