David Bishop and the Legend of the Orb T.C. Crawford (easy to read books for adults list .txt) 📖

wake up. It’s your turn for watch.” Rex whispered as he nudged David lightly in the ribs.

He slowly got up and stretched before wiping the sleep from his eyes.

“Thanks, Rex. Try to get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.” said David.

Rex slowly climbed into his makeshift bed and drifted off to sleep. David was alone now for the first time in a few days.

He replayed the events that led up to this night. He was haunted by the horror of the task that lay ahead of them. How were they ever going to take back the kingdom? He had no idea what he was doing. All he could think about was the message the Mystics in his dream had given him. "You will know when the time is right what must be done". Why couldn’t they have given him a more useful message, like how to access his powers or something?

He was frustrated, and even worse, exhausted still. The little bit of rest he had wasn’t nearly enough, and he kept finding himself drifting off before catching himself. He had to stay awake and watch over the others to make sure they were safe while they slept.

He got up and decided to take a stroll around the campground to ensure everything was in order. The endless sound of crickets chirping in the darkness was nearly deafening as he patrolled the perimeter of the camp. Suddenly he heard a rustling in the distance. “Who’s there?” whispered David. “Show yourself!”

He slowly started towards the source of the sound. It seemed to come from behind a tree in the distance, near a small cluster of bushes. He checked to make sure his sword was at his waist before moving onward.

The bushes rustled again. He could feel his heart racing in his chest, pounding inside trying to force its way out. His breathing got heavy and sweat started to trickle from his brow.

He was only inches away from the bushes now. The noise stopped.

He jumped through the bushes with his sword drawn and ready to fight off the intruder. He looked around panting, but no one was there. Then suddenly he heard the rustling again, but this time it was right behind him. He slowly gathered his nerve and spun around swinging his sword with all his might, ready to slash through whatever was lurking in the darkness just inches behind him.

Just a foot or so away from him stood a small, furry animal that looked just like a badger. Its fur raised up threateningly as the rodent opened its mouth wide, baring its teeth at David before letting out a hissing noise and scattering off into the darkness.

Relieved, David sheathed his sword and headed back to the camp. He sat down on a log near the fire and looked around at the others to ensure they hadn’t seen his extravagant act, but both Rex and Orin were fast asleep.

He glanced over to where Erin was sleeping, but he couldn’t see her behind the fire. He stood up and slowly walked around the fire to check on her, but she wasn’t there. And he noticed her pack was gone!

Oh no! Something must have happened while I was chasing that stupid animal! thought David in a panic.

“Orin! Rex! Get up! Erin’s missing!” he cried.

The others shot up quickly from their slumber, ready to fight.

“What’s going on?” asked Orin.

“Erin, she’s gone! Someone must have taken her!” cried David.

“I don’t think so mate,” said Rex, looking around for any sign of a struggle but not finding any.

“I can guess she’s gone after her friend.” he said, pointing at what looked to be fresh tracks heading back the way they had come. “That girl wouldn’t have gone out of here without a fight, and that would’ve woken us up for sure. All I can see here are one set of tracks.”

“He’s right, David. She must have gone out while we were sleeping. What were you doing? I thought you were supposed to be on watch?” said Orin, glaring at David who lowered his head in shame.

“I was! I heard a sound just beyond the camp, over there by that tree. I went to check it out, but it was just a stupid animal. How could I be so foolish?” he said, blaming himself for letting Erin slip off on his watch.

“Don’t blame yourself, kid. She must’ve had this planned, and it seemed that her mind was set since she heard about her friend being imprisoned. There’s nothing we could’ve said to change her mind.” said Rex, assuring David it wasn’t his fault.

“We have to go after her! We can’t just let her go alone!” cried David. “I won’t let them hurt her!”

“David, we won’t be any good without more people to take on the Royal Guard. How do you expect us to get past them alone?” replied Orin. “We must get help first, and then we can go and save our friends. We can’t let them have you. This is the only way.”

“No! I have to go after her!” David shouted.

He started packing up his things and then started off towards the forest in the direction the tracks Erin left behind. Without warning, everything went black.

“Sorry, kid. It’s for your own good.” said Rex, dropping the large branch.

He hauled David onto his shoulder and headed back to camp.

“We better hurry and get your friends, Rex, or that boy’s going to blow a fuse and kill us all!” said Orin urgently. “He’s a ticking time bomb until he gets control over his powers, and I would hate for us to be on the receiving end of his wrath!”

Rex agreed.

They gathered their things, put out the fire, and headed off swiftly into the night, Rex in the lead with David over his shoulder, and Orin following quickly behind.

Chapter XIII

It was early morning and the sun was just barely starting to light up the forest around her, giving her a