Dark Territory: Benjamin Ashwood Book 3 by AC Cobble

Author:AC Cobble [Cobble, AC]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2017-05-31T18:30:00+00:00

Blood and Fire

Boots stomped on the floor above them. Ben and Amelie huddled silently in the dark. For the last half bell, they’d been sitting quietly, waiting. Either the search would finish and the sounds of the boots would recede, or the door would open, and they’d have nowhere to run.

They were crouched in a corner of the hidden cellar in Samuel’s warehouse. The smell of perfume from the broken bottles filled the close, motionless air. It nearly choked Ben, but it was better than the smell of Samuel’s dead body. The man still lay there, bone-hilted dagger protruding from his chest.

They didn’t know who killed him or why they’d ransacked his secret chamber, but between the two buildings they’d entered in the town of Amum—Jolly Jon’s inn and Samuel’s warehouse—Ben had judged the warehouse the safest. Hiding was their only choice. Fleeing in broad daylight shortly after the barracks was alerted they were spies was clearly a bad idea.

He’d thought that before the soldiers stared searching the warehouse, though.

They’d been sitting on the back of Samuel’s cart, trying to come up with a plan, when they heard a heavy banging on the door and a shout from outside. Ben opened the hidden trap door, and they scrambled into the cellar a dozen heartbeats before the front door of the warehouse was smashed in.

Since then, the soldiers stomped around above, searching for some sign of Ben and Amelie, they thought. That left the question though. If the soldiers and Lord James didn’t know about the hidden cellar, then who did?

Eventually, the sounds of the boots faded and silence filled the building above them.

Whispering in Ben’s ear, Amelie suggested, “Shall we go up and take a look around?”

Responding just as quietly, Ben recommended, “Let’s wait. They think we’re spies. They may have left someone behind to wait for us.”

Amelie squeezed his hand in acknowledgement.

Bell after bell, they sat in the dark cellar. The cloying scent of perfume filled Ben’s nostrils. He tried to breathe through his mouth, but then it felt like he could taste the alcohol, flowers, and cinnamon. He tried to ignore it, but the scent and taste were unavoidable in the tiny space. Finally, eyes watering, he had to get some fresh air. He gripped Amelie’s hand and she jerked.

“What?” she exclaimed in a yelp.

Damn. Ben realized she’d been dozing. He shouldn’t have been surprised. Bell after bell in the dark, recovering from a hangover, of course she was going to fall asleep. It was probably evening now, if he’d judged the time right.

Taking a deep breath then immediately regretting it, Ben whispered in her ear, “It’s been a while since the soldiers left. I think we should try going up now. If they’re there, they may have heard us when you cried out anyway.”

He grinned to take the sting out of his words, but she couldn’t see it. He squeezed her hand and pulled her to her feet. She tapped his back, letting him know she was following behind.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.