The Quellers, Dan Wright [top novels to read txt] 📗

playfully. ‘I won’t bite, I promise.’
She could see how scared the guards were, they were no real threat to her. However, as much as she enjoyed toying with them, she and Dylan had a mission to complete and they were wasting time.
‘I think we got off on the wrong foot,’ Alix said playfully. The flaming swords suddenly fused together, creating a huge ball of fire. ‘Let’s kiss and make up.’
She took a deep breath and blew into the fireball, sending a burst of fire towards them. The guards cried aloud and ran out the room to avoid being burned. With the distraction now gone, Alix turned to the window, seeing Dylan chasing after Rofelo down the street.
Looks like Dyls could use a hand, she thought.

Rofelo turned a corner in the street and hid around the wall, taking a moment to catch his breath. He was not used to running this fast and his leg was stinging from the fall. But he was desperate to escape; there was no way he could allow himself to go with these two. With his breath coming out quick and hard and his body shaking so fast it nearly shattered his skeleton, he carefully turned to look round the corner to see if he was still being followed. The sweat poured from his brow, almost like it had been raining. He held his breath as he carefully poked his head around the corner.
He could not see Dylan or Alix as he looked down. Maybe he had lost them, or maybe the Town Guard had got to them. He allowed himself a chance to rest against the wall to catch his breath. His through was dry and sore, his breath coming out in hot bursts. He could have really done with a drink of water about...
The wall exploded just to his right, making him jump back in terror. The smoke cleared and Dylan was seen standing there, looking towards Rofelo with a sinister look.
‘Thought I’d lost you,’ Dylan said.
This was impossible. How could he have punched through solid rock like it was paper? These were no ordinary humans. Rofelo panicked and frantically looked for an escape route, though he was running out of options very quickly. He noticed a lone horse, tied up outside a tavern. His last chance of escape.
With the pain in his leg still eating at him, he limped over to the horse before Dylan was on him. Rofelo quickly untied the horse and desperately jumped onto its back; which he did with a great difficulty due to his large weight. The horse groaned in protest of having to carry someone as large as him, but Rofelo grabbed the reigns and forced the horse into a gallop.
Alix, Dylan said, projecting his words not through his mouth, but through his mind. I could use a hand here!
Don’t worry, brother, Alix’s thoughts reflected back into his mind, I got this one.
A large fire ball exploded in front of the horse, stopping just a few inches away from it. The creature leapt back in fright, flinging Rofelo off it and he landed hard on the ground. The horse ran off in the other direction.
Dylan rushed over as Alix jumped down from the top of a nearby building, having caught up with them. ‘Careful, you could have hurt the horse!’ Dylan complained.
‘I stopped him, didn’t I?’ Alix chuckled.
Rofelo tried to crawl away, but it was a pointless effort as Alix stepped on his left wrist before he got a few feet away. They heard a crunch, but it didn’t sound like bones snapping. Dylan knelt down and picked up Rofelo’s left hand, looking into the sleeve of his pocket. He noticed something was attached to the inside of the sleeve so he reached in and pulled it out. It was a small, mechanical mesh, designed to fit around the inside of the sleeve of the coat. On the bottom of it appeared to be a small pulley device, holding a set of cards. Cards that Rofelo had been holding in his sleeve the entire game.
‘So THAT’S how you were able to beat Arnis,’ Dylan smirked. ‘Real clever.’
‘Please! I beg you!’ Rofelo cried. ‘Whatever they paid you to find me... I’ll, I’ll double it, triple it, quadruple it... anything if you leave me alone!’
‘Oh, please! Have some dignity,’ Alix moaned.
‘Besides, this isn’t about money,’ Dylan said. ‘It’s about scum like you getting what you deserve!’
‘Er, yes it, Dylan, we’re getting paid for...’
‘Shut up, Alix!’ Dylan pulled Rofelo up by the scruff and held the terrified man to his face. ‘Men like you don’t deserve to live. Men like you who gamble and waste money just to indulge in your sick fantasies; or killing a young girls' entire family just so you can have her for yourself...’
‘Wait, this is all a mistake!’ Rofelo screamed. ‘I would never do that! Please, you have to believe me!’
‘Tell it to Azal.’
Dylan slammed his fist into Rofelo and he went out instantly.

