Read Champion for Free Online Page B

to discover exactly who these dark guards were. Not only that, they also wanted to enter the palace to see if they could observe the Emperor, and possibly speak to him. This was against the advise of Ludas. However, he did agree that the time had come to do something. The people of Mirnee had too easily accepted their fate. It was true to say that they lived in fear of General Jeon and the newest recruits to his forces.
    “I’m proud to say, Ganry, that you are true to your bloodline,” Ludas said, proudly. “You have barely set foot in the Kingdom and already you are scheming and planning for the benefit of its people. We have been in a daze, I suspect, and far too compliant to the will of the General. Fear has kept us silent, especially when those who have complained have also mysteriously disappeared. Now, the time is right to make a stand, and it took a de Rosenthorn to make us see that. Long enough have we cowered in our homes. Lead the way Ganry, and I will gather the people.”
    Once nightfall was upon them, it was time to take to the streets. Ganry and Artas dressed in dark clothing and covered their faces in a wet mud provided by the servant, Berne. They left Ludas’s house and decided to go down the hill of the city into the poorer regions. This would make it easier to move around as they could go over the rooftops, a trick Ganry knew well. The houses lower down in the city were built close together. From the rooftops they could observe the streets and the new night guards.
    Artas struggled running across the roofs with a limp. His leg was improving in strength, especially with all the exercises Ganry had him doing, but it may never return to its former state. They stuck mainly to the flat roofs because of this, though Artas complained at Ganry for doing so.
    “Where we go is unimportant,” Ganry explained. “It’s who we find that matters. Now come, the longer you spend babbling, the less ground we will cover.”
    As they stood deciding which direction to take, they heard a commotion in a street close by. It seemed someone was running, and from the commands to halt, they were running from other people. The pursuers shouted threats and sounded extremely hostile. This was a dangerous part of town, and often the weak were robbed, murdered, or worse.
    Jumping over the darkened roof tops, Ganry and Artas made their way in the direction of the noise.
    “There,” Ganry whispered to Artas while pointing towards a dark alley. In the gloom he could just make out a small figure running towards them.
    As the figure grew closer and came into the alleyway, Ganry dropped down from the roof and landed behind them. He quickly, and silently, moved in close. In one easy, fluid movement he had his arm around their throat and his hand over the runner’s mouth.
    “Shhh, do not make a sound. We are friends, do not fear us.”
    The person stopped struggling and Ganry released his grip.
    “Quickly, onto the roof.” He nodded at the building he had just dropped down from.
    Artas reached down holding out his hand. The new companion jumped up, grabbing ahold and allowing Artas to drag the stranger up and onto the roof. He was surprised at how light the person was. Turning back to reach down and help Ganry, he was shocked to see he wasn’t there. Instead, he was already on the roof and stood by the stranger.
    “How’d you do that, old man?” he asked in surprise. The top of the building must be at least fifteen feet from the street, and yet his mentor had climbed it unaided!
    Ganry ignored Artas, indicating with his hands that they should all lay down flat on the roof.
    Within seconds four dark shapes came in the same direction as their new companion and headed into the alleyway. They paused for a moment as if deciding which direction to follow, but Ganry had a sense that they were searching their minds. A cold dread spread over his skin. He glanced at Artas, only to see he was shivering, his breath visible in the air. This