One (The Godslayer Cycle Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

bodily over the ledge, holding on by his hands alone for a moment before dropping lightly to the ground himself.
    Avery reached out and slowly pulled his bundles closer to him, straining to hear if his movements had been noticed before moving towards the back wall in search of an exit.  He would prefer not to leave by the front door that faced the main street through the town if he could help it.  And besides, leaving by the rear would put him closer to the edge of town, if he was not mistaken.
    It took him several minutes in the dark shadows of the shop to finally locate the back service door and several more anxious minutes trying to undo the fastenings that held the door closed.  He could only go by feel in the darkness, and with each passing moment, his own anxiety worked more and more against him as his fingers became less focused on the task, more desperate.  Somehow though he finally felt the catch release and a quick press against the door opened his way to the outside world.  He waited not a heartbeat in lurching out the door into the night air.
    In the shadow of the building, Avery glanced furtively in either direction, trying to recall in his mind which direction the edge of town, and the safety of a wooded grove he had seen upon entering, would lay.
    “ Hey there!” came a voice out of the darkness.  Avery froze, hoping that the voice's owner were not calling to him.  His hopes were cast down though as two figures emerged into the moonlight and made quickly for him.  “I see you there,” called one of the men approaching.  “What were you doing in Master Kinsel's forge?”
    Avery abandoned all pretense and fled into the night.  He could hear the two giving case, but he did not dare turn back to see how closely.  All he knew in his panic was the need to keep moving.  He had been seen exiting the shop and no explanation would win him free if he were caught.  One glimpse of his brand would condemn him.
    The full moon cast its light upon the sleeping town, making him an easy target to follow.  Avery cursed his misfortune as he tried weaving in and out of shadows in his flight.  Tonight, of all nights, had near perfect light to see by, with clear sky and a pie-sized orb shining down upon the land.  He quickly changed his mind about trying for the shadows though and counted at least one blessing in his favor as he saw the edge of the treeline appear before him as he rounded a corner.  At least he had run in the right direction.  He could just as easily have set off into the heart of town!
    The woods offered less shelter than he had hoped, however.  As he crossed under their boughs, the moonlight cast a seemingly unnatural glow amongst the trunks of the trees.  Avery ran full on for several minutes before he heard the sound of his pursuers' footfalls on the leaves carpeting the ground.  He could also hear at least three voices calling between themselves as they came.  Someone else had joined in chase, apparently.  At this rate, Avery fretted that a mob would be searching the woods before daybreak.  And what were his chances of escape then?
    Avery became acutely aware of the sound of his own feet making crashing noises through the underbrush and realized those behind him were following his flight by ear more than anything else.  Yet he feared to stop lest they overtake him.  He still was unsure exactly how far behind the men were.  There did not seem to be a solution one way or the other...
    Without warning, something drew his attention to the side as he ran.  With a  compulsion he did not at all understand, he dove toward whatever had called his attention without even knowing what it was nor why he should.  In a moment of clarity, he recognized the foolishness of what he had just done, but he was by now on his belly in the underbrush.  All he could do was pick himself up and frantically scurry for cover before his pursuers caught up to him.
    As he scrambled backward in panic, Avery's