The Obsidian Dagger Read Online Free PDF Page A

door.
    Brendan wobbled where he stood and then fell over into the bedroom. Unfortunately, the bed was on the other side of the room.
    â€¦
    Hours later, closer to the time where normal people start their day, Lizzie and Brendan stepped onto the front porch and found themselves in the company of Gordy and Mrs. Gordy. They were once again rocking their lives away in their chairs. Brendan guessed that they too had started the day way too early.
    â€œSo, Brendan, where are we going?” asked Lizzie.
    â€œThere are a bunch of places down the street, Liz. I thought we could go down there today and then maybe drive around later.”
    Lizzie shrugged. “Whatever, as long as we eat.”
    â€œIf you would have been up at a decent hour you could have had some of my home-cooked breakfast, now couldn’t you?” chimed in Mrs. Gordy.
    Brendan was taken aback by the old lady’s shrewdness. “Oh, sorry we missed that. I guess we’ll have to eat at the restaurant next door.”
    Gordy snickered a little. “I don’t think you will. You see, that place has been closed for awhile now.”
    â€œYou can go to the pub, though,” offered Mrs. Gordy.
    â€œThe pub?” asked Lizzie.
    Brendan cut in and said, “We’re not old enough to go in there.”
    Gordy assured Brendan that dining in there was perfectly legal. Brendan was adamant about being right with the law since he had heard such horrible things about foreign jails. He wasn’t sure what crimes would lead to what sentences here, so better safe than sorry.
    â€œJust be mindful of Finnagan,” warned Mrs. Gordy. “He gets to talking when he’s had his fill, he does.”
    Brendan and Lizzie thanked Gordy and Mrs. Gordy and began to walk down the street towards the pub.
    It took a moment for their eyes to adjust to the dim lighting in Ewen’s Pub. Brendan and Lizzie stood in the doorway a moment and listened to the chatter subside and silence replace it. Brendan didn’t have to see the faces in the pub to know where everyone was looking. They stepped inside and got a better look at the interior of the place and its patrons.
    Lizzie was struck by all the characters in the bar and became a little hesitant. She thought they looked like muggers and vagrants. “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.”
    Brendan smiled and leaned down to whisper, “I think it will be fine, Liz.” He lead her forward to the bar where a forty-something barkeep was polishing a mug.
    â€œWelcome to Ewen’s. Come have a seat at the bar,” the barkeep said smiling broadly, gesturing towards a couple of stools. He looked nice enough, so the O’Neal kids did as he suggested.
    â€œMy name’s Ewen. What can I get you?”
    Lizzie smiled back at the nice man. “What do you have, Ewen?”
    Brendan shot his sister a look. “Lizzie, don’t be rude.”
    â€œShe’s right, lad. I haven’t told you what we have, now have I?” Ewen bent down and started digging around in boxes beneath the counter. He mumbled to himself and made a lot of racket. “Now where did I put those menus?”
    A waitress got to the bar at about that time and scoffed. “Menus? When did this place have menus?” She winked at the kids and started unloading her tray on the bar top.
    Ewen stood up and looked offended. “Come now, Molly, this is a respectable establishment.”
    â€œRespectable? Ha!” Molly howled. She left with her empty tray.
    The man on Brendan’s right leaned forward over the bar to address the kids. “Where did you say you were from?” This man was grizzly and was badly in need of a shave.
    Brendan felt uncomfortable and cleared his throat. “We didn’t.”
    â€œThey sound American to me,” a fat man at a table nearby called out.
    â€œRight, right,” added his drinking buddy. “What brings you all this way?”
    â€œOur