The Fourteenth Key (The Chronicles of Terah Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

the local sister about interviewing the children.”
    “Are you done here?” Kevin asked.
    Gen. Crandal nodded.
    Kevin looked at Karl and Alec and raised his eyebrows. They both nodded, so he stood up, took out his key, and they left Syrando.
    Seconds later, they were at the Chapel of Light in Ashmont. Gen. Crandal walked up to the front door and knocked while the others waited in the yard.
    A middle-aged lady opened the door, frowned, and asked, “May I help you?”
    She wasn’t wearing a dragon’s flame pendant, so Gen. Crandal asked, “Is Sister Janine available? I need to speak with her for a moment.”
    The lady shook her head. “I’m sorry, but she’s with a patient. May I be of service?”
    “Could you ask her when it would be convenient for me to interview the two children from Syrando?”
    “And you are?”
    “Gen. Crandal, from Milhaven.”
    The lady nodded. “I’ll be back in a minute. Would you like to come inside to wait?”
    Gen. Crandal shook his head. “I’m fine here.”
    “Very well,” the lady said as she shut the door.
    Less than five minutes later, the door opened and a much younger woman stepped out on the front porch. “I’m Sister Janine. I understand you wish to speak with Corey and Caitlyn?”
    “Are those the children from Syrando?”
    Sister Janine nodded. “They’ve had a very trying day, General. I’ve given them some food and a mild sedative. They’re asleep and I don’t want to wake them.”
    “Would you prefer that I come back tomorrow morning and speak with them then?”
    “That would be better than now, but I don’t think forcing them to remember is a good idea, especially for Caitlyn. She’s barely four years old.”
    “How old is Corey?”
    “Seven.”
    “I may not need to speak with the girl then. Let me see what the boy can tell me,” Gen. Crandal said. “About 9:00?”
    “If you feel it’s necessary.” Sister Janine frowned. “His whole world has been destroyed. Don’t make it any worse.”
    “I’ll be careful. See you tomorrow morning.”
    Sister Janine nodded and shut the door.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 3
    More Surprises
     
    As soon as they returned to Kevin’s office, Gen. Crandal said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way to Paddy’s camp.”
    “Before you go, I’d like to ask you a couple of questions,” Kevin said.
    “Do you need me?” Karl asked,
    Kevin shook his head.
    “Then I’ll get out of the way.” Karl opened the door to Kevin’s office and left.
    “I’ll be right outside,” Alek said as he followed Karl.
    After they were gone, Kevin shut his door. “Do you want me to find a sorcerer to go with your men?”
    Gen. Crandal shook his head. “It’s tempting, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
    “Why not?”
    “Right now that particular gang doesn’t have a sorcerer with them, and I’d like to keep it that way. Less people get killed when the sorcerers stay out of the fight.”
    “How do you know they don’t have a sorcerer with them?”
    “We found three bodies, not three piles of ashes.”
    Gen. Crandal’s words brought back the memory of Gaynor’s ashes. Kevin nodded. “Of course. I should have realized that.”
    “Anything else?”
    Kevin shook his head.
    “Are you going to be able to take me to Ashmont tomorrow morning? I’m supposed to see the children at 9:00.”
    Kevin nodded. “When do you want to take your men to the coast?”
    “I think I’d rather intercept them on the Kivee, before they hit open water, while they’re still in our territory. Makes boarding their boat and taking them prisoner a little less like piracy and more like a military operation.”
    “Who could protest? They’re slavers!”
    “Once they hit open water, they aren’t slavers. They’re merchants, transporting goods to a market,” Gen. Crandal said. As Kevin started to protest, Gen. Crandal held up his hand. “I agree, but if that crew is working for one of the other seated sorcerers,