Read Aela for Free Online Page A

and mother.’
    Immediately Aela’s face broke out into a radiant smile and she laughed out loudly. Before long, Rom could not help himself and he found that he was laughing with her.
    Eena and Ardu were in deep conversation with each other, both intent on listening to what the other had to say. ‘Our plans are going very smoothly, Ardu, the students are progressing quite rapidly,’ said Eena.
    â€˜Yes, I am very happy with Rom. He is a natural athlete. He quickly remembers my instructions. I have to watch myself otherwise he will run the sword through my body. Although, I still have a few tricks to teach him. He should be ready well in advance of the next full moon,’ added Ardu.
    â€˜We must be careful with them, not to push too hard. We do not want to break their spirit,’ Eena whispered into Ardu’s ear. There was a scuffling sound at the back of the cave. ‘Who goes there?’ shouted Eena. ‘Come out now, show yourself!’
    Ardu leapt forwards, with his sword in one hand, and snatched a lighted torch with the other. He ran towards the back of the cave, ready to challenge the unknown danger lurking there. But he could see that there was no one, no human or animal waiting to pounce on them.
    If only Ardu had looked upwards to a small ledge, he may have seen a dark figure precariously lying flat. Clinging with his hands to the wall of the cave, not daring to breath for fear of falling down and landing at Ardu’s feet. ‘Come Ardu, there is no one here. We have much to plan before the next full moon,’ ordered Eena. ‘Let us go outside and continue our conversation.’
    Eena and Ardu walked out of the cave into the bright sunshine leaving the crouching figure cursing to himself. ‘Now I will not be able to hear their plans so I can tell my master.’
    Slowly the figure climbed down, furtively looking around, then shuffled along a side passage. One of the torches briefly illuminated his face, and there in the naked light was revealed, the craggy features of Eena’s trusty servant, Croan.
    Meanwhile Brude had learned of Aela and Rom’s disappearance. He was very angry, he wanted to send out scouts to track them down and bring them back. ‘They must be brought back alive and pay for running away.’
    Brude’s cold grey eyes clouded over with rage. How dare they escape without his permission! They must obey him at all times as he was the master here. He had the power to have them killed. He paced up and down inside the sacred hut, but paused every now and again to raise his clenched fist towards the roof exclaiming, ‘I will have their throats cut. I will run them through with my sword. I will trample them into the ground’
    He stamped his feet on the floor, as if he were carrying out his threat. In came Uthor, Brude’s right hand man, in time to hear Brude’s threats. ‘Are you mad, Brude? We have to be cautious if we want to carry out our plan of invading Juno’s land and steal the Sacred Sword from under his nose.’
    â€˜I don’t care about the Sacred Sword. I want to strangle Aela and thrust my sword through Rom for daring to defy me, Brude, High Priest to Athunor, Goddess of the Moon.’ His face contorted with uncontrolled fury, and sweat was pouring from his body.
    Uthor realised that whilst Brude was in one of these rages, it was useless to talk to him, so he calmly walked out of the hut. ‘It is no use reasoning with you. I will come back later when you are calmer.’
    Brude took no notice of Uthor and continued to rant and rave, ‘I will kill them! I will kill them!’
    Outside Uthor met Aeselyn, ‘Don’t go in there. Brude is having one of his rages. Wait until he is quieter.’
    Aeselyn shrugged her shoulders, ‘I know it is not for any concern over me. It is his obsession with Aela. Oh how I could scratch her eyes out. He can’t think any further than his