Cloak and Spider: A Shadowdance Novella Read Online Free PDF Page A

to the room, and its open door. “Do you really think I’m scared of you two, after all this?”
    “We’re not scared of you ,” Grayson said. Thren’s heart pounded, but for the first time since everything had started, he felt in control of matters.
    “And you don’t have to be afraid of us,” Thren said. “You just need to die.”
    Crion approached them, weaving his way around the tables. Grayson and Thren shared a look, then stepped apart. When Crion closed in on Thren, Grayson drifted around to the side, putting himself behind the older man and out of his line of sight. Crion sensed the tactic, and he looked none too pleased.
    “Think you’re going to surround me?” he asked. “I’ve killed dozens of men far faster and better than you.”
    Thren didn’t waste his breath arguing. When Crion moved to attack him, instead of attempting to fight him, he only turned and fled as fast as his legs could carry him. He dove into a roll, kicking out of it to curl around one of the tables, and then ran to the far side of the room. Crion tried to chase, but he was bigger, older, and the obstacles were far more of an annoyance to him. Thren put his back to the wall, sweat running down his neck and his stomach sick, but he’d gained space on his attacker.
    “Slippery devils, aren’t you?” Crion asked. He turned, saw Grayson shadowing him. “But you can’t run away from me forever.”
    We’ll see about that , thought Thren.
    This time Crion went after Grayson, whirling on his feet in an attempt to surprise him. But Grayson had spent the past few years surviving based on his ability to flee from angry merchants, and he knew how to move, how to roll underneath a bench, how to keep his head low and his feet moving regardless of how slick the ground was from spilled blood and food. Crion lost him, and he stood alone in the center of the dining hall, with Thren and Grayson each on the far side.
    “Muzien!” Crion shouted, spinning in place. “I know you can see us! End this madness already! You know who your winner is.”
    No answer.
    Swearing, Crion turned back to Thren, paused. A grin spread across his face, revealing his ugly black teeth, and he went to one of the many weapon caches scattered about the room and picked up several knives.
    “Come on then,” he said, readying one. “You might run fast, but how well can you dodge?”
    Thren tensed as the gray-haired man took careful steps closer, one hand holding his sword, the other readying a knife to throw. Thren watched, watched, and then dove to his knees one way, only to immediately roll the other. The knife thudded against the wall beside him, the wooden handle cracking and breaking. Then he was running, and he heard Crion’s footsteps behind him, heard his heavy breathing. Relying on his instincts, he dove to the side at the first table, rolling underneath as yet another knife clacked against the ground.
    To Grayson he ran, nearly throwing himself against the wall beside his friend. Spinning around, he dared let out a laugh.
    “This isn’t a game!” Crion screamed, grabbing one of the knives.
    “If it is,” Thren said, struggling to catch his breath, “I think we’re winning.”
    Crion hurled the dagger at Grayson, who dodged left into Thren’s side. Luck was with him, for the throw had anticipated his movement, except to the right. Both sprinted away, Thren trailing behind Grayson. Crion swung his sword, missed, and Thren saw his opening. Instead of fleeing he dove straight at Crion, jamming upward with his slender dagger. The tip cut into Crion’s side, tearing flesh. Thren released the weapon so he could run, ducking underneath a frantic blow.
    A smile on his face, Thren reached the other side of the dining hall. Grayson saw the smile, knew what it meant.
    “You got him?” he asked.
    Thren turned, nodded.
    “I did,” he said.
    Crion held his side, trying to stem the blood. The cut wasn’t too deep, but Thren knew there’d be no way for the