Free Chasing Evil by Adam Blade

hiding?
    â€œThey may be only children,” hissed Derthsin, “but they control powerful allies. And now I fear they may have found a third.”
    It took Tanner a moment to realize that Derthsin was talking about him and his friends. Children? Gor turned and the firelight captured his cruel profile.
    â€œWe have the boy back, at least,” said Gor. “Vendrake forced the truth from him. He has told us where to look.”
    â€œWe’re opening up the eastern tunnels,” put in Captain Brutus. “If we concentrate our manpower there, it cannot be long until we have what you seek.”
    The piece of the mask! Tanner thought.
    â€œAnd what shall we do with the boy then?” asked Vendrake.
    The image of Derthsin seemed to glow brighter than before. “He is no more use to us. We won’t need to organize any further pre-arranged meetings with him. Feed him to the Troiden.”
    Tanner backed away from the doorway. Picking his steps as carefully as possible, he hurried along the passage and toward the light. He emerged, coughing on the filthy air, then hurried outside. Gwen and Castor were waiting, peering from behind a rocky outcrop, their eyes wide. The Beasts were perched on the mountain above them.
    â€œSo?” Castor demanded.
    Tanner filled his lungs with the clean mountain air. “They’re making weapons,” he reported. “And armor, too. The boys are slaves — they’re working the furnaces and forges. It’s horrible.”
    â€œAnd Geffen?” Gwen asked quickly.
    Tanner hesitated. “He’s told them to look for the mask in the eastern tunnels, but …” He wasn’t sure he could find the words.
    â€œSay it, Tanner,” Gwen hissed. “Whatever it is, just say it.”
    â€œAs soon as they find the piece of the mask, they’re going to kill him. I was right — he’d arranged to meet Gor when he sneaked away from our camp. But now, he’s no more use to them.” His words came out in a rush. He told them what he’d seen, about Captain Brutus, Vendrake, and Gor, and the image of Derthsin in the flames. About Troiden.
    â€œWhat about the boys?” Castor said, interrupting.
    Tanner’s voice cracked. “They’re starving. They’re being beaten and overworked and … some of them are in cages with snakes.”
    â€œSnakes?” Gwen repeated.
    â€œTrapped like animals,” Castor said. He paced in a slow circle. “The boys I grew up with … I should be with them….” He punched the mountain rock. Tanner realized Castor was shaking with rage. He hit the rock again and again, until his knuckles were streaked with blood.
    My feathers ruffle with a prickle of emotion. Castor is full of secrets and pain. One glance into Nera’s face tells me that. Does Tanner know what secrets lie in his new friend’s heart? I think he suspects.
    I close my eyes and listen to whatever the boy’s soul is flooded with. Ah, yes …
    Guilt.
    I understand. My eyes snap open. Self-loathing infects the boy, like a disease. The tremor in his eyes, the shake of his hands — what is he hiding?
    â€œCastor!” Tanner grabbed him. “Calm down.”
    â€œThose are my people,” Castor shouted. “Let go of me.” He shook Tanner away and drew his sword. Tanner noticed for the first time that it had a cat’s claw embedded in the hilt. “We’re going to free them right now. I’ll go first….”
    Tanner grabbed him by the shoulders, yanking him away from the cave entrance.
    â€œListen to me,” he said, keeping his voice as steady as he could. “We’ll save them, I promise. But we can’t do it like this. Even if we could beat the guards — and there are a lot of soldiers — if we charge in like this, they may hurt more of the boys before we can stop them. And we may not even get near the piece of the Mask of Death.