Bones of the Empire Read Online Free PDF Page A

sharply again. “When, I should say. It may not be in here, but they will find us sooner or later. I don’t want any of us to let our guard down.”
    “Like you said, run and try to meet back up.”
    “We both know if it comes to that, we’ll keep running until they hunt us down. If the two of you get away, keep going. Don’t come back. I already told Feanne the same thing. Do not wait for us.”
    Estin stared at Raeln in surprise and nearly tripped over some fallen bits of stone that scraped his toes. “The prophecy…”
    “You will keep running. Get Dalania out with you if you can. Yoska and I will find our own way out with Turess.”
    “Expecting things to go that badly?”
    Raeln scowled at Estin and did not reply. From what Estin had gathered during their travels, Raeln did little more than expect the worst.
    “I’ll do what I can,” Estin offered. The tunnel leveled off and straightened, giving them an easy path ahead. “No promises out here. I won’t run while you die, Raeln.”
    “I wouldn’t expect anyone to promise anything. Just start running and I’ll be fine. I won’t let myself die unless everyone stays behind.”
    They walked on in silence for hours, until Estin had to open his mouth to pant as the magic of the light continued to sap his strength even more than the hiking. Sometime after that, as he gasped for breath, the glowing ball flickered and faded to less than candlelight as his head pounded from the effort. Before Turess could say anything about it, Feanne brought her own hand up and created a soft green light that floated over her palm-pad. Estin was thankful for her help, even if he dearly wished he were not still so weak. He let his own hand drop, extinguishing his magical light and easing the strain on his body.
    Pushing on, they made good time through the twisting tunnel, with Yoska and Turess stopping every so often so Turess could relay information about one family or another that had mined that area and for what. Estin tuned most of that out, not really caring much about the mine or the metals Turessians had claimed from the depths.
    Estin felt as though he would never stop panting until they stopped to rest, which had become his only real focus as they went on. It was all a blur of endless stone and wooden supports. Turess droned on and on about things Estin could not have cared less about, even if he could understand the man without Yoska’s aid.
    Eventually, Raeln brought the group to a halt when they came to a larger chamber that appeared to have been set up for a stopping point of mine carts or possibly a resting area for the workers. Whatever its original purpose, Raeln demanded they stop and threw down his bedroll, leaving little room for debate. Turess looked ready to object, but after glancing at the faces of his companions—stopping a little longer on Estin—he relaxed and nodded, sitting down at the edge of the chamber.
    Estin practically collapsed, putting both hands to his head. The headache and dizziness from using magic for so long was nearly enough to make him sick. He dreaded looking at the others and seeing the pity on their faces. They were all either skilled spellcasters or warriors, and Estin alone was helpless in the group. It made him want to scream some days. Once he had been as strong as any of them, but he had made his choices and these were the consequences.
    “Drink some water,” whispered Feanne, kneeling beside Estin and offering a small canteen they had filled with melted snow earlier in the day.
    “I’m fine!” he snapped more sharply than he had intended.
    Estin did not need to look up to know Feanne’s temper nearly took over. He could feel her body tense beside him, ready to pin him down and force him to drink if needed. Arguing with her was pointless, and he was not mad at her to begin with. Sighing, he took the canteen from her and drank deeply.
    Lowering the canteen, Estin saw Yoska was helping Dalania clear a space on the uneven