Hand of Fire (The Master of the Tane) Read Online Free PDF

Chufa froze where they stood. Peering over a large thicket they spotted their target in a small clearing shadowed by the tall trees surrounding it. With a slight flick of his hand the taller one waved for his companion to circle a bit to the left for a better shot and to cut off any route of escape. With the other Chufa set, his heart pounding in his ears, he gave the signal and both rose in unison and began emptying their quivers into their prey. In a flash it was over. With a sigh of relief, both laughed with joy at their success.
                  “You win again, Thane,” the shorter boy exclaimed while smiling at his own success.
          “Only by one arrow, Dor,” Thane answered also happy with how he had done. “Last time it was by two. And last time neither of us hit the target as often as we did today.” Both boys scrambled through the underbrush towards a large, old log standing on its end and wounded by a number of arrows.
    “All that will change after today though,” Dor said excitedly. “Now that we are eight cycles we get to learn from DaxSagn, the great protector, the ways of the bow and arrow and also how to track silently in the woods.”
                  “I know,” Thane replied as he began to collect his arrows. “I have been waiting for this day ever since I can remember.”
                  “Do you think we will ever be as good as DaxSagn and someday become great protectors?”
    “I hope so,” Thane said with a twinkle in his eyes, his vision suddenly becoming distant.
    “Just think of it! Thane and Dor, the great protectors, save the village once again from a troll raid.”
                  “Yeah,” Dor said catching the glorious vision. “Ten huge trolls were no match for the greatest protectors of all time.” Both became silent for a moment as they basked in the glory of the future victory while gathering the rest of their arrows.
    Thane pulled his last arrow from the log and then moved on behind looking for strays when he was suddenly overcome by a strange feeling of impending doom that gripped his chest in a tight squeeze almost forcing him to gasp for air. He looked back at Dor who continued unbothered as he worked on an arrow that had become embedded especially tight in a tree. Thane looked all around quickly trying to concentrate on what could be making him feel so strange when he noticed that the forest had fallen into a dead silence. The feeling of dread increased causing a cold sweat to break out on his brow while sending a sliver of fear racing down his back. “Come on Dor,” he said shakily. “Let’s get back.”
                  “Why,” Dor asked with a grunt, finally removing his arrow from the stubborn tree. “What’s wrong?”
    “I don’t know,” Thane whispered. “Something just doesn’t feel right. It’s too quiet.”
                  Dor turned his head as if to listen and nocked an arrow as he realized Thane was right. Just then a rustle came from the thicket on the opposite side of the clearing causing Dor to jump and almost loose his arrow. Recovering the best he could, Dor brought his bow around nervously as Thane fumbled for an arrow of his own.
                  “Ouch!” a voice suddenly called from the undergrowth followed by more thrashing. Dor and Thane glanced at each other and smiled knowingly, visibly relaxing, as they started towards the underbrush.
                  Thane winked at Dor and then said in a frightened voice, “What do you think it could be Dor?”
          Dor smiled and replied similarly, “I don’t know, but I don’t think I want to find out.” The bushes became quiet again and a small giggle touched their sensitive ears before it was muffled by a hand.
                  Thane held back a laugh of his own as he elbowed Dor. “Maybe we should just shoot into the brush with our arrows?” The thicket turned stone