The Eye of God (The Fall of Erelith)

The Eye of God (The Fall of Erelith) Read Online Free PDF

Book: The Eye of God (The Fall of Erelith) Read Online Free PDF
Author: RJ Blain
I be of service?”
    “We’re on orders to ask someone of the Church to come look at a slave brought in this evening, Father.”
    Blaise wanted to scowl, but settled with dipping his head down in acknowledgment of the words. He dropped his gaze to the white tassels of the cadets. “It is our duty to serve all children of God who are in need,” he replied. “I would be pleased to bring God’s blessing to this house.”
    The Arena needed it, and as if sensing his loathing of the place, the lads stared at him with wide eyes. They glanced at each other before turning to wrestle open the gates. The cadets waved Blaise through, and he obeyed, casting a look over his shoulder toward the Imperial Ward.
    As always, Blaise could trust the church or military to find some way to interfere with his plans.
    “This way, Father.”
    The cadet left behind didn’t say a word. He was led down the stone-paved walkway to the Arena proper.
    “Are there games tomorrow?” Blaise asked.
    “Yes, Father. You haven’t heard? Catsu will be fighting in all events as a blessing from the Emperor in hopes of a prosperous year. Some are even saying His Imperial Majesty will be making an appearance.”
    Blaise rubbed at his temples and tried to will his growing headache to disappear. It didn’t obey. “I’m afraid I’m a bit behind on the Arena gossip,” he said. Each step closer to the tiered, arched, and columned Arena, the more pervasive the stench of death became. Something lurked beneath the stones he trod over, but he couldn’t tell if the presences were ghosts unwilling or to pass through the gates to God’s Garden, or it was an imprint of the countless deaths within the ancient structure.
    The ground’s silent cries for the Gardens, for the surge of the divine power accompanying the reclamation of a soul, nipped at his heels. By the time they reached the tunnel descending beneath the Arena, Blaise’s head throbbed.
    “I will take you to my sergeant,” the cadet mumbled.
    Blaise forced a smile. “Let’s make haste, then. It wouldn’t do to leave your sergeant waiting.”
    With a little luck, he could escape the accursed place before he went deaf or insane.
    The cadet bowed his head and gestured, obeying the suggestion to hurry. “This way. It isn’t far.”
    A maze of corridors dipped beneath the Arena, lined with empty cells, the barred doors cracked open. Sobs echoed in the hall, growing stronger with each step closer to where the sergeant waited. Blaise couldn’t tell if the sounds were real or fragments from those who’d been sentenced to death long ago.
    A closed portcullis blocked the hall. Reaching up, the cadet pulled on a cord, which rang a bell on the other side.
    A woman clad in a gray coat and ankle-length skirt appeared from a doorway on the other side. A frown tugged at her red-painted lips.
    “Sergeant, sir! I’ve brought someone from the church here as you ordered,” the cadet announced.
    “So I see,” the woman replied. “Back to your duty, cadet. I’ll handle this from here.”
    The boy saluted and fled.
    “How may I be of service, Sergeant?” Blaise asked, careful to keep his tone neutral and his hands clasped in front of him where she could see them. He dipped his head low enough to be polite.
    “None of your preaching to me, Bishop. I’ve a few new ones I want ready for tomorrow. Make them useful. Come,” she said, turning the winch to open the portcullis.
    “As you wish, Sergeant,” he replied, ducking beneath the metal spikes as soon as the gate was lifted high enough for him to pass beneath. It crashed down behind him, snagging the hem of his coat. His collar cut off his breath. When the fabric didn’t tear, he wheezed. Twisting around, Blaise drew his lip up in a snarl and snapped out a few Words.
    The hem separated into the original threads it was made of, pooling around the spikes embedded in the stone. He jerked his shoulder and the tangled mess came loose. Coughing eased some of
Read Online Free Pdf

Similar Books

The Bolivian Diary

Ernesto «Che» Guevara

When Its Least Expected

Heather Van Fleet

The City of Ravens

Richard Baker

BRIDAL JEOPARDY

REBECCA YORK

Perfect Submission

Roxy Sloane

Summer Crossing

Truman Capote

The Gigolo

Isabella King

The Raven's Gift

Don Reardon

The Midnight Rose

Lucinda Riley

Swing, Swing Together

Peter Lovesey