Ethan Wright and the Curse of Silence Read Online Free PDF Page B

hysterically as last year’s champion rubbed his stinging backside. Embarrassed, Marcus quickly snatched his sword from the ground and approached the line.
    “I just wanted to show you what I thought of you,” said Auren, chuckling. “What’s the matter? Nothing to say?”
    As Auren egged him on, Marcus went from embarrassed to angry. Auren got back in a ready stance and waited for the judge’s signal.
    “ To the line, begin! ”
    The boys charged, swinging wildly, landing multiple strikes upon each other. The judge was not at all impressed and yelled for the boys to stop, but they did not. Crack ! Marcus swung and landed a blow to Auren’s shoulder; he ignored the sting and swung wildly back, hitting Marcus in the chest with a loud thump !
    “ That’s enough! ” yelled the judge.
    Auren raised his sword again and swung hard at Marcus. He blocked the attack and the force broke Auren’s sword in half. Crack !
    “ Unnecessary, unnecessary, unnecessary! ” yelled the judge.
    The boys backed off from each other. Both red-faced and gasping for breath, they turned to face the judge.
    “ YOU TWO — WHAT KIND OF CONTEST DO YOU … ” The judge was livid. His face was turning red and he seemed to be at a loss for words.
    Auren looked over at Ethan with his chest still heaving in and out from being winded. He shrugged his shoulders and looked back at the judge who was now arguing with another official. The unknown official leaned in and whispered something in the judge’s ear that appeared to be well received. He nodded and faced the boys to address them.
    “ Auren Faryndon is to be disqualified and Marcus Grenwise will move on to the next round, ” announced the judge.
    “ What? ” Auren lost his cool and started yelling. “What is this all about?” He started to approach the judge as Marcus and his followers started cheering.
    Ethan began to run into the ring. Annoyed, Loki jumped off his shoulder and leaped on top of a small barrel sitting near the ring. Ethan ran to Auren and grabbed him by the leather vest. “Let it go — you accomplished what you set out to do, let’s just go,” said Ethan as he got between Auren and the judge.
    Auren realized what he was doing and tossed what was left of the broken sword on the ground. He turned and walked away, followed by Ethan.
    “What a crock,” protested Auren.
    “Yeah, but you sure showed him — I mean, giving him a public spanking like that was genius!” exclaimed Ethan, smiling as he picked up Loki and started moving through the crowd.
    “It was, wasn’t it?” gloated Auren. “Hey, did you see that spin move I did?”
    Ethan had still not seen this mysterious spin move. “Do we have to do this again? There was absolutely no spin move!”
    Ethan, Auren and Loki left the large stone walls of Whitehaven behind and headed back to Strahlung. Ethan didn’t care who won the contest. Even if Auren didn’t get the best of last year’s champion, Marcus seemed to do a good job of making a fool of himself. This brought great satisfaction to Ethan as he walked down the path that led to Auren’s house.
    “So what are you up to tonight?” asked Auren as they walked.
    “Ah, I have to head home and talk to Odin, then it’s off to serve my punishment for …” but Ethan was cut off by Auren’s gloating.
    “Ha! Told ya — knew you would get into trouble for the alchemist bit!”
    Ethan took the gloating in stride. “Yeah, I don’t mind it so much, just gotta go help Wegnel collect herbs or something.”
    “Wait, you gotta go back ?” crowed Auren. “This just keeps getting better and better.”
    “Yeah yeah,” muttered Ethan. “Well then, see you tomorrow,” he added as they reached Auren’s house.
    “Right, have fun with loony, I mean … Wegnel the Alchemist,” winked Auren as he turned and headed for home.

Chapter 5
Dendrobates Azureus
    As Ethan skipped up the wooden staircase, he thought of what he would like to say to Odin. He knew he