Jack Staples and the City of Shadows by Mark Batterson

Author:Mark Batterson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Young Readers, Allegory, C. S. Lewis, Jack Staples and the Ring of Time, Middle Grade
Publisher: David C. Cook
Published: 2014-11-07T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

THE GANG OF ROGUES

“Where have you been, my lady?” Belial offered a waxy smile. “I have been worried about you.”

“I was walking in the city and I lost track of time,” Alexia said. “I am sorry, Belial. It won’t happen again.”

Alexia was still breathless from her climb. She’d climbed into a higher window and raced to the throne room. Her mind spun as she thought about the tapestry in her father’s chamber. Why would Father hold a sword to Mother’s neck? And who was the man on the ground?

Belial waved a hand. “I am not angry, my Alexia. I merely wanted to be sure you were all right. I look forward to our times together.”

Alexia sat down on a padded chair opposite Belial. They were sitting on the balcony of the throne room, gazing at the city. She schooled her face and tried to steady her breathing.

“What is it?” Belial patted the sweat on his brow. “I can see you have something on your mind. What troubles you?”

Alexia thought a moment and was surprised to find she was actually starting to like Belial. He had only been kind to her since she’d arrived in the city. Even the sickly smell emanating from him didn’t seem quite so bad today.

“I did explore the city, and it is wonderful; truly it is.” Alexia took a deep breath. “But when I was out, I saw something I didn’t understand.”

“What is it, my lady? What did you see?”

“It looked like an arena, and—” Alexia halted at the cold look in Belial’s eyes.

“The coliseum is off limits.” He dabbed at the bead of sweat dangling from his chin. “You were not meant to see it yet.”

“I didn’t know it was off limits or I never would have gone,” Alexia lied. “But I did go, and when I was there, I saw something …” She hesitated.

“It is all right; I am not angry with you. I just didn’t want you to see the coliseum for a few more days yet. I had planned to take you there myself. It was meant to be a surprise.” Belial smiled. “Tell me what you saw and I will see if I can explain it to you.”

A surprise for me? Alexia kept waiting for Belial to act like the Assassin she’d heard so much about. She expected horns to grow out of his head and fire to explode from his eyes, but he was always kind, and she rarely saw fire in his eyes anymore.

Alexia swallowed hard before continuing. “I saw a boy dressed in rags running from a Shadule and four Oriax. His name is Josiah and he was my friend when I lived in Belfast.” For a moment Belial’s eyes did become caverns of fire, but they shifted back to an icy blue so quickly Alexia wondered if she’d imagined it.

“The Shadule took him prisoner and took him back into the coliseum,” Alexia said hastily. “I don’t know what they want with him, but I know he’s not bad.

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