Bloodline (Cradle Book 9)
Page 35
“Sometimes I remember, sometimes I make ‘em up.” She shrugged. “Can’t say it makes an inch of difference either way.”
Lindon was impressed. “If you’re making those up that quickly, I think you might be some kind of genius.”
She snorted. “Not a snowball’s chance in Hell.”
Eithan and Lindon stood over the grimy pit, looking down into the hole where a Heaven’s Glory building had collapsed. “If you already know what’s down there, I would appreciate it if you would tell me,” Lindon said.
Eithan grimaced. “Lots of grimy blankets, some destroyed tools, and a shallow sewer of human waste.” He knelt and brushed his hand over an indentation in the rubble. “A halfling lay here.” He moved to another dent next to the first. “And the other.”
“What’s a halfling?” Lindon asked.
“Hush, I’m dodging copyright.” Eithan closed his eyes, tracing a trail. “They crawled…their hands were bound!”
“I’m certain you’re making this up.”
“Their bonds were cut!”
Lindon decided to ignore him.
Ziel stared down the Kazan Patriarch. “There’s a big monster coming. It’s called a Dreadgod. Come with us if you want to live.”
“Okay, let’s go,” the Patriarch said.
They high-fived.
Orthos exchanged glances with Little Blue before he looked back to Yerin. “He does not feel like he’s in danger.”
Yerin’s heart eased a little. “What does he feel like?”
Orthos gave her an odd look. “Like all humans. Soft but bony. I don’t see why you’d need to ask me that, though.”
Yerin’s face heated. “Wait, no, I meant—”
“What a question to ask an old, lonely turtle. You would know the answer better than I would anyway, I imagine.”
“I yield. White flag. Please stop.”
Little Blue’s laughter echoed like bells.
For the second time in a day, Lindon gripped the marble and prayed.
I don’t know what to do. Help me.
The marble buzzed for a second, then stopped. Then buzzed again. On the third buzz, it was interrupted by a woman’s voice.
“New marble, who’s this?”
“This is, uh, Wei Shi Lindon? From Cradle?”
“Oh yeah, Lindon! Hold on one second, let me put you in here. Cradle…Kid…I…Saved…okay, I’ve got you in. Now let’s make this quick, I’m roaming.”
“State your desires,” Northstrider said.
Yerin spoke immediately. “Infinite wishes.”
The gathered Monarchs looked to one another.
Northstrider grunted. “Obviously we can’t—”
“I wish to win the next tournament.”
“That violates the entire spirit of the competition.”
“Immortality.”
“You don’t need any more increases to your lifespan.”
“The ability to grant my own wishes.”
“That’s advancement, and it’s what we’re offering you.” Northstrider’s eyes narrowed. “Where are you getting these ideas?”
Yerin pulled out a scroll, which unfurled all the way to the ground. “Lindon wrote it. I remember ‘em all, but he thought you might want to read them. Next, I’m supposed to ask for ‘points.’”
Northstrider incinerated the list.
About the Author
Will Wight lives in Florida, among the citrus fruits and slithering sea creatures. He’s the author of the Amazon best-selling Traveler’s Gate Trilogy, The Elder Empire (which cleverly offers twice the fun and twice the work), and his series of mythical martial arts magic: Cradle.
He graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2013, earning a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and a flute of dragon’s bone. He is also, apparently, invisible to cameras.
He also claims that WillWight.com is the best source for book updates, new stories, fresh coriander, and miracle cures for all your aches and pains!
Also by Will Wight
Cradle
Unsouled
Soulsmith
Blackflame
Skysworn
Ghostwater
Underlord
Uncrowned
Wintersteel
Cradle: Foundation
Cradle: Path of Gold
The Traveler’s Gate Trilogy
House of Blades
The Crimson Vault
City of Light
The Traveler’s Gate Chronicles
The Elder Empire
Of Sea & Shadow
Of Dawn & Darkness
Of Kings & Killers
Of Shadow & Sea
Of Darkness & Dawn
Of Killers & Kings
For the most up-to-date bibliography, please visit WillWight.com