The Hammer - Cor Series Book I

Chapter 46

"Place your hands on top of the wall," the person behind Corvan commanded, shoving him tight against the rough stones.

Corvan did as he was ordered. The point pushed in harder as the person leaned against him, pulled up his sleeve, and removed Morgan's black knife. "Now turn around."

Corvan turned to face a man in a green robe, the hood pulled low over his eyes. Morgan's black knife was unsheathed, and it was pointed directly at Corvan's heart.

"So now you are working for the Chief Watcher." The voice was harsh and strained. "What did that lizard promise you? What was he saying and what were you telling him?" The hood swept back, revealing Jorad's angry face.

"I'm not working for the Chief Watcher." Corvan protested. "You don't understand, Jorad, this Watcher is my friend."

The priest snorted. "The Watcher's don't have friends. They only use us. You have been deceived, Kalian." The knife higher to Corvan's face. "I promised the High Priest, I would train you to be a Cor-Van. Instead, you have used me to aid the Chief Watcher in his plans to wipe out all the priests . . . and to murder Tyreth." He jabbed the knife at Corvan, backing him up and almost tumbling him backwards over the low stone wall and into the river below.

Corvan sat on the wall to get his balance took a deep breath, and looked up at the man. "Jorad. I'm am going back to Kadir to help save Tyreth. I was planning to go through the water channel to find Madam Toreg and ask her to send Garek with me. I promised Madam Toreg I would help her. That's the truth."

Jorad's lips curled back in a snarl. "The only truth I know is that I have taken an oath to protect Tyreth at all costs. I will do anything to save her from the Watchers . . . and from those working with them."

"I said I would help you." Corvan stood and Jorad took a step back. "And I also promised Madam Toreg on the hammer," Corvan stated, releasing it from the holster and holding it up between them.

Jorad attempted to use his hand with the black knife to push the hammer away but a pulse of blue energy slapped the priest's hand and sent the knife skittering across the road.

Corvan immediately put it back in the holster. "Jorad, the hammer shows I speak the truth. I'm going to save Tyreth, not kill her."

The priest's eyes narrowed. He was about to respond when a palace guard appeared on the slope up along the road. The man looked their way, raised his bow and drew back.

"Jorad, behind you!"

"No more tricks, Kalian. I am not—"

Corvan threw himself toward Jorad, spinning the man's body to the side. The arrow tore through the bunched-up hood at the priest's neck and clattered onto the road. Jorad whirled around to see who was shooting when two more soldiers jumped onto the road and drew their bows. Jorad dropped to the ground beside the inner wall. "Do as you said!" the man hissed. "Find Toreg and meet me at the Karst. I'll find a way to get into Kadir and meet you at the temple." He gave Corvan a shove as another arrow whistled overhead.

Corvan jumped up, leapt onto the outer wall, and dove into the river. He hit the water cleanly, surfaced and headed to the far side, swimming hard against the current to get past the pillars supporting the bridge. Breathless, he pulled himself out of the water in the rocky bay where the water from the City of Refuge gushed out.

The chains above him rattled. Jorad was hanging onto the sides of the bridge to work himself around the missing floor panels. Above Jorad's labored breathing, Corvan could hear the soldiers shouting as they ran toward the trapped priest but there were no more arrows.

Jorad called down to Corvan, his voice tight. "Do as you have promised and find Tyreth, but I swear, if you are lying to me, you will never get out of the Cor alive."