The Buried Symbol (The Ruins of Issalia Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

could jump to the next rooftop. He needed to get down fast, before he lost the man.
    He began searching for a way down until he saw Samson enter a building not far from the intersection. Brock realized that he had successfully followed the man to his destination. Deciding his current location was an ideal place to stage his lookout, he settled in to wait for Tipper.

CHAPTER 7
     
    The evening fog continued to thicken as Brock watched the house across the street from his rooftop perch. Located at the outer edge of town with no shops or inns nearby, the area was dark and quiet.
    After a half-hour, he began to worry about Tipper.
    “ Where is he? He should be here by now, ” Brock muttered to himself.
    Hearing a noise below, he leaned over the edge to see if it was Tipper.
    Two men were heading his direction, one of them with a bundle over his shoulder. As they passed below him, he could hear their conversation.
    “… was right. This one was even easier than the others. ”
    The other man replied, “ As long as he pays us the same, I don ’ t care. ”
    The first man made a suggestion. “ You wanna head over to Drake ’ s for a drink after this? ”
    The response was too muffled to hear as they passed beyond earshot. Approaching the same house that Samson had entered, the unburdened man knocked. A moment later, the door opened and soft blue light bled into the street. The man entered with the other a step behind. As the second man neared the light, Brock noticed that the bundle was moving. There was a person wrapped in that bundle!
    The bundle began to squirm wildly. The man swung around and banged the bundle against the doorframe, producing a thud that Brock heard from his perch. The bundle fell limp and the door closed, leaving the street dark and quiet.
    Brock swallowed hard. Sally had been correct. The note said that Minister Samson was involved with a slavery ring, kidnapping Unchosen. Seeing those men smuggle somebody into the house confirmed the rumor.
    Unchosen disappearing was nothing new, but Brock had always assumed it was from them leaving the city or dying a natural death. Unchosen didn ’ t have much in the way of rights, but at least they were free. He was appalled at the thought of a life of slavery.
    There were three of them and he was alone, but he had to do something to help. Steeling himself, he began looking for a way down.
    Spotting a balcony on the building next door, Brock crept across the wet roof until he was above it. He slid off the roof to hang by his hands before dropping feet-first onto the balcony. He climbed over the railing and hung from the edge again, landing on the street below.
    Darting across the street, he hugged his back against the building next to the one the men had entered. He remained still, listening for a minute as he considered his next move. Where was Tipper?
    Noise from a door opening startled him. Soft blue light poured into the street. The two thugs emerged, closing the door behind them. They turned north, walking away from where Brock now stood. One man elbowed the other.
    “ You ready to grab that drink now? ”
    “ You know it, ” the other man responded. “ I hope that busty wench is working tonight. I think she likes me ”
    “ I ’ m sure she does, Mick. I heard she goes for big smelly guys who ’ re missing half their teeth. ”
    Mick pushed the other man. “ Funny, Wes. You ’ re just jealous because she ignores... ”
    The sound of the two men faded and the street was again quiet.
    With the two thugs out of the house, Samson and his victim might be the only two remaining. Brock considered his options and decided it was a chance he was willing to take.
    Creeping to the front of the house, he peered in the window but couldn ’ t see beyond the closed drapes. He put his ear to the door and listened. Not hearing anything, he tested the door. It was unlocked so he turned the knob and stepped inside.
    Light from the glowlamp illuminated the first floor of