Rise Read Online Free PDF Page B

wall. Anders poked his head around the corner, observing the main road. “It’s clear,” he whispered. “Let’s go.”
    We stayed on the sidewalk, carefully not touching, as we headed to the edge of the capital.
    A pair of soldats stepped out of the shadows in front of us. “Little late to be out for a walk,” one said, sliding his hand to the hilt of his sword.
    Anders chuckled. “We’re not really out for a stroll,” he said with a drawl to his words, as if he were drunk. “I’m just taking this one home.”
    The men looked at me. “She doesn’t match the description, but we should take her in anyway.” One reached for my arm.
    Quick as lightning, Anders grabbed him, flipping him onto his back. Spinning, he kicked the other one in the head, knocking him over. Anders glanced around, and then pulled a dagger from his back pocket.
    A loud bell tolled over the capital, indicating curfew was now in effect. We had to get off the streets.
    “Let’s go,” I said. There was no need to kill these men. They were both on the ground, and we could easily outrun them.
    Ignoring me, Anders bent over one of them and slit his throat. Blood flowed from the cut, and the man’s eyes widened with shock. My hands flew to my mouth, smothering my scream. Anders moved to the other one, doing the same. Vomit rose in the back of my throat. Repelled by Anders’s total disregard for human life, I turned and ran.
    I hadn’t even made it a block when a hand clamped down on my shoulder.
    “Let go!” I hollered, struggling to break free from the heartless assassin. “Why did you kill them?”
    “Run,” was all he said as his hand slid down to my wrist, firmly clutching it.
    We sprinted toward the wall surrounding the capital, my eyes filling with tears. “You’re crazy,” I accused him. “Leave me alone. I’ll take my chances on my own.”
    “I can’t do that,” he coldly responded. “I’m responsible for your safety.”
    “No, you’re not. You don’t owe me anything—and I don’t owe you either. Let’s just part ways now.”
    “You’ll never make it without me,” he said, squeezing my wrist tighter. We were almost to the wall.
    “Let go,” I demanded, yanking out of his grasp.
    Leaving the assassin meant I could go to my father. We’d have to find a safe place to hide from Morlet. Only, this plan presented some issues. In an attempt to keep track of all citizens, we were required to have papers authorizing travel between cities within the kingdom of Nelebek. Neither my father nor I had the required paperwork to leave the capital. Even if we did manage to get out, with the spell on Nelebek’s borders, we couldn’t leave the kingdom. Since Papa was sick, he couldn’t move quickly, and the cold air would only make his condition worse.
    “Easy,” Anders growled. “Morlet will be able to find you in a heartbeat.”
    “Only if I’m truly a Kriger.” I shivered, not from fear but from the idea of Morlet being able to sense me.
    Anders laughed. “Don’t be so naive. You know you’re a Kriger. Even I can feel it. Once Morlet has all twelve of you, he’ll kill you. Your power won’t be enough to save you—not until you learn to control and master it. To do that, you need your weapon.” My body pulsed at the mention of my weapon. It was as if a flame was lit in me, slowly growing. I wanted to understand what it meant to be a Kriger.
    We reached the twenty-foot-high wall surrounding the capital. Anders started feeling around the stone blocks, looking for something. There was only one gate in the wall where citizens could enter or exit, and soldats checked everyone’s paperwork. We were nowhere near there.
    Shouts rose behind us. The bodies must have been discovered. My heartbeat quickened, and I frantically looked around for a hiding place.
    The assassin cursed and pulled me against the nearby building. “Wait here,” he instructed.
    “What are you going to do?” I demanded, fearing he’d murder more