Bloodsongs Read Online Free PDF Page A

mystery. She wondered if she really know him at all.
    â€œYou used to tell me stories,” he answered finally. “I don’t remember them all clearly. I was very small. But you talked about a dagger, sometimes, and you called it by a name.” His gaze seemed to burn right through her. “You called it Demonfang.”
    She sat perfectly still, her fingers interlocked so he couldn’t see her hands tremble. “What about it?” she said. “They were just stories.”
    He leaned closer. “But were the stories true?”
    She wanted to look away, break the eye contact, but she knew she mustn’t. Instead, she put on a condescending smirk. “Of course not.”
    Kel half rose from his bench so she was forced to look up at him. The black raven embroidered on his silken tunic seemed to spread its ebon wings upon his chest like some bird of prey. The irony of it struck her, how that same bird had been her father’s emblem so long ago in Esgaria and how all the family warriors had worn it. Now, his grandson wore it as well, though it was the ensign of a distant king.
    â€œYou’re lying, Mother,” Kel accused. A sardonic grin split his face, making a thin slash of his mouth. “I think the dagger was real. I think you still have it somewhere.”
    She rose and turned her back to him. “You’re wrong,” she answered, keeping her voice calm. “Demonfang was just a story, a tale to entertain a baby, to hush your crying.” She faced him again. “You were always crying about something.”
    He stalked around the table, caught her wrist suddenly in a grip that would not be broken. She hadn’t realized how tall he was or how strong. “I want that dagger, Mother.” He twisted her arm cruelly, making her wince. “I know you have it.”
    â€œNo!” she said through clenched teeth.
    He twisted harder. Pain shot through her elbow and up to her shoulder. She glanced at the rear door and thought of calling to Kirigi. Yet if she did that, the brothers would certainly fight, and all of Kel’s original fear and accusations, the sense of being driven out by the younger child, would become true. Such a breach would never heal.
    â€œI thought you’d be reasonable,” Kel whispered in her ear. “I’m the warrior in this family now. I’ve need of such a blade and its power. Or did you plan to give it to Kirigi someday?”
    She brought a foot up and smashed her heel down on his toes. It wasn’t hard enough to break any bones, but it startled him, and his grip loosened enough to let her pull free. She spun and backed away a few steps.
    â€œYour jealousy has warped you!” she snapped, keeping her voice low for fear of alerting her younger son. Now, she recognized the light in his eyes, and it made her shiver. “Get out!” she demanded. “Would that I had died before seeing you come to this! Leave while my sweeter memories are still intact!”
    He set his hand on the hilt of the sword at his hip, but he didn’t draw it. Still, the threat was clear. He loomed over her. “I’ll leave when the dagger is mine!” he said. “You’ll tell me where it is, or I’ll carve your precious brat and hang his heart on a thorn!”
    A bitter cold fell over her. Her fingers curled into fists, and she drew herself erect. “Kel, listen to me and believe what I say.” She fixed him with a look and crept closer. “By Orchos and every demon in the nine hells”—she shook her fist at him—“if you ever harm Kirigi, I’ll kill you. He doesn’t even know how to use a sword. Kimon never taught him.” Her hands curled in the fabric of his tunic and she pulled his face to hers. “Even if I’m dead and you try to hurt him, I swear I’ll rise up and strike you down!”
    Kel roared. His hand crashed down against her cheek. She reeled, fell to