Daughter of Blood Read Online Free PDF

delicate cough. “We have heard that this Night Earl, amongst his many peculiarities, is a stickler for our Derai law.” Her half-sister’s tone was demur. “Laws that forbid any Derai being forced into marriage, even to aid the cause of Earl and House.”
    The silence that followed was infinitely worse than the shouting had been, and even Sarein, Myr noticed, was not quite brave enough to meet their father’s stare. “So you both refuse?” The Earl’s voice was a blade, and the pain in Myr’s head cut deeper. Across the table, Huern and Liankhara made an elaborate show of looking at each other.
    Of course, Myr thought, the deal makers—and felt sure that any scheme these two proposed would have been dreamed up long before. The only question was who else they had enlisted to back their play, since they would not show their hand until certain it would win the game. Despite the headache, she made herself focus as Liankhara spoke. “One of our line must make the sacrifice for Earl and House.”
    Here it comes, Myr thought, keeping her eyes on the tabletop.
    â€œSo if Sardonya and Sarein continue to refuse their duty . . .” Liankhara’s pause stretched—until Myr’s head lifted to find not only her sister’s gaze, but Huern’s and the Earl’s, also fixed on her. Mesmerized, she stared back.
    â€œThen,” Huern finished smoothly, “the Bride must be Myrathis, now that she’s old enough.”
    I’m not . . . Myr struggled to stay upright, to continue breathing evenly despite all their eyes fixed on her. I can’t . . . I haven ’t . . . No— Darkness wavered at the edge of her vision again, but odd details intruded: Hatha’s little knife, hanging motionless above her sister’s nails, and Sardonya’s scornful look.
    â€œHer?” Sarein said finally. “The Half-Blood?”
    â€œWho can barely use a sword,” Parannis added, “and dabbles with healing under the ill-advised tutelage of the Rose crone? You cannot be serious.”
    The silence endured an instant longer before all her siblings’ voices clamored, shouting over the top of each other. Unable to move or speak, let alone think coherently, Myr gave in to the hovering darkness and fainted.

2
The Serpent Prince
    T he three hooded figures came up Grayharbor’s Sailcloth Street just as the rain swept in off the sea for the second time that day. The deluge brought a swirl of leaves and rubbish down the deep gutters on either side of the cobbled thoroughfare, and all three leapt for the portico of Seruth’s temple where Faro had taken shelter. He heard one of the strangers curse as his boot came down in the flood. The fine black leather was soaked in an instant, and the man cursed again as he followed his companions into the porch. Faro moved further back, into the corner closest to the temple door, wary of the long black cloaks and deep hoods that did not fall back even when the newcomers sprang for shelter. They were carrying swords, too. He recognized the shape of hilt and scabbard beneath their cloaks and knew that likely meant other weapons as well.
    The man who had stepped in the gutter said something, half under his breath, but his companions did not reply. Faro shivered, feeling chilled, although Summer’s End rain was seldom icy. He registered the man’s unfamiliar accent, too, when he had thought he knew all the nationalities that brought their ships into harbor and hawked their wares among the trading houses. He had even seen an Ishnapurimariner once, with wide silk trousers, curved knives thrust into her waistband, and curled toes to her shoes. She had winked when she caught him staring and tossed him a small silver coin with the lion and stars of Ishnapur on one side, and a ship on the other. He had drilled a hole through it and wore it still, on a leather thong around his neck.
    Faro stared at the downpour and