Read Rise of the Red Harbinger for Free Online

moving. He realized the longer he waited, the more likely he would be to continue stalling and put off leaving.
    Baltaszar stood up once more, slung the packs around his back, patted the wooden knife handle with his right hand, and realized he was doing the bravest thing he’d ever done in his life. He started walking away from Haedon.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 2
    Visitors
     
    From The Book of Orijin , Verse Forty-four
    O Mankind, We have made you weak and flawed so that you
    may strive to be better. Our judgment is not of your faults,
    but of your intentions and attempts to overcome your faults.
     
    As his eyes slowly cracked open, Bo’az inspected the area as quietly as he could. He’d slept on his side, using his pack as a pillow, hoping that when he awoke, Baltaszar would still be asleep. Bo’az craned his still stiff neck over his left shoulder to check on his brother. Sure enough, Baltaszar still lay under the tree, fast asleep.
    Bo’az had had no plans to join his brother on a foolish quest. He knew Baltaszar would be fine without him. Baltaszar had always managed to be just fine, whatever the situation. Instead, Bo’az would go back to the farm on the eastern outskirts of the town. He could get there in the dark without being noticed. He knew that Baltaszar had a point about others wanting to destroy it, but he couldn’t just assume that it had happened already. Baltaszar had seemed so determined to put the past seventeen years behind him, but Bo’az couldn’t let go of things so easily. After all, that was their house; they’d had so many memories there that Bo’az couldn’t just move on without going back at least one last time.
    If the house was destroyed, he would have to figure out another plan. Perhaps he would stay in the forest for a while longer. But if the house was still standing, he would be able to go back in and save some of their things. His father’s tools were still there, along with clothes, food, real beds, and water. Oh how I miss clean water. I haven’t bathed in weeks. He had no problem staying out in the forest if it meant survival, but it made no sense if there was a chance of staying in a house. Baltaszar was too caught up with his adventure of his to even consider the possibility.
    He’s so ready to leave. Why? Surely there are some of Father’s things at the house that are worth saving. Everyone thinks I’m the coward, yet I’m the one going back to the house. And how could he be willing to leave her? Yasaman is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, and she was willing to stay with him. How could he have messed that up? Even I would have done everything possible to make her happy. It should have been me she fell in love with. Fool.
    Bo’az realized he would have to leave his things at the camp in order to get away without waking Baltaszar. He’d hoped Baltaszar wouldn’t take any of his clothes or food, but he had to take the chance if he wanted to get back to the farm. If he was still there when his brother woke, they would only end up fighting and arguing again, and neither of them would get anywhere. If Baltaszar wanted to go farther into the forest and wander around, Bo’az wouldn’t stop him.
    Evening had set in, and the sky continued to darken. Before setting off, Bo’az grabbed his black hooded cloak out of his pack and pulled it over his head. It was just like Baltaszar’s, a full length woolen cloak with pockets at the waist, in the sleeves, and lining the insides; thick enough for the cool mountain nights.
    As Bo’az walked through the forest toward Haedon, he remembered how they’d made the cloaks once Oran Van confined their father to the property. Even though he and his brother were still allowed to leave their farm, they preferred to draw as little attention to themselves as possible. Most townspeople glared at them, cursed, or were even brave enough to throw rocks, apples, bread, or any other handy projectiles at them.
    In truth,