His Cure For Magic (Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

 
    Andreaus appeared in the mouth of an alley, and motioned for them to join him.
    "We need to get you into the Heart," he said, once they were safely out of the street. "You'll be safe there."
    Silas dropped the sack and opened it, waving his hand in front of his nose at the smell of the manure, and ignoring the fact the he reeked just as badly from carrying it. "I didn't enjoy putting our things in, either." He dipped his hands into the feces, pulling out their burlap-wrapped swords and Eryn's purse, which contained the marble stone and brooch she had taken from the Mediator, Lia, as well as the ring Silas had once given to his wife. That done, he wiped his hands on the inside of the burlap, though there was no way to remove the smell until he had a proper bath.
    "Who are you?" Eryn asked Andreaus, confused by his newfound helpfulness.
    The small man bowed. "My apologies, Eryn. I would never have been so surly if I'd known I was speaking to the Heroes of Elling. As I said, my name is Andreaus Templeton. I'm a vintner by trade, a merchant, but between you and me, I'm also a member of the rebellion."
    "The rebellion? You didn't sound very compassionate when you were telling Silas he smelled."
    "Who said anything about compassion? I still find his odor offensive, but I'm willing to ignore it because of who he is. Don't delude yourself into thinking that because we share a common enemy, we also share a common sense of equality. Perhaps for you, it is about helping the Cursed, and I understand and respect that. For me, it is about taxation and finance. If the end of the Cursed being hunted happens too, so much the better for you, but I couldn't care less."
    Eryn didn't know what to say. She stared at Andreaus, her temper smoldering, until Silas put a hand to the man's shoulder. He shied away from the stench of it, but fear or respect kept him from taking the hand away.
    "Andreaus, the guard at the gate. He said something about Elling?" There was a hollow hope to the old General's voice, filled with uncertainty and fear.  
    Whatever the merchant's motives, whatever his beliefs, the question left him pale.
    "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, Silas. The rebellion in Elling is over. His armies invaded a month ago, and overran the city. There were no survivors."

CHAPTER FOUR
    Wilem

    "I was convinced he was going to make us raze the farm." Captain Lawson leaned over the pot of stew, taking a deep breath of its spiced aroma while serving himself another cup.
    General Clau shook his head. "No. I could see it in his eyes. I knew he would break."
    Wilem was sitting on the ground behind the soldiers encircling the food. His back was pressed against the wheel of the wagon that would take the Cursed they collected from the larger mobile camp back to the evaluation facility in Edgewater.  
    After two weeks, the wagon remained empty.
    Clau shifted his position on the ground, causing the small rings of the ircidium shirt he wore to make a soft clinking sound. "Not hungry, Wilem?"
    "No, sir."
    His appetite hadn't vanished with the death of the boy. It had fled him soon after he'd returned to the field where the General waited. He'd given him as full of a report as he could in the presence of the soldiers, and while the news had caused the farmer to lurch into another fit of wailing, Clau had looked pleased.  
    All he felt was tired.
    The General turned back towards the fire.
    "I don't know how much longer this can go on, my Lord," Lawson said, returning to his spot around the fire. "When was the last time we were able to take one alive in any of these smaller villages? For that matter, I don't understand why he sent you of all people to do this kind of work."
    "It isn't for you to question, Captain. I have my orders, and you have yours. Trust me when I say that there is wisdom to them."
    Lawson bowed his head. "Yes, my Lord."
    Wilem closed his eyes. He was beginning to feel light-headed, and the flickering of the fire was only