Read Once We Were Kings (Young Adult Fantasy) (The Sojourner Saga) for Free Online

into those."  He pointed to the neatly folded bundles at the foot of each of their beds and then gestured to the basins and pitchers at the end tables.  Sir Edwyn clapped his hands, making Render wince.  The sound of it resounded throughout the cavernous stone walls of their chamber, which, when compared to his room in Bobbington's cottage, seemed more like a cathedral.  "Quickly now.  When I return you had best be ready."
    When he shut the door, a profound echo thundered through the chamber.  Render looked about.  Smooth stone walls decorated with intricate tapestries, shimmering curtains which must have been made of exotic Eastern fabric.  His bare feet stood cushioned upon a thick rug of violet and blue and gold.  But where were the shackles? 
    "Are you certain, Render?" Stewan said.
    "Of what?"
    "That we've been appo…appro-pee-ated?"
    "Of course we have," Render removed his shirt and splashed water over his face from the gold rimmed basin on his bedside table.  The other boys followed his example.  Then to his brother: "Haven't we?" 
    "I'm not quite so certain now, truth be told." Kaine dabbed his face with a towel.  Then with a wicked grin, he said, “I wonder if they might be preparing us for a brutal execution."
    The twins gasped.  Their eyes grew the size of plums.
    "Stop it Kaine," said Render.  "Must you frighten them so?"
    "I'm merely saying..."  Kaine shrugged.  "I mean, who's to say we're not going to have our heads lopped off and stuck on the points of spears and marched through Talen Wood as an example to other slave boys who try to run away."
    "Do stop it," Folen said.  "Please!"
    Render agreed. "Enough, Kaine."
    But on he went.  "Or perhaps we'll be thrown into an arena with hungry mountain lions, and be mauled for royal sport.  You know, like those Sojourner zealots, ages ago.  That's what happened to them, you know."  He pointed to his spotless white shirt.  Render knew too well where his brother meant to go with all this.  When he was the twins' age and they'd steal into the wood to share stolen food, Kaine would try to frighten him with drivel as this.  "The blood shows much better against this pure white shirt.  All the better for spectators at a distance who—"
    "I said, enough!"  Render's shout came as a surprise to all, not the least of whom, himself.  But it wasn't clear if it had been irritation at his brother's teasing or the actual fear it instilled.
    Kaine smirked. "Well, aren't you the pickled puss?"
    Render pulled his belt tight.  For once in his life, he wore new, clean clothes that didn't reek of sweat.  He smiled at the twins. "Bother him," then went over to help Stewan with a clasp on the back of his vest.   Fine trappings indeed for slaves.  "We should just do as Sir Edwyn says."  He turned to help Folen tie up a lace on his shoe.
    "Oh yes," Kaine said.  "He seems nice enough, don't you think?" 
    Render didn't bother to look up when neither of them answered.   When he stood up and turned around, however, there at the now open door stood Sir Edwyn, a scowl etched into his brow.  He clapped his hands twice and motioned for the hallway.
    "Where are we going?" Folen said, clinging to Render's arm.  "We want to go back!"
    "Your life as you have hitherto known it..." Edwyn heaved a dour gaze upon them all, "...is over."
     
     

 
    CHAPTER EIGHT
     
     
     
    Sir Edwyn walked before Render, Kaine and the twins and would have appeared harmless if not for the armed guards with longswords marching beside him.
    Flecks of dust floated in the morning beams of sunlight which entered through the windows above.  The corridor stretched eternal and turned not even once before they finally arrived at a large wooden door.  There, two armor clad sentries stood with pikes crossed over the entrance.  Above the archway hung a sculpture.  A pair of winged creatures—difficult to discern without staring unduly—one of them black, the other red.  Both of their