Raised By Wolves Volume four- Wolves Read Online Free PDF Page B

dogs.”
    “I’mnot leavingwithout the dogs,”Agnes said. Gastonsmiled at her withgreat regard, and I chuckled. “Aye, we could o’ all left on the flyboat we got stashed
up the Palisadoes a month ago if na’ fer the dawgs,” Liam said witha teasingsmile.
    “Nay!” Rachel said quickly. “Even without those beasts, we could not allfit uponthat little boat.”
“You have a boat hidden away?” Striker asked Liam and Sarah.
“Aye,” Sarah said, “we developed battle and escape plans for everyscenario. Pete should be proud.”
“We drilled,”Rucker said. “And practiced witharms.” Pete was grinning. “IBeRightProudO’AllO’YaThen.”
“I have even trained the dogs to behave and follow me instead ofrunningamuck,”Agnes said.
“Aye my lady, but they’ll still be shittin’ on Savant’s decks,”Daveysaid.
“Nay, now they will be shitting on the Bard’s decks,” I
said. “Maybe you all should sail with Savant,” Striker said as
     
if giving the matter serious thought until Sarah smacked him
     
playfully.“OneO’UsShouldGoAn’Tell TheBardSomethin’,” Pete
     
said seriously. “ShouldGoTonight Iffn’ItBeAsBadAsYaSay. PeopleBeKnowin’ WeBeAbout ByMornin’.”
    “Aye,” I agreed. “If they have approached Savant and told him not to take you on, then they do not wish for you to leave.” I was chilled anew with our reason for wishing to sneak ashore. “We have thought it likely they could be waiting on our return.”
    “They most assuredly have been,” Theodore said. “They could have done whatever they wished to do months ago; but instead, they ruined our businesses and then prevented us from leaving, but took no further actionagainst us.”
“Thenlet us slip awayinthe night,”I said.
    As if the Gods mocked us, the dogs began to bark viciously in the back yard, until a shot rang out and one of the animals yelped piteously.

Eighty-Four Wherein We Are Cast Into Hell
    “Women an’ babes to the boat!” Liam hissed as all erupted into motion.
Agnes twisted fromme and beganto whistle shrilly.
I did not have a pistol; nor did Gaston, Pete, or Striker. I wanted to ask for a piece, but everyone was already racing about inpursuit ofhis or her assigned task. We four new arrivals, who had not been given a role in their well-conceived and drilled battle plans, began to scramble about looking for
weapons.There was pounding at the front door: not the knock of
    someone demanding entry, but the widely spaced booms of a battering ram. Pete went upstairs, and passed Henrietta and Hannah scurrying down with the children. Gaston slapped my shoulder, and I turned in time to see him running for the stairs leading up to what had once been our room. I followed, only to dive back as men fired upon him from the yard. Gaston threw himself flat. Davey and Julio were using the stable and cookhouse for cover in order to fire on these attackers. Sarah and Striker emerged from her office with braces of pistols, just as the bar to the front door cracked, spraying splinters and then men into the foyer. I snatched two pistols fromSarah and tossed
themto my matelot. Then I snatched two more fromStriker and
     
themto my matelot. Then I snatched two more fromStriker and beganfiringat the menpouringinto the atrium.
    Striker and Sarah retreated toward the roomnext to her office. Gaston and I stood back to back and began to hack about with blades. There had been no time to reload, and no ammunition. I could see no one else we knew in the press of men, and they were not buccaneers: not an earring among them. They were dressed like good common Englishmen, in boots, coats, and hats. Myfather had sent anarmyto take us. I was not sure if I was pleased they were not attempting to kill us. Dozens surrounded Gastonand me.
    It is actually easier to fight men who wish you dead under such circumstances. Then, each man will assume he can strike the killing blow and attack as he feels able: making himself an easy target and thus