The Marenon Chronicles Collection - By Jason D. Morrow Page 0,327

Let me search your mind to prove that you are who you say you are.”

Will stood for a moment in awkward silence. He took his time, seemingly concentrating. Silas assumed Will was thinking of whether it would be a good idea or not.

After a long, awkward moment, Will looked Silas in the eyes.

“Fine,” he said. “Do it.”

Silas stepped forward, knowing this could be a trick used to get close to him. He didn’t underestimate the power of his enemies. For all he knew, this was Anithistor getting ready to reveal himself and blast Silas into oblivion. But it was worth a try. If this man standing before him really was William Ainsley, then Silas would trust him. There would be no reason not to.

Will left his arms at his side as Silas approached him. Silas gently set the staff on the ground and reached for Will’s head with both hands. The same movement had been used on Silas when Hroth had entered his mind, and Silas had done this to Kaden.

He didn’t particularly like going into someone’s mind. With Kaden, he had felt as though he was stealing something that didn’t belong to him; that all of Kaden’s guarded secrets were suddenly available for the watching.

This was exactly what Silas wanted now.

He reached up and gripped Will’s head. When he closed his eyes, he instantly saw a world of memories for the choosing. Silas wanted only to find the same memory that had been taken from Kaden. This would be proof enough.

But Silas did not find himself in a dark room with two men fighting over his mother, Shelinsa. Instead, Silas saw through the eyes of Will on the ground.

The sky was dark and gray with pregnant storm clouds rushing swiftly by. The earth around him was scorched, nothing but ash and smoke. Will looked down at his hands and Silas could see the burns and blood that covered them. An arrow protruded from his side, and Silas could tell that he was in pain. The smoke in front of him cleared with a gust of wind and he could see the enemies walking toward him. Most of them were familiar to Silas. Two of them in particular made his insides go cold with memories of fear and torment. Hroth was one of them but was not the first one Silas had noticed. Walking tall and monstrous toward him was the giant Stühoc, Maroke.

Will tried to move at first, but the pain caused him to wince and fall back down to the ground. Silas could feel the terror that swamped Will’s mind in those moments that he knew would be his last. Will tried to reach for a sword, anything that could help him, but there was nothing. He was unarmed and helpless.

Within moments, they were all standing above him.

The silent Hroth looked at the monster and nodded his head.

“He’s the boy’s father,” Maroke gestured to him. “He will be useful, I’m sure.”

Maroke looked at Hroth as the creature spoke something through his inaudible mind-speech.

Maroke nodded again. “This is most fortunate. Anithistor will be pleased with this.” He bent down and grabbed Will by the hair and yanked his head back, then shoved Will’s head into the ground.

The memory faded to blackness.

Silas let go of Will’s head and stared at the man in disbelief.

“This is how you were captured?”

“What did you see?”

Silas explained the memory and Will nodded.

“It’s all my fault,” Silas said.

“For being born? Hardly.”

“Why did you go out to fight that day?” Silas asked.

“I was angry. I was ready for Maroke to die. I was ready for their rule to be finished. I was a fool.”

“How is it that Hroth wasn’t able to turn you?” Silas asked.

“He just couldn’t. For some reason I was more difficult than others. I just happened to have a stronger mind, I suppose.”

Silas hoped it took more than just a strong mind to shut out Hroth. When Hroth had reached out for Silas, the Possessor entered his brain without effort.

“So, you believe me now?” Will asked him.

“Yeah,” Silas said. “I do.”

“Good. Now, you should follow me to the Red Gate. It isn’t far from here.”

Silas bent down and picked up the staff from the ground. “But I know where it is. I’ve been able to feel its pull the whole morning. Like it is calling out to me.”

Will shrugged. “Then I hope you don’t have a problem with my going with you. I can show you to a back route that Anithistor won’t