Naomi Grim (The Silver Scythe Chronicles) Part 1 Read Online Free PDF Page A

exited.
    "Don't they have anything better to do than to
come over here and bother us?" Keira asked.
    Bram took out a wad of money and began counting
out bills. "Apparently not. I can't wait to get over there. It's
going to drive them crazy. Lunch is on me, guys." Bram left some
bills on the table and we left.
    The five of us decided to go to our house to
hang out for a while. We were halfway home when sirens blared
through the streets. That meant only one thing—Foragers.

Chapter
4
    Several doors flew open as men bolted from
their houses armed with rifles. "Kids, get in here!" shouted a man
named Colby, pointing to his open door.
    I looked at Bram, and he nodded. The five of us
made a run toward the house. At least twenty men were in the street
now with their weapons. Colby's wife, Lamya, ushered us inside.
Bram stopped on the porch and began to back up.
    "Bram!" I yelled.
    "It's okay. I have to go help."
    I called for him again, but he was gone,
running in the direction of the other men. Lamya closed the door.
Bram was eighteen, the age you must be to participate in defense
actions if our colony was raided, but he hadn't had his
Confirmation ceremony yet. When my parents chose a wife for Bram
and he was confirmed, then he could help the men.
    "Children, have a seat. I was just about to put
on some tea," Lamya said.
    The four of us took seats on her living room
sofas. I hoped Mother was safely indoors. I couldn't call to tell
her where we were—getting a signal was impossible while the sirens
were engaged.
    Dorian tapped his knee nervously. "I should go
after Bram."
    "You will do no such thing," I said
forcefully.
    Dorian shrugged. "They're just Foragers. They
can't hurt me."
    That wasn't entirely true. Foragers used to be
Grims. They were descendants of Dunningham's twin brother, Dunstan.
Dunstan had been cast out for falling in love with a Fated and
refusing to kill her. That crime was punishable by death, but he'd
escaped that by being Dunningham's brother.
    Foragers didn't have the years of life we were
granted. No longer Grims, they don't receive assignments. They only
stayed alive by stealing lifestones before we got to them or by
raiding the Mill, as they were attempting to do then. Foragers died
of old age. They wrinkled and their hair turned white, something
that was unheard of in Farrington or the Upper Estates. They
couldn't kill us, but we could kill them. Still, they risked their
lives attempting to steal our lifestones. What other choice did
they have other than to shrivel up and die? They attempted these
raids once every few months, but they had only been successful once
a few years ago. They had gotten away with almost a thousand
lifestones from the Generator Fund. That put our colony on hard
times, but we quickly recovered.
    My ears stung from the persistent ringing of
the warning sirens. It would only stop once the Foragers were
caught, and it was safe to come outside.
    Lamya placed a tray with teacups and a plate of
cookies on the coffee table. I was stuffed from my cheeseburger at
Brickman's, but I partook to be polite. Colby and Lamya had two
children, but since they were nowhere in sight, I assumed they were
on assignment.
    We munched in silence. Lamya looked at us and
smiled politely from time to time. There was not much else to do.
It was inappropriate to carry on frivolous conversations during a
raid.
    After thirty-two minutes, the sirens stopped.
We all breathed sighs of relief. Politely, we placed our teacups on
the tray and rose to leave.
    Dorian, being the oldest male in the group now,
spoke for us. "Lamya, thank you for the refuge. We'll be on our way
now."
    Lamya stood. "Okay. Be careful and get your
sisters home safely."
    "Yes, Madam," Josh answered.
    The streets were empty except for the roaming
Watchers. There seemed to be more of them now.
    "Are you all okay?" Mother asked as we entered
the kitchen where she was preparing vegetables for
dinner.
    "We're fine, Mother," I answered.
    "Good.