Rofelo awoke up, a day or so later. His head was groggy and sore, feeling like he had been hit on the head by a morning star. ‘Where... where am I?’ he asked groggily.
‘You’re in Lucilia,’ a voice that sounded familiar, yet so distant.
Rofelo was thrown to the ground; he barely got his feet up to stop his face from hitting the solid stone floor. ‘On your feet,’ said the voice. ‘Our master wants a word with you.’
Rofelo slowly lifted his aching head and opened his eyes. His vision was blurred and it took many moments for it to focus. But when his eyes did focus, he wished that he was blind. ‘No... Azal...’
Sitting behind his golden table, sat on a chair also made of gold, was the beastman known only as Azal, a high ranking member of the Troja. Azal was a cross between a bull and a human, fairly short in statue, having been afflicted by dwarfism from an early age. Azal was at heart, a fair and reasonable man – but if you crossed him, you would likely not escape with your life. Either side of Azal were his bodyguard, clad in spiked armour and looking more like monsters than humans.
‘Rofelo,’ Azal said in a slightly high-pitched voice. ‘You have no idea how long I’ve been searching for you.’
Two previously unseen Troja servants picked up Rofelo at either side, holding him up so that Azal could see him face to face. ‘I am most disappointed in your, Rofelo,’ Azal said in a calm, yet threatening voice. ‘Not only did you steal from me, you ran away. I must say that I am hurt, especially after everything I have done for you.’
‘Please!’ Rofelo cried. ‘Azal, I was on my way to pay you back, I swear!’
‘My colleagues I sent after you said they found you in Faye,’ Azal said, turning his eyes slightly to Dylan and Alix, who were standing in the background. ‘That seems quite a detour to pay me back.’
‘I promise you, I was going to pay you back, I swear!’ Rofelo screamed. ‘I would never... ever, do anything to hurt you!’
‘I’m not sure if I believe you, old friend,’ Azal said. He leaned back in his chair, stroking his coarse, brown beard, appearing to be thinking; but he had already planned out what he would do long before Rofelo was here.
‘Please, just give me another chance’ Rofelo begged, tears in his eyes. ‘Let me prove that I am still loyal to you!’
‘I will give you a chance to plead your case – to the iron rack.’ Azal signalled to his two guards and they dragged Rofelo out of the room, his desperate screams going on deaf ears. When he was gone, Azal turned to Dylan and Alix. ‘Again I must commend you both on your excellent efforts. Rofelo was cunning and I never thought I would ever catch up with him again. But you two tracked him almost effortlessly. You are useful assets.’
‘Don’t mention it,’ Alix said. ‘Now, I believe that you promised us five hundred for catching him?’
Azal smiled snidely. ‘So eager,’ Azal said. ‘But you are quite right. I did offer you five hundred. And of course I will keep my word.’
He gestured to the guard on his right, who walked round to the side of the table, placing two large bags of coins on the side of the table. ‘There you are,’ Azal said. ‘Five hundred gold pieces – each.’
‘Each?’ Alix gasped. Alix almost couldn’t believe her luck as she quickly made her way over to the bags, picking one up to feel its weight. It felt heavy in her hands; she was convinced that Azal was serious. ‘Wow! I’ve never held so much cash in my hands!’
Azal turned to Dylan, who stood where he was, staring blankly. ‘Well, Dylan?’ Azal asked, ‘do you not want to come and collect your reward?’
‘Keep your money,’ Dylan grunted, turning and walking away. ‘I do this to see criminals punished, not for reward.’
‘You seek to see criminals punished,’ Azal began, ‘yet you work for the Troja?’ Dylan stopped in his tracks as Azal gently berated him. ‘How funny it is that you work for us, an organisation that deals in criminal activities, and yet you seek to see evil stopped. I hope the irony is not lost on you.’
Dylan turned his head slightly, searching his mind for a suitable comeback. He could think of nothing, so he just grunted and walked out of Azal’s sight.
‘Your brother is very melancholy tonight,’ Azal said to Alix. ‘I’m starting to think he doesn’t like me.’
‘I do apologise,’ Alix said sheepishly. ‘We’re grateful for you taking us in and everything. He’s just been in a bit of mood lately I think.’

The tavern was thriving and noisy tonight, full to brim of party atmosphere. The musicians played their instruments with vigour and verve while others danced and moved to the music. It was lively to say the least, but there was no hint of violence – for this was the festival known as Isiah Adorie, a week dedicated to the Dragon of Love Isiah. It was recommended to visit Lucilia in this week, for it was the time when everyone could forget about their troubles and just enjoy life as it was.
All except one.
Dylan sat by the bar and took a large swig of his ale, only turning occasionally to look at his sister, who was joining in with the dancing and joyous atmosphere. Seeing her joining in with the happy atmosphere almost made Dylan sick to his stomach. He hated being in this place more than anything. He found the whole concept of a week dedicated to love and happiness a joke. Why should he be forced to take part in the festivals when he had nothing to celebrate?
It wasn’t that he thought happiness was an illusion, he believed in it and new that it did exist. But why should he celebrate it when he could not feel it?
He downed the last swig of ale, hoping that the alcoholic effects would at least make him feel some measure of joy. But Dylan forgot that he was no longer affected by the powers of alcohol, thanks to his special gifts. Still, he kept drinking; at least he could taste it still.
‘Same again, innkeeper,’ Dylan said to the man behind the bar. The innkeeper was a kindly looking man that looked like he had been doing this job for too long, but none the less, he was still positive and enjoyed his work.
‘You look a little down, son,’ the innkeeper said, taking Dylan’s mug. ‘Why don’t you join in with the others? Whatever prevents