Shadows of Time: Shadow Maiden Read Online Free PDF

begged for help. He had to find her,
but first he had to escape.
    He could hear Amaeya’s shallow breathing
behind him, along with the occasional grunt or soft clinking from
one of the huddled bodies. Mere hours had passed since he had
landed in this strange land and he was already longing for home.
Strong, icy metal clung to his wrist, making the skin clammy and
raw. He peeled off his worn gloves and to feel each link for any
signs of weakness. Rust scratched against his fingertip but he
could find no gaps in the metal. His fingers dashed further down
the chain, searching for its source.
    “‘Ey you! What the hell do you—”
    Merrick stiffened like a corpse. The wall
above his head exploded into millions of rotting splinters, shaking
the machine with a thunderous crack. Warm liquid dribbled down
below, spattering on his rigid body. The hollow glint of yellow
eyes hung overhead.
    He could hear the pounding of heavy boots
against the soft soil and the slither of many blades being pulled
from their sheaths, ready to strike. Now was the time to move.
    His fingers danced along the wet, sticky
chain, coming to an unexpected end. It had been blasted loose. He
slipped the manacles off with extreme care, his strained gaze
shooting around the interior of the machine like sparks. He
stripped the mangled Phooka of its weapon without hesitation. It
may not be his trusted bone knife, but it was sharp and would give
him a fighting chance. He slid the curved blade into his thick,
leather belt, its exposed metal hungry for blood. Amaeya’s round
pale face shone up at him through the darkness. Though he had never
seen her, he knew it was her. She said nothing, but her eyes begged
for freedom.
    Merrick crawled over to her, careful to avoid
rattling the chain. He could feel the festering wounds around her
wrist as he fed the manacles through. Her skin was soft and cool,
reminding him of flying with the clouds brushing past his face. She
pulled away, shaking her head. He didn’t understand. Had living in
such a place driven her mad?
    “Please,” her voice was a rough whisper
cracked with sobs. “Just go—He’ll hunt me down. He always finds me.
Please! Go!”
    His breath stopped short in hesitation. She
was his only ally in this strange place. He knew nothing about the
layout of the land, or even if there were any other dangers besides
the creatures outside the splintering machine’s walls. His strong,
rough hands reached up to touch the tears on her face.
    “You’re coming with me,” Merrick said, eyes
flashing madly, “I’m going to take you far away from these
monsters. But you have to help me.”
    She shook her head faster, struggling to pull
away from him. His hands gripped around her wrists. He pulled her
close, silencing her sobs against his chest. The manacles slipped
off their chain, falling onto the soiled hay below.
    Merrick looked around at the surrounding
prisoners. None had so much as moved. They lay like corpses,
enslaved not only in body but in spirit. He pitied them, but not
enough to change their accepted fate.
    The torchlight coming from outside hushed to
a dull blue. Screams twisted their way through the darkness, making
Amaeya clutch at him, her sobs suddenly silenced.
    Time to go.
    He rushed toward the door with Amaeya’s hand
clasped in his, the sounds of chaos swirling around them like
vultures. They ran past whimpering and gasping shadows, past thorny
claws tearing at their heels. Upon reaching the edge of the camp
where the clearing melded back into forest, a soft, raspy laugh
floated after them, taunting their frantic escape.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Chief Al’Rul ripped open the tent’s flap,
gripping a gleaming mace tight in his clawed hand. The howling had
jarred him from a deep sleep. He was prepared to have the
disturbance repaid fully in blood.
    “Fanger! Maggot! What in the hell is going
on!” Raging breath poured from his curling lips as the Chief jabbed
his wicked mace into the air.
    The