The Soul Forge Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Andrew Lashway
handed the reins to Cynthia.
“I don’t know where Verdonti is, but I know it’s not close. Take the horse, and be careful.”
In response, Cynthia kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll be looking forward to you getting back,” she replied with a passable imitation at her former flirting.
It was o nly when Cynthia took off astride the horse did Thomas remember something incredibly important.
Lucille.
Thomas whirled towards the stable, but it was nothing more than a smoldering wreck now. He felt the blow straight in his stomach, like someone had taken a log and smashed it into his abdomen. He sunk to the ground, trying to breathe but unable to do anything at all.
“Stable Boy, what’s wrong?” Ms. Anna asked, shaking his shoulder.
“What is it lad?” Master Kimpchik was at his other side, his face nothing but concern.
“I forgot…” Thomas forced out, “about Lucille.”
To his very great surprise, Master Kimpchik laughed. “Not to worry lad. Lucille was grazing when all of this happened. She probably ran off, but she should be just fine.”
Air rushed into Thomas’ nostrils so quickly that he felt he might float. That was the best news he had received all day.
Then a whinny reached his ears, and he immediately had a new contender for the best news.
Lucille ran forward from the forest, looking agitated. She stopped in front of Thomas, and in her eyes was a patronizing look he almost laughed at.
“It ain’t my fault there are bad men about,” he laughed.
“Alright then,” Master Kimpchik said, “if you’re serious about this, take Lucille. You’ll make it to the Capital within the hour if you let her run. We’ll head to my cousins. It’s not more than half a day away, and hopefully the brigands haven’t put it to the torch…” His voice quieted as the possibility no doubt closed his throat.
“Don’t you worry, sir,” Thomas said, “it doesn’t look like they were heading in that direction. It should be fine.”
Slightly mollified, Master Kimpchik nodded. Then he pulled Ms. Anna and Mrs. Lucille along, heading for the pasture where the horses were. Maybe some were still there.
“Ride fast, lad. There’s little time.”
“And be careful, stupid Stable Boy!” Ms. Anna added. Thomas smiled at them both, resisting the tear in his eye that so desperately wanted to fall.
Then he mounted Lucille, grabbing a hold of the horse’s mane. Without saddle of bridle, this was going to be an unpleasant journey.
“Let’s get going, Lucille,” Thomas said. At his words, Lucille moved at a full gallop, carrying Thomas hopefully to the right place.
Chapter Four: Concerning Kings
The trip did take less than an hour, and at its end Thomas was incredibly sore. He resisted falling asleep a number of times by the searing pain between his legs and the importance of his mission. The fires of destruction seemed to be slowly going out, and no new ones were taking its place.
When he reached the Capital, it became quite clear that they had no idea what was going on in the countryside. People were still out in the streets, laughing and going about their business as if nothing was wrong. Guards patrolled, smiling at passerby and joking with each other. Everything appeared perfectly fine.
That was until Thomas entered the town square.
Immediately, everyone present could feel the severity of his approach. Covered in soot and smelling of smoke, it was little wonder why he drew everyone’s attention. He looked quite literally as if he had been to Hell and back.
“Hold, sir,” one of the guards said. His armor was a polished red, a far cry from the scored armor of his dead comrade. Thomas clicked his tongue, and Lucille came to a stop.
“I need… to speak… to someone… in charge,” Thomas forced out. What he wouldn’t give for some water. Why hadn’t he had any by the stream
“I don’t know where Verdonti is, but I know it’s not close. Take the horse, and be careful.”
In response, Cynthia kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll be looking forward to you getting back,” she replied with a passable imitation at her former flirting.
It was o nly when Cynthia took off astride the horse did Thomas remember something incredibly important.
Lucille.
Thomas whirled towards the stable, but it was nothing more than a smoldering wreck now. He felt the blow straight in his stomach, like someone had taken a log and smashed it into his abdomen. He sunk to the ground, trying to breathe but unable to do anything at all.
“Stable Boy, what’s wrong?” Ms. Anna asked, shaking his shoulder.
“What is it lad?” Master Kimpchik was at his other side, his face nothing but concern.
“I forgot…” Thomas forced out, “about Lucille.”
To his very great surprise, Master Kimpchik laughed. “Not to worry lad. Lucille was grazing when all of this happened. She probably ran off, but she should be just fine.”
Air rushed into Thomas’ nostrils so quickly that he felt he might float. That was the best news he had received all day.
Then a whinny reached his ears, and he immediately had a new contender for the best news.
Lucille ran forward from the forest, looking agitated. She stopped in front of Thomas, and in her eyes was a patronizing look he almost laughed at.
“It ain’t my fault there are bad men about,” he laughed.
“Alright then,” Master Kimpchik said, “if you’re serious about this, take Lucille. You’ll make it to the Capital within the hour if you let her run. We’ll head to my cousins. It’s not more than half a day away, and hopefully the brigands haven’t put it to the torch…” His voice quieted as the possibility no doubt closed his throat.
“Don’t you worry, sir,” Thomas said, “it doesn’t look like they were heading in that direction. It should be fine.”
Slightly mollified, Master Kimpchik nodded. Then he pulled Ms. Anna and Mrs. Lucille along, heading for the pasture where the horses were. Maybe some were still there.
“Ride fast, lad. There’s little time.”
“And be careful, stupid Stable Boy!” Ms. Anna added. Thomas smiled at them both, resisting the tear in his eye that so desperately wanted to fall.
Then he mounted Lucille, grabbing a hold of the horse’s mane. Without saddle of bridle, this was going to be an unpleasant journey.
“Let’s get going, Lucille,” Thomas said. At his words, Lucille moved at a full gallop, carrying Thomas hopefully to the right place.
Chapter Four: Concerning Kings
The trip did take less than an hour, and at its end Thomas was incredibly sore. He resisted falling asleep a number of times by the searing pain between his legs and the importance of his mission. The fires of destruction seemed to be slowly going out, and no new ones were taking its place.
When he reached the Capital, it became quite clear that they had no idea what was going on in the countryside. People were still out in the streets, laughing and going about their business as if nothing was wrong. Guards patrolled, smiling at passerby and joking with each other. Everything appeared perfectly fine.
That was until Thomas entered the town square.
Immediately, everyone present could feel the severity of his approach. Covered in soot and smelling of smoke, it was little wonder why he drew everyone’s attention. He looked quite literally as if he had been to Hell and back.
“Hold, sir,” one of the guards said. His armor was a polished red, a far cry from the scored armor of his dead comrade. Thomas clicked his tongue, and Lucille came to a stop.
“I need… to speak… to someone… in charge,” Thomas forced out. What he wouldn’t give for some water. Why hadn’t he had any by the stream