Free The Mapmaker's Sons by V. L. Burgess Page A

shook off Porter’s grip. “He already has.”
    â€œIf he had, you’d be dead by now.”
    Confused, Tom risked another glance at the street below. Sure enough, Keegan had turned away from him, scattering his men into small search parties, beginning with the buildings on the other side of the street.
    â€œNot that it matters,” Porter continued grimly. “It’s over. We’re trapped.”
    â€œNo, you’re not,” a small voice countered. “I know a way out. A way Keegan and his men don’t know about.”
    Tom pivoted around to see the small, scrawny boy he had saved from the butcher. The boy stood alone in a corner of the storeroom, his innocent features worked into an expression of bold defiance.
    â€œHow’d you get in here, boy?” Umbrey demanded.
    The boy shrugged. “I can slip in most any place. Guess I’m too small for people to pay me any mind.”
    â€œWhat do you want?” This from Porter.
    The boy pointed to Tom. “I saw the butcher was after him, and I had to make sure he was all right. He helped me, so I help him. I don’t turn my back on my friends.”
    The fact that Tom had made a friend was news to him. But he certainly wasn’t going to turn away help when it was offered.
    Neither, it seemed, was Umbrey. “You say there’s another way out, boy?”
    The boy nodded. “Willa knows a way. She goes into the Dismal Swamp at least once a month for herbs and such. She says if you go far enough, you’ll reach The Beyond.”
    Porter gave a harsh laugh. “The thief lies. No one who goes into the Dismal Swamp ever comes out again.”
    The boy puffed out his scrawny chest. “I don’t lie! And I’m not a thief! I was hungry, that’s all!”
    â€œQuiet, both of you!” Umbrey snapped. He pulled off his peg leg and removed the map, spreading it open over the barrel top. The Five Kingdoms were all there, drawn in lush detail, as well as the dark expanse of land that made up The Beyond.”The Dismal Swamp, you say?” Umbrey traced his finger along the rough parchment, his lips moving silently as though making calculations. His face suddenly brightened. “Porter, Tom! Come look!”
    He drilled his finger into the map. “There, you see? The boy’s correct. The swamp borders the southeast corner of The Beyond, through Terrum. Not the route we had planned, but it might just work.”
    â€œAnd if the sword lies in the north?” Porter countered.
    Umbrey leaned back. He smiled. “An excellent question, lad. And I know of only one way to answer it.” He turned toward Tom and nodded. “Touch the map.”
    Tom hesitated, feeling suddenly self-conscious under the weight of Porter’s stare. Adopting an attitude of cool nonchalance, as though he did that sort of thing every day, he drew his hand over the map. It came to life, just as it had in Lost’s office. The action drew a sharp gasp of wonder from the boy, and a heated glare from Porter. He lowered his hand.
    â€œGood,” Umbrey said. “Your turn, Porter.”
    Porter repeated the action, with the same result.
    â€œExcellent.” Umbrey brought his hands together with a sharp clap. “The map speaks to you both. But we already knew that much, didn’t we? Now here’s where it gets interesting. According to legend, the map will only reveal its treasure when the Hero Twins—”
    â€œHero twins?” Tom interrupted.
    â€œTwin sons, one light, one dark—that’s you lads—lay their hands on it together.” A brief silence ensued as they studied the parchment. Umbrey looked from Porter to Tom. “Well? If you could kindly tell me,
what in blazes are you waiting for?”
    Porter started as though jarred from some deep reverie, and stationed himself at one end of the map. Tom took the opposite side.
    Tom chewed his lip. “What if it