Fated Sworn by Kristin L Hamblin EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Status: Available for Free Download
- Author: Kristin L Hamblin
- Language: English
- Genre: Epic Fantasy
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 2 MB
- Price: Free
Bastien braced himself as a meaty fist slammed into his face. Locked
in place by the two boys holding him, he grunted with the full impact of the
blow. The dark room spun with the faces of the gang, cheering and pumping
their fists, eager for more action.
Kolb’s knuckles struck Bastien’s body for the third time, followed by
white pain and the trickle from a fresh cut high on his scalp. He could
conceal the wound later. Bastien spat blood on the floor at the old guy’s
feet. His captors tightened their grip to a bone-grinding hold, but it wasn’t
necessary. Bastien wouldn’t attempt escape. He knew better.
Every punch was one Olin wouldn’t have to take.
Bastien tensed, readying for more. Kolb’s jowls were red, and sweat
beaded the stubble on his upper lip. He reared back, and his fist flew with
the weight of his thick body. The boys cheered as Bastien’s head snapped
back from the force. Like all the times before, he imagined the pain as
something making him stronger—imagined it laying another shield over his
heart, cushioning him from his dismal past and even more dismal future. He
imagined if he took enough hits, eventually he’d be untouchable.
“I don’t like to do this, Bast.” Kolb shook out his hand and wiped blood
on his dirty trousers. “Every time the guard sees one of us running around
looking like you do right now, it brings trouble down on us.” He towered
over Bastien—as if he needed more power over a fifteen-year-old. “If you
weren’t the best thief we’ve got, you know where you’d be. You and Olin.”
Kolb knew where to place a hit to do the most damage. Decades of running
this street gang had taught him all sorts of nasty tricks.
Bastien held Kolb’s eyes, refusing to glance toward the dungeon, but the
boys’ murmurs said that everyone recognized the implied threat. Kolb
hadn’t locked him up in a long time, not since he became the top earner in
the gang, but the threat made his heart leap. A week or even a day in the
cells meant no money, and no money meant no food, and winter came early
in the city of Docimer.
Kolb looked away first, scanning the crowd of boys until they landed
right on Olin, easily a head shorter than the rest. The kid’s wide eyes
vanished too late. Kolb took a casual step away, but Bastien clenched his
muscles, having learned that ploy long ago. Sure enough, Kolb’s fist
hammered him in the gut, the hardest hit yet. The air whooshed out of him,
and Bastien’s captors let him go as he bent over coughing, clutching his
middle.
“Let this be a lesson to all you new kids. Don’t think some long-timer is
gonna help you. You want to live here? You want to learn how to fight and
fend for yourself, protected from the eyes of Captain Cerick? It comes with
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