Shadows of Time: Shadow Maiden Read Online Free PDF Page A

another nearby campsite.
    They finally shoved him along to a large
wooden structure with enormous metal spiked wheels. Chains and
gears glimmered in the torch light. A great gleaming stove stood in
the center, cold and uncaring as if it was carved of stone. He
marveled for a moment at the size and craftsmanship, wondering what
hands could have built such a thing.
    The feel of cold metal against his skin came
as a shock, sending shivers down his spine. The creatures locked
manacles on both wrists, taking time to spit their disgust at him
before departing back to their nighttime duties.
    He took a moment to observe his new
surroundings. He could see now that the structure was more intact
than he imagined. Inside were an assortment of ropes and pulleys
crisscrossed the ceiling like the web of a giant spider. Below,
still bodies lying in bundled heaps were scattered across the
machine’s floor, all silent and uncaring since his arrival. All of
them, however, except for one. He could feel its eyes studying him.
Its breath stopped short when he suddenly turned his body toward
the attentive silhouette.
    “H-hello.” She sat up, flustered and sounding
embarrassed, rustling the scratchy hay beneath her with jerky
movements.
    “Hello.” Oh Gods, a female. That’s
the last thing I need.
    “My name’s Amaeya.” Straw clung to her dark
hair as she brushed loose strands from her face with a shaky
hand.
    “Charmed.” He leered at her as he gathered a
clump of brittle hay for his pillow and lay in the corner. He
flopped over onto his side with a grunt, turning his back toward
her and trying to ignore the sharp smell of piss and sweat that
tore at his throat.
    “Wait, please don’t. It’s been so long since
anyone’s talked to me. The others will have nothing to do with me.”
Desperation crept into her voice, clinging to it like walking
through mist.
    “Can’t imagine why,” he said, “You seem peppy
enough for all of us.”
    “At least tell me your name.” Her voice was
raspy. He wondered how long it had been since she had tasted water
or even eaten.
    He hesitated, not knowing whether to bite
back a bitter response or surrender to her pleading. The turn of
the day’s events left him hollow and spent, yet a soft kind voice
in a strange land can ignite even the smallest flickers of
hope.
    “It’s Merrick.”
    She was silent for a moment. He imagined her
smiling at her small victory over him.
    “Goodnight Merrick. And… Merrick?”
    “Yes?” His voice was barely a whisper to keep
the pain at bay.
    “Thank you.”
    He shut his eyes tight, swallowing the guilt,
trying not to catch it in his throat.
    “Any time.”

Chapter Three
    Lestel watched in horror as his body leapt
through the air from rooftops to spires and back again. Luthen
snickered and cackled with glee, showing off his power over him
like a wicked child pulling at the puppet strings. He finally
stopped high on the very top of the tallest tower and directed
Lestel’s attention toward a distant amber glow.
    Do you know what lies over there, my dear
Lestel? No, of course you don’t. You know nothing of the world
outside these walls. That, my darling little friend, appears to be
a Phookan war party, a group of the deadliest warriors you could
ever hope to meet. They don’t kill because of necessity, like most
of these pathetic races. Oh no, they kill because they love it.
They lust after the spilling of blood. Now those are my kind of
people. We should introduce ourselves.
    Lestel’s body leapt from the tower, his arms
stretched wide as his heart burst from his chest. However, instead
on falling straight down as he expected, he zoomed throw the clouds
as if he was carried on an unseen wind. Suddenly his world went
dark, his consciousness pushed aside, like a candle blown out by a
hiss of wind.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Merrick squeezed his eyes shut, trying to
recreate the vividness of his vision. He could still see her face
and how her deep green eyes