Escape from Evil Read Online Free PDF Page A

search through all of them, but I really don’t want to do that unless we draw a blank with Hrin. The combat trials are his, after all.”
    â€œThe room seemed pretty bare, anyway. If there was a massive spiked chain in there, I’d have seen it. Let’s move on.”
    The next three doors revealed two separate servants’ quarters and the private chamber belonging to aging trial-master Falni. There was no sign of Hrin or the chain.
    â€œThis is insane!” Decimus whispered when they arrived back at the intersection with the arena and the main cell corridor. “We’ve checked every room! In the name of the gods, where IS he?”
    â€œMaybe he doesn’t live here like the others. It’s pretty obvious that Slavious Doom and his weird friend don’t!”
    Decimus thought for a moment. “You could be right,” he said. “He always seemed to be dressed a bit grander than Mori and Falni . . . and his breastplate looked a lot more expensive. Maybe he was the chief trial-master? He’s probably got a house in town or something! This is a nightmare!”
    â€œShhh!” Olu waved down his companion. “What about that other door—the one back in the prison block?”
    â€œThat’s Truli’s chamber,” said Decimus sarcastically. “I doubt Hrin sleeps in there.”
    â€œMaybe not, but it’s the only room we haven’t tried so what have we got to lose? It’s either that or the portcullis . . .”
    â€œFine, let’s go . . . quietly .”
    The two slaves retraced their steps and crept along the cell corridor, amid the distant sounds of snoring and groaning wood.
    Decimus put his hand on the door handle and slowly turned it clockwise. Fortunately, the door didn’t creak as it was opened.
    Truli was sprawled on a makeshift bed that wasn’t greatly different from the ones in the cells. The jailer’s massive stomach looked like a small mountain rising and falling in the shadowy room. The chamber itself was immense, at least twice the size of the others they had seen. One wall was stacked with the wooden platforms that had claimed Gladius, and the floor next to it was piled with the long poles that had supported them. At the back of the room was a collection of shields, hammers, and, curled in the farthest corner like a giant python, the spiked chain from Hrin’s combat trials.
    Decimus froze when he saw it, and made a quick and silent gesture to Olu, who tried to sneak past him but found his way barred.

    â€œNo,” he whispered. “Let me go. You watch the corridor.”
    Olu nodded, and looked on nervously as Decimus sneaked deeper into the room. There was a brief moment of concern when Truli stopped snoring abruptly, but the danger soon passed and the hulking brute rolled onto his side.
    Decimus moved over to the far wall and began to creep toward the corner. When he arrived beside the spiked chain, he crouched down and tried to lift it . . . but the thing weighed a ton.
    â€œOlu!” he called, one eye on the sleeping giant. “I’m going to need some help.”
    The other slave tiptoed into the room, knelt down beside him, and carefully took hold of the chain.
    â€œTogether,” Decimus muttered, and the pair began to lift the immense chain between them. They got as far as the bed when Truli suddenly rolled over and sat up.
    Decimus started, and Olu gasped. They only just managed to hold onto the chain as, to their horror, the immense jailer climbed off his ragged bed and slammed across the floor toward them.
    Frozen with fear, the two slaves looked on, powerless, as the ugly giant pulled a heavy-looking sword from a wooden barrel at the end of his bed. He advanced on the duo, raising the blade above him to strike them down.
    â€œMove!” Decimus hissed, but Olu was absolutely rooted to the spot with fear.
    The sword came down in a direct strike . . . and stopped inches from