Progeny (The Children of the White Lions) Read Online Free PDF

of the two doorways.
    “Thaddeus?” muttered Marie. “Are they coming for them? Did they find us?”
    Nodding once, Thaddeus said, “I think so.” He gave his wife’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “Wait here.” He released her and moved toward their room. “As soon as I get the bundle Aryn gave us, we’re leaving.”
    He held her gaze until he entered their room. Moving to the couple’s straw-mattress bed, he dropped to his knees, lifted the bed, and shoved it against the back wall of the house. He dragged his fingers along the floorboards, searching for the small slit in one of the boards. Digging his thumb into the hole, he pried a long board loose. He winced as a splinter jammed under his fingernail.
    Tossing aside the board, he reached into the dirt depression below and grabbed a tightly wrapped leather package. Four feet at its longest point and skinnier than his thigh, the case had a bulge at one end, a tip at the other. Lifting it free, he brushed away the thick layer of dust and dirt that coated it. He had not laid eyes on this for fifteen years.
    Gripping the package tightly, he repeated the four words Eliza had told him to use should something like this happen. “Chaos has found us.”
    He waited a brief moment, expecting something to happen. Nothing did. At least, nothing that he could sense.
    Shaking his head, Thaddeus muttered in disgust, “Blasted magic.” With a burst of energy that he seldom showed any more, he leapt up and returned to the main room. His son and wife were waiting for him. Eyeing Marie, he asked, “Kenders and Nikalys?”
    Marie grasped the silver teardrop pendant that had hung from her neck for the past decade and a half. She shut her eyes and opened them a moment later, a tiny smile on her face. “They are unhurt.”
    Relieved, Thaddeus nodded. Noticing Jak staring at them both, a question forming on his lips, he shook his head. “No time. I’ll explain as we run.”
    “Run?” asked Jak. “Why are we running?”
    “Because we must,” said Marie.
    “Run where?”
    “Away from here,” replied Thaddeus. Turning his head over his shoulder, he stared through the still-open back door. “Away from that.”
    He took two steps toward his son, shoved the bundle he had retrieved into Jak’s arms, and said, “Put this on. There are straps that will fit over your arms like a backpack. No matter what happens—no matter what!—keep this bundle close! Do you understand?!” He felt Marie’s eyes on him, but ignored her. Jak was younger. He was quicker. He had a better chance.
    Equal parts baffled and worried, Jak took the package and strapped it to his back.
    Thaddeus demanded, “You have the beltpurse?” Jak held up the small leather sack. “Good. Now, move!” Ushering his family out the front door, Thaddeus led them south down the street at a run.
     
    * * *
     
    Zigzagging through the trees, Nikalys overtook his sister and passed her without saying a word. He aimed southwest, back toward the irrigation stream that ran from the lake, through the groves and into town. Bursting from a thicket, Nikalys found himself sloshing through inches of dirty water, yellowed from the soil and spotted with floating leaves and sticks. Still nearly a quarter mile from the stream that would lead them home, he slowed to a walk and looked down to his boots.
    “Hells.”
    The water was already up to his calves. They were not going to make it this way.
    He stopped where he stood and turned around, looking for his sister. Kenders emerged a moment later and stopped short when she saw the water running down the slope. Recognizing the situation in an instant, she looked at him.
    “Now what?”
    Splashing through the water, he moved back to where his sister stood. “South. We’ll cut over when we get closer.”
    Nodding her head in agreement, Kenders started to jog down the hill, breaking into a run after a few steps. Nikalys followed.
     
    * * *
     
    Some people stood motionless, mouths agape,