Read Finding The Soul Bridge (The Soul Fire Saga Book 1) for Free Online Page B

back, which was also forbidden.
    “Rules are rules, Jem. They are there for our protection. You need to learn where your place is, and to be in that place when you have to be there.”
    “I don’t want to work for Maxwell. That man is a tyrant.”
    “That’s Mr. Iron to you Jem. You will show him proper respect, and I know he is a tyrant. That’s why I am sending you to him. So that he can teach you some discipline, even if he has to beat it into you.”
    Maxwell Iron was the town blacksmith, a tall burly man with a thick black beard, black hair and a commanding voice. Everyone was frightened of him. He worked his apprentices hard and he shouted at them all day.
    “Mom, I have to go and talk to Thist.”
    “About what?”
    Jem stammered, “It’s…”
    “Yes?”
    “Well, it’s confidential, Mom.”
    “That’s exactly my point, Jem. You’re hiding something from me and that means that you and that wretched boy are up to mischief.”
    Jem couldn’t bring himself to deny it so he kept quiet.
    “Put on some old clothes and get ready to go to Mr. Iron.”
    Jem went to his room and sat on his bed thinking. Kaylah came past the window and handed a letter through it. Jem took the letter and gave her one back. Jem and Kylah had taken to writing letters to each other after Jem’s mother had grounded him. He couldn’t see any of his friends, and Jem thought this was cruel, but he did understand how his mother felt. She was only doing this because she loved him and wanted to protect him in the only way she knew how: keeping him busy and out of mischief.
    Jem put the letter in his knapsack and dressed in something he didn’t care for. He knew his clothes would spoil in the forge, so he picked an old tunic with holes and a pair of stained breeches.
    “What’s holding you up, Jem?” shouted his mother.
    Jem put on his sandals, and called, “I’m coming Mom.”
    “Let me look at you. Now you be careful in the forge. It can be a dangerous place.” Jem’s mother smiled at her only son. “Make me proud.”
    Jem sighed. “Yes Mom.”
    He was getting tired of his mother’s attention, and constantly treating him like a child. He hated it when anyone treated him like a child but humoured his mother. Jem grinned back, “I’ll be fine Mom.” and skipped to the door.
    The morning outside was starkly bright, as the sun shone through thin silver clouds that seemed to amplify the rays. Jem knew that the weather would turn foul the next day. There was an old saying in their village: “ The sun comes after the rain and the rain comes after the sun .”
    It didn’t always rain, but the weather was never the same two days in a row except in Third month, which was now over.
    Jem walked through the town, past the old buildings, many of them standing empty. The steady decline in the population in the recent decades had people talking in the region. Jem had no idea what was causing it and he couldn’t guess. All he knew was the town was now half its size and most of the people were old.
    The forge loomed in front of him like an insurmountable peak. He had heard stories of the smith, but rarely saw him for all the work he had. Maxwell Iron was the last of a long line of smiths who were well known for their quality and had recently received a large military contract. He was commissioned to make swords, shields and chain mail. Maxwell had employed most of the young men in the village as apprentices.
    “You’re late.” said Maxwell, in a loud, unchallengeable voice. “You will stay late and help the other cretins scrub down at close.”
    Jem winced. “Yes Mr. Iron.” said Jem.
    As Jem entered the forge, he could feel the heat of the furnaces inside, and saw all the other boys and young men gathered in a bunch.
    “All right, everyone!” said Maxwell. “We have a new member on the team from today. You all know Jem. If he asks you something, please just help him. Duties are the same as yesterday.  Jem, Kelvin will show you