Read Shard Knight (Echoes Across Time Book 1) for Free Online

she meant?”
    Tyrell raised an eyebrow. “Did she?” He leaned back in his chair. “That’s a long and sordid story Ronan, and it’s not my tale to tell. But, once we’re out of Freehold, I’ll tell you what I know. Okay?”
    Ronan wanted more details, but he let it go. Tyrell had seen too many people he loved either die or betray him this evening. “Okay. How do we escape Freehold?”
    “Sir Alcott is arranging passage. I’m to meet him tonight, and we’ll come back here to pick you up.”
    “To pick me up? I’m coming with you,” Ronan said.
    “No. The risk is too great. Your survival is all that matters, and your mother would never forgive me if anything happened to you. There’s a bed upstairs with fresh linens. Sleep. You’ll need the rest. We have many days of traveling ahead of us.”
    Ronan’s stomach churned at the mention of his mother. He spoke as if she still lived. If he slept he could make the pain fade. “I’ll try Master Tyrell.”
    Tyrell stood and fished in his pocket before handing Ronan a key. “Take this. It unlocks the house next door.”
    He meant the dark house. Ronan didn’t need further clarification.
    “If anyone comes to the front door, don’t answer. Go to the cellar. There’s a doorway down there that connects this house to the one next door. And if all else goes wrong, meet me at the entrance to Old Town at first light. Do you know your way?”
    “I can find it. Yes.” Ronan took the key. “How long will you be gone?”
    “A few hours.” Tyrell squeezed Ronan’s shoulder. “I’m sorry Ronan. I never meant for this to happen.”
    Ronan said nothing as Tyrell left the house and locked the door behind him.
    ***
    Downstairs, the front door creaked on its hinges.
    Ronan pushed himself up and rubbed sleep from his bloodshot eyes. Rest had come in fifteen minute bursts during the short rain-soaked night, but, mercifully, it came free of nightmares. With a yawn, he pulled on his boots and slipped on the ridiculous blue uniform jacket.
    Murmured conversation filtered through the bedroom’s closed door.
    Sir Alcott had arrived with Tyrell. Ronan thanked Elan something had gone right this evening. He pulled open the bedroom door and froze.
    “The old man saw him come in this house,” someone said.
    “That old man is a drunken bum. For a copper penny, he’d of seen the ghost of your dead grandmother,” a second voice said.
    A chill ran along Ronan’s spine. He didn’t know these voices.
    “Listen up Prince Ronan. We know you’re in here. Come on out. We’ve captured that traitor Tyrell, so he can’t hurt you anymore.” The voice yelled through the dark townhouse.
    Ronan slipped backwards into the bedroom’s shadows leaving the door cracked. He didn’t believe the city guard had captured Master Tyrell.
    Heavy footsteps thumped off wooden floorboards below.
    Ronan’s stomach sank. With at least two men downstairs, he couldn’t reach the cellar escape route.
    “We’re on your side. Save us all a lot of trouble, and we don’t have to hurt you,” the second guard said.
    “You idiot, why’d you’d tell him that?” The first guard said.
    “Listen Rory, I don’t have to take that from you, and I told him we wasn’t gonna hurt him,” the second guard said.
    Ronan crossed the room to the one escape route the small room offered.
    A cracked window opened to a sheer fifteen foot drop. Lurking in the shadow strewn street below, city guards hovered near the front door, and two others crept toward the townhouse’s rear door.
    Sweat formed on Ronan’s brow and beaded on his upper lip. He might break his leg jumping out the window, and they’d catch him besides.
    The bottom stair creaked followed by the ringing sound of cold steel sliding from its scabbard.
    Ronan moved to the door and poked his head into the darkened hallway.
    Where the narrow hallway ended, a rickety wooden ladder led up to a sealed attic door. The splintered ladder had several missing or