The Shattered Empire (The Shadow Space Chronicles Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

destruction. The damage was complete and utterly thorough.
    Mason turned to Lan, “I'm so sorry.  This is my fault...”
    “This is the fault of the men who did it,” Lan said, his voice calm.  “I did not show you this to make you feel guilt, I showed you it so that you can see the determination of those who hunt you.”
    “What else did they do?” Mason asked.  There was a detached tone to his voice, almost as if he were tapping into some part of him that did not involve emotion.
    “When I initially refused to divulge your location, they first threatened the collection of items we had here.  I refused, so they destroyed them.  They then threatened my people.  However, I made it clear that not only would we not cooperate, but that I would kill myself rather than capitulate,” Lan said.
    Mason winced.  Lauren gave the old man a skeptical look.  Passive resistance in that form only went so far, in her mind.  Granted, the mercenaries needed him alive, but she didn't see how the man could prove his determination short of acting on it.  Lan caught her look and gave her a small smile, he raised his wrists.  She saw, with shock, that he had two bandages, one over each of his wrists.
    “The mercenaries moved quickly to have a doctor save my life.  After that, they did not further threaten my people, they merely made a recording, threatening the monastery, which they said they posted.”
    Mason sighed, “I'm sorry, Lan.  I've been out of contact for the past few months with no way to find their message.  Otherwise, I would have come sooner.”
    “Then I am disappointed in you,” Lan said, his voice calm.  “I had assumed you realized that showing up would further endanger us, so you stayed away.  The mercenaries would have left, eventually.  Perhaps, then, they would have lived.”  Lan turned, “I see that you have returned to violence.”  The way he said it, Lauren could tell it wasn't a question.
    Mason looked away.  “Some things happened.”
    “As I expected,” Lan said.  “As happened here, the last time my people were under threat.”  The monk sighed.  “This, Mason, is why you had to leave before.”
    “Because he defends the people he cares about?” Lauren snapped.  She was tired of seeing Mason lectured.  Yes, he had done terrible things. Yes, he had a core of violence.  If he used that in the right way, she didn't see the issue.
    “No, because his path, as always, is a different one,” Lan said.  “I would not take a wolf pup, shear it, force it to eat grain, and run with the flock.  To do so is to wrong the wolf and threatens the flock.”  Lan cocked his head, “I might, instead, raise the wolf pup to protect the flock, feed it meat, and tame it... but again, this would be to wrong the wolf.  This is not the path of the wolf.”  Lan's gaze was calm as he met Lauren's eyes.  “The wolf is a predator.  He is not a sheep dog.  He is not a sheep.  He must hunt, must kill, it is in his nature.”
    Mason sighed, “So, what, you want me to return to what I was?”
    “The wolf who kills for no reason is not along his path either,” Lan said.  “The wolf that hunts alone, without a pack, is less than himself.”  The old man shrugged.  “Truly, I merely wish for you to find the path that is right for you... and in that, I think you will finally find peace.”
    Mason turned away.  He took a deep breath as he stared down at the ruins of the artifacts.  “I'm sorry about what happened here.”
    “Do not be,” Lan said.  “They are just objects, of little importance.”  He smiled slightly, “Besides, we keep the actual ones hidden away, this is just what we show the tourists.”  Despite herself, Lauren gave a snort.  Perhaps Lan wasn't so bad after all.
    Mason said, “I need to find out where they came from and what they wanted with... Tommy King.”
    “They spoke of their employer several times,” Lan said.  He pulled a slip of paper from inside