Free Ethan Wright and the Curse of Silence by Kimbro West Page B

added, making a rub of the markings on the pinch-shackle with the scrap of parchment. Odin held the rub and looked at it through the light of the fireplace. Satisfied with his work, he rolled the parchment up and placed it in his pocket.
    “This leads us to your errand, boys,” said Ghislain, fidgeting with the pinch-shackle. “Seems I used to make runs to Tirguard now and again, however I’m afraid that I must stick around home or get into trouble with Mrs. Faryndon …” Ghislain ended in a whisper, “and Odin here could no longer fight his way out of a paper bag, if you — er, know what I mean.” He chuckled at Odin. “I need you two to investigate this symbol in Tirguard and bring back …”
    But Ghislain was interrupted by Ethan. “Did you say Tirguard?” Ghislain slumped back in his chair and remained silent. Ethan then looked over to Odin. “Well, let’s have it then — this place is real? Tirguard, it exists?” asked Ethan loudly.
    “It does,” answered Odin.
    “How long have you known? All of you! HOW LONG?”
    The room stayed silent for a few moments and then Odin took a deep breath. “I have known all along, Ethan,” replied Odin. The deep gashes in his withered face brought little sympathy from Ethan.
    “My brother has been missing for over three years. I have missed school … and missed out on so many other things to go and look for him, and it turns out there is a secret city that everyone knows about but me? How is this possible?”
    “Ethan, you have every right to be angry, but please listen for a moment.” Gesturing for Ethan to calm down, Odin leaned forward. Flicks of light from the fireplace reflected off his weathered eyes. “Long ago, there was a Curse placed on you … placed on all of us. Anyone that gave information about the Oroborus, or even spoke the creature’s name, would reap the wrath of the Curse of Silence. As of the last few months, the Curse seems to be lifting….”
    Ghislain lifted both hands up and motioned for Odin to stop speaking.
    “What wrath?” asked Ethan sharply.
    “NO! That’s enough talk of that, Odin, my wife is here — my son!” exclaimed Ghislain in a whisper.
    “Ghislain, I will only speak of what is known to be safe, I promise.” He turned to Ethan and continued. “Please no questions, Ethan — for now — there are still things to confirm. However … there are three things I can tell you. First, travel by Oroborus to and from Tirguard is limited to a select few families. Second, people have been speaking of the Oroborus and not suffering penalty — more and more people are traveling by Oroborus again. And finally, breaking the Curse of Silence means instant death for anyone that does so. Which means, if something is spoken that is still forbidden by the Curse, everyone in this room could be in mortal danger.”
    Ethan did not know what to say; he sat back in his chair and kept silent. Ghislain had stopped fidgeting with the pinch-shackle and had quite a nervous look on his face. Auren was eager to break the silence. “So are we goin’ then? I mean, is it safe? Won’t everyone be talking about the Oroborus?”
    “Now that we know Wegnel sent Ethan there successfully, we think it’s assumable that you will be safe,” answered Odin.
    “Wegnel’s services haven’t been used regularly in years. Most folks just go about their business — some even completely unaware such travel exists,” added Ghislain as he looked over his shoulder to see if Isabel was listening.
    “We’ll go,” said Ethan abruptly.
    Odin seemed pleased, and even Ethan was happy about the new possibilities unfolding in front of him. Ethan realized this plan was premeditated, for some of the items that Odin had packed seemed odd for simply going to Ghislain’s house. Perhaps Ghislain and Odin wanted the boys to investigate a Stonewolf, but a much different task was on Ethan’s agenda. He decided he and Auren could explore the map, and maybe they would get