Venom and Song Read Online Free Page B

into the same still pool protected from the main artery’s rapids by a natural jetty of sandstone. Jett stepped aboard with a steadying hand from Brynn, and sat beside Johnny and Jimmy in the aft. He watched Tommy, Kat, and Kiri Lee get seated with Goldarrow and Grimwarden in the lead surfer.
    â€œSentinel Brynn?”
    â€œYes, Jimmy?”
    â€œSittin’ by yurself, are yu?”
    â€œI suppose so,” she replied. “We’d best put one of you up here to balance the—”
    â€œNo need,” said Mr. Wallace, stepping agilely into the craft and sitting beside Brynn.
    â€œExcellent,” said Brynn. “Very good of you.”
    â€œIt’s the very least I could do,” he replied.

    The cavesurfers lived up to their name, carving through the currents with ease. The watercrafts weaved between the massive columns of the main hall, circling under the chandelier and positioning the boats so that they could dart out into the central stream of the river. Grimwarden’s craft went first, followed by Brynn and the others. As the current whisked them out of the hall, each pilot lowered a torch to two different spots at the front of his or her craft. This ignited the cavesurfer’s torchcells, pockets set like eyes in the front. The fire burned in the hollows of two crystal spheres that protected the flame from spray and intensified the light cast.
    Each cavesurfer’s captain maneuvered the craft around rocks, over small plateaus, and into side passages. The forks and splits in the path were many, and Grimwarden made numerous turns, all very controlled, very confident. In fact, the first twenty minutes of the ride were quite relaxing, the teens thought. Goldarrow and Grimwarden chatted in the aft with Kat beside them; more to the point, Goldarrow chatted . . . Grimwarden just nodded . . . a lot.
    To Kat’s growing aggravation, Kiri Lee fell asleep with her head on Tommy’s shoulder.
    â€œHey,” said Tommy, looking at Kat. “What’s eating you?”
    â€œWhat . . . why? Nothing.”
    â€œYou look mad.”
    â€œJust tired,” she said.
    â€œOh,” he replied. For a few moments, the cavesurfer grew very quiet. Then Tommy asked, “Hey, can you read someone’s mind while she’s sleeping?”
    Kat crossed her arms. “Why?”
    â€œI was wondering what Kiri Lee’s dreaming about.”
    There was an awkward silence before Kat answered. “You don’t want to know.” Kat’s rigid posture made it clear that she did not welcome any further questions.
    The currents picked up speed. Kat was staring straight ahead when she saw something shimmering in the distance. At first, she thought it was the torchlight dancing off yet another fork in the stream. But as the craft advanced, she realized that the hall itself was suddenly coming to an end. No hole. No little passage leading left or right. It was a solid wall. But the current kept moving.
    â€œUm, Grimwarden?”
    â€œYes, Kat?” The Guardmaster’s hand was steady on the tiller.
    â€œUm . . . I think we’re in trouble.”
    â€œWhat? Why?” His voice was still oddly unconcerned.
    â€œUp ahead. There’s just a solid wall. And we’re heading”—she paused to look again—“straight for it!”
    He turned his head and winked. “I suggest you hold on to something.”
    â€œWhat?!”
    â€œNow would be a good time.”
    Kat screamed, Tommy yelled, and Kiri Lee woke up. Each one clutched the nearest edge or railing as the surfer surged forward. The wall loomed just a few feet ahead, and the sound of the rapids grew to a deafening roar. All at once the craft tilted forward and plummeted. Grimwarden saw the look of exhilaration in Goldarrow’s eyes and grinned. Tommy, Kat, and Kiri Lee held on as the craft plunged headlong down a tunnel, the ceiling not more than five feet above head level. Here the