Jaya
"No." Amber tells Wallen Gourd.
I nod, and before I can act, Wallen pushes his knife against the boy's throat, drawing a line of blood on his neck. "Go. Now."
I draw my daggers. "No. If you hurt him again, I will slit your windpipe."
Wallen races out of the room, pulling William with him. Amber immediately runs after them, and I follow behind. A tiger jumps through the window and sprints towards the back of the building.
Amber has a staff now, and is fighting Wallen, but he has the upper hand. Wallen has a sword and a dagger, and he's using both of them, for different reasons. The dagger, for William, and the sword for defending himself.
The tiger jumps onto Wallen and knocks him down. I grab the boy and make sure he's okay. He looks into my eyes with a dullness that makes me wonder, What did Wallen do to him? His eyes are a weird tan, like someone had drained all the color out of them.
I watch Amber with William, and when he whispers, "Amber and Shaza," I sort of freak out.
"Who's Shaza?" I ask, not looking at him.
He points at the tiger. "Him. He told me himself."
I blink. "Okay. This is Chi." I stroke the raven on my shoulder.
William looks at me. "You have a cool bird." His eyes are now a greyish blue, like they've changed color.
"Thank you." I wonder what it's like, being a person without an animal. "Where do you live, or are you a traveler?"
William grows sad as I watch him, and his eyes turn grey. "I live- lived in a country called England."
I'm confused. "What is In-glend?
William stares at me. "Its an island near France, Germany, and Spain. So where am I?"
I duck as the battle between Amber and Wallen gets close, and she swings her staff over my head. "You are in Nizari, the land of the animal spirits. Next to us is the Desert of Karma, The Outer Lands, and the Wasted Mountains."
William's black eyebrows furrow. "I've heard those names before. I just don't know where."
I look up, and see Amber standing there, alone. "Where did Wallen go?"
Amber shakes her head. "Transformed, he did. Into an insect. Dunno where he went. Well, at least we rescued William."
William smiles. "Yes, you did."
YOU ARE READING
Dare to Die - Book 1 of The Imagined Chronicles
FantasyA boy runs away from his family, and discovers a new world. In this world bad things happen and it's up to him to stop it. Some people try to stop him, and others help him along the way. Will he make this world a better place, or will he die trying...
