Blood Charged (Dragon Blood, Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

slippery. His leg flew out from beneath him, and he landed on his back. He rolled and came up in a crouch, ready to flee away before anyone could look out the window and spot him. With his first step, he almost crashed into General Ort.
    “Are you insane ?” the general whispered, glancing up at the open window and keeping his voice low. He grabbed Ridge by the arm before he could answer, dragging him toward the garden gate. “Are you trying to throw away a twenty-year career?”
    “No, sir,” Ridge responded, but his focus was inward. That had to have been Sardelle’s sword that had yelled into his thoughts. It had never spoken to him before, but he knew it communicated with Sardelle, and apparently it had done so with Tolemek, as well. Another time, the telepathic intrusion would have made him as uncomfortable as ants crawling on his skin, but the content of the message was more important than the fact of it.
    What do you mean? he asked in his mind, having no way of knowing if the sword could hear him. What kind of trouble?
    “Don’t tell me you were looking for a place to piss in the garden,” Ort growled. “I’m sure there’s a rule on the books somewhere about leaving yellow snow on the castle grounds.”
    Ridge shook his head, hoping for clarification from the sword. But nothing came.
    “I wasn’t thinking, sir. That’s all. If this mission starts tomorrow, I have to run to the hangar, select my team, and make sure everyone and everything gets packed and ready today.” By now, they had reached the main courtyard, with its guards stationed all around. Ridge couldn’t have gone back for more spying, even if he dared. It didn’t matter. Sardelle was in trouble. He quickened his steps. “I’ll report back to you at the end of the day, sir.” Not waiting to be dismissed, he broke into a run.
    “You better,” Ort called after him.
    Ridge raced through the castle gate with little more than an acknowledging wave. He sprinted down the icy street, ignoring the startled looks he inspired from passersby, and headed for the archives building.

Chapter 2
    S ardelle hunkered on her hands and knees in a corner as books and pieces of the ceiling continued to fall onto the shield she had gathered around herself. Her lantern was buried, and she couldn’t see a thing, but she sensed two people at the top of the stairs leading to the basement. They were armed. Somehow, she doubted they were patrons of the archives, simply curious about the noise. Rubble blocked the doorway on her side, so they wouldn’t be coming to investigate soon. She muffled a cough—some of the dust flooding the basement had gotten to her before she had formed her shield—not wanting to make noise, regardless. Let them think her dead.
    When the final book fell, she risked lowering her shield, so she could create a light. A soft orange glow filled the space, its influence dimmed by the haze in the air. It didn’t matter. Her other senses had already told her the story. She was blocked in until she cleared that doorway—or someone else did. Going out that way might not be wise, anyway. She touched the wall behind her, stretching her mind out in that direction, wondering if there might be more than dirt and earth out there. In a city this old, one expected layers upon layers of civilization.
    Hm, yes, there was a passage out there. Or, more likely, a sewer tunnel. Either could offer her an alternative exit. The mortar holding the old, chipped bricks together was already crumbling. It shouldn’t take much effort to tear away at it. She let go of the light—maintaining two ongoing forms of energy was always a challenge—to reestablish her shield, in case her architectural deconstruction resulted in a cave-in. Another one.
    She could have pulled down the wall in one quick move, but she didn’t want to make noise. The people on the steps were still there, waiting like snipers. They might decide to close in if they thought she was escaping.