Tyler's Dream Read Online Free PDF Page B

terrific explosion of wine and glass. Tyler put a hand to his face. He felt two long, shallow cuts across his cheek, and his shoulder had been ripped quite badly; blood trickled to join the wine.
    Hargill smiled grimly. “That was something, lad,” he said, helping Tyler to his feet. “Are you hurt?”
    “A little,” Tyler said, and then he saw the arrow. It was protruding from just below Hargill’s chest, staining his robes with blood. “Hargill!” Tyler cried as he bent to examine the wound. “You need help!”
    “No need. It is the mark of death. Put it out of your head; it hardly matters now. We are overrun. The world has finally found its way to Elliun, and most have fallen already. I have returned for you, to ask a favour.”
    “What would you have me do? You know that I would do anything you ask.”
    “It is not for me, child.” Hargill sighed. “Let’s go into the hall, and I will explain.”
    “Wait! Do you know where my family is, Hargill? Are they safe?” Hargill’s face darkened. He seemed uncharacteristically uncertain. “Hargill?”
    “They are … dead, Tyler.” The man turned his eyes away. “I’m sorry.”
    Tyler’s heart and head went numb, as though the only way they could cope with the shock was to end all passages of emotion and thought. It would have been better if the wolf had killed him. His mind stepped back so that he became only an observer; his body seemed to belong to another person entirely. “Even Derek?” he heard himself ask.
    “Yes.”
    “The baby?”
    Hargill’s eyes told him all.

CHAPTER FOUR
ONCE BITTEN

    Tyler stepped gently into Hargill’s embrace, being sure not to touch his wound. They stood there for a short while, one of Hargill’s enormous arms wrapped around him as he shook with grief.
    “I am so very sorry, Tyler,” said Hargill softly, “But we must go now. There is much to do and hardly any time.”
    Side by side they stepped into the light of the hall.
    “Listen carefully,” Hargill began. “What I am about to ask of you is of extreme importance. Are you paying attention?”
    “Yes,” Tyler responded with heartless conviction. His family was gone. It was all he could do to prevent himself from rushing from the hall to attack whoever or whatever was out there with his bare hands and teeth.
    “It sounds cruel but I now wish that I had not told you about your family, Tyler. You must concentrate . Much now depends upon you. Look at me.” Tyler looked, but he knew his eyes remained blank and uncaring. “Tyler? Tyler, please …” Then Hargill did something completely unexpected. He slapped Tyler hard across the cheek. “Snap out of it, boy. You can hate me later, but we do not have much time!”
    Tyler snapped to attention as he felt the sting on his cheek. He felt helpless, confused, and perhaps now a little angry at this unprovoked aggression.
    “You must travel to Ithrim, on the Westhorn coast,” said Hargill, ignoring Tyler’s bitter gaze and reddening cheek. “Travel east across the mountains until you reach the sea. Then follow the coast to the city. Once there, ask for Haranio Winhund of the Gulls. Tell him I sent you. Can you remember that?”
    Tyler nodded vaguely as he tried to bury those names beyond the agony that filled his head.
    “Swear to me you will do this, Tyler.”
    “Do I have a choice?” Hargill answered with silence. “Then I swear. But I deserve to know why, Hargill. Why so much has been kept from me all my life? Why do I feel betrayed?”
    “ Betrayed ?” Hargill’s whole voice seemed to ache with the pain as he said the word. “There is no time to explain – I must wait for Haranio to do that. Remember, even if you do not believe it, that all your life I have loved you as a son.” With that he turned to the cage. “Varkon!” he boomed, injecting more energy into his tone. “Cease your snivelling in the dark.”
    A head slid from the shadows of the cage, and it appeared to be eerily disembodied.