Jack Staples and the City of Shadows Read Online Free PDF Page B

the square the battle still raged. Mrs. Dumphry and Aias stood back-to-back, fighting impossible odds. Alexia could no longer see the Drogule or hear Elion’s electrifying song. She closed her eyes and tried to regain her senses. As her hearing slowly returned, she realized someone was screaming.
    â€œYou nearly killed us all, you blooming fool!” Whoever was talking was obviously angry. “Lieutenant Greyfield gave strict instructions: you were not to fire unless we knew the child would not be harmed!” Alexia turned to see a leather-faced man yelling at a much younger man. Both wore the uniform of the King’s Guard.
    â€œI’m sorry, Captain,” the man said. He raised his arms defensively. “I thought they were—”
    The captain slugged the man hard in the stomach. “I didn’t give you permission to speak.”
    Alexia suddenly remembered she hadn’t been alone when the cannon went off. She scanned the rubble and barely suppressed a scream. Wild was lying on his back, covered in debris. His forehead was smeared with blood, and she couldn’t tell if he was breathing.
    â€œThere!” The captain pointed at Wild. “Bring the boy to me, and find his companion!”
    Alexia froze, confused. Two of the guards walked directly past. What’s happening? She held her breath as she waited for the men to attack, but they merely carried Wild back to the captain.
    You’re wearing the Atherial Cloak, you goat-headed ninny! Alexia flushed. This was the second time she’d forgotten about the cloak. More of the guards passed within inches as they searched the rubble. Alexia was careful not to move.
    â€œThere’s no one here, sir,” one of the guards called.
    â€œImpossible!” the captain snarled. “The boy was speaking to someone. Keep looking!” As the leather-faced captain walked toward the rubble, Alexia almost screamed. The man walked with a heavy limp. What on earth is he doing here? Alexia could barely believe it. She knew the man—he’d tried to kidnap her when she was just seven years old!
    Six years and three months earlier
    The endless, hypnotic sound of hooves plodding on dirt changed suddenly. And with the change, new smells filled the air and a steady clamor began to rise. With every passing second, the world grew louder and more vibrant.
    From beneath the pile of straw, Alexia Dreager opened her eyes. She’d awoken from the same dream she had every night. But for once, she didn’t care about the dream. “I made it!” she whispered, hardly able to believe it. Alexia grinned. Although she couldn’t see a thing, the sounds and smells were mesmerizing. Cautiously, she began wriggling out from beneath the straw.
    â€œAre you going to leave without saying good-bye, then?”
    Alexia froze. Is he talking to me?
    â€œI don’t mind you napping in my wagon, but it would be rude to leave without at least giving me your name.”
    Alexia had been sure the leathery old farmer hadn’t seen her sneak into his wagon. With a sigh, she climbed upward and readied herself to flee in case he tried to capture her. But she promptly forgot all about the farmer. With hay sticking to hair and clothes, her jaw dropped as she tried to look in every direction at once. It was magnificent!
    The farmer chuckled. “I take it this is your first time to Belfast?”
    Alexia ignored him. She had never imagined anything so grand. So many people! The sight took her breath away. The sun had only begun to rise, but even so, there were at least one hundred people walking or riding along the cobblestone street.
    The surrounding buildings were monstrous, rising seven stories and making Alexia feel as small as an ant. It was grander than anything she’d imagined. She had dreamed of going to Belfast for years now. She was only seven, but her father told her all about the majestic city when she was just four years