The Awakened: Book One Read Online Free PDF

he did, he saw that the ship was only a dark silhouette on the brightening horizon.  For the first time since the attack began, Bahari breathed a sigh of relief.
    He floated in the water for a moment, clinging to the barrel, trying to come to grips with what had just happened.  His most immediate threat was now sailing to the south, but in many ways, his current situation was worse.  Now what do I do?  I’m floating in the middle of the ocean and I don’t even know where I am or how to get to land!   He shook his head to clear his mind.
    He had been heading south along the coast from Nucotu when he missed the turn and ended up on the west side of the reef .  As close as he could figure, he was still well north of the halfway point between the two cities and many miles west of the shore.  With a dangerous reef in between!   He would have several days’ journey before he could reach the shore.  That’s if the tides don’t carry me past the southern tip!   For that amount of time, he would need food and water.
    Then, as the sky continued to lighten in the east, a smile formed on Bahari’s face.  All around him, scattered in the dawn light, were crates of fruit drifting away from the sight of the attack.  If the gods are merciful, I should reach land within a few days.  And then the Governor will know about this!

Chapter 3
     
    The rectangular peephole slid open, showing the eyes of an elderly woman, then shut suddenly.  A few seconds later, the large door opened inward and the nurse of the temple of Adussk, the god of healing, bowed in reverence before the Governor of Bastul .
    Adair Lorus walked through the door and motioned for the woman to rise.  Although it still made him uncomfortable, he had come to expect this reverent behavior from his subjects.  Each of the royal guards at his flanks carried spears in their right hands and torches in their left, casting a flickering orange glow around the trio, barely fighting back the darkness of the night.
    “I was told you have a man in your custody…a sick man.”
    “Yes, my lord,” the old woman responded.  “He has been here since yesterday morning, unconscious and silent until a few hours ago.  But then he started moaning your name, so I sent for you.  I hope I have not disturbed you,” she stated quickly.
    “Not at all.  Thank you for notifying me.  May I see him?” he asked, unnecessarily.
    “…at once, my lord.”  The woman turned to Adair’s right and began walking down a long hall.  The dark green fabric of her veil and floor-length tunic billowed as she hurried through the dark passage, restricted only by the leather apron tied at her waist.  The sound of their footsteps echoed off the stone floor as they passed numerous doorways and candles burning in sconces along the stone walls.  The hall turned to the left and continued for another hundred feet before it ended at a door.  The woman pulled a set of keys from her apron.
    With a nod of confirmation, she unlocked the door and pushed it open.  Adair walked slowly into the room, unsure of what he might find.  The guards followed closely, their torches adding to the light from a small lamp hanging on the wall.  The soft illumination showed a man lying on top of the sheets, covered in bandages, and throwing his head back and forth.  If he had been moaning before, he showed no signs of it now.
    “Where did you find this man?”
    “A soldier brought him to me.  He said they found him on the western shore.”
    Adair wrinkled his eyebrows as he walked over to the bed.  “Is he awake?”
    “No, my lord.  It only appears that way because he moves so much.”
    Adair stood over the bed with his hands clasped behind his back.  It was plain to see that the man was badly injured.  He had a large bandage around his left thigh and the skin on his face and arms was burned and peeling.  His hair was gray, flecked with brown, and matted on his head.  Adair looked at his face but