Die for the Flame Read Online Free PDF Page B

must be worthy. And the Flame cannot be used for evil. It simply will not respond. This, the Maggan do not understand.”
    “Yes, but I’m just a ferryman,” Clarian said again.
    “That was before, in the past, my son. Right now, your mission is to defend Karran and the Flame.” The Flamekeeper grew quiet to allow the words to sink in. After a moment, he continued. “Let us turn to the work at hand. You wish to know why you are here and what exactly is wanted of you.”
    “Yes. This is not my war. This is not my religion!” exclaimed Clarian. “I’ve never even seen a Maggan! I don’t belong here!”
    “Clarian!” cried Rokkman.
    “My mission is to work my ferry, not to get into a war between priests. None of this seems real,” asked Clarian.
    “We have a mission for you,” said the Flamekeeper.
    “What mission?” asked Clarian.
    “Here is your mission. You will join the Karran army against the Maggan. You will serve to protect the Flame and not let it fall into the hands of the Maggan. You will work to save the Karran people. So has the Oracle spoken.”
    “But Holy One, I thought that…” sputtered Rokkman.
    “That will be enough for now. There may be additional things asked of you, Clarian, at a later time.”
    Rokkman looked puzzled, but he kept his silence when the Flamekeeper shook his head.
    Clarian pouted and looked toward the door through which he would have liked to escape.
    “Come, Clarian. I will show you the castle,” said Rokkman.
     
    “You did not reveal his true mission, Holy One,” said Rokkman said to the Flamekeeper later.
    “No. I am unsure, I must admit. He’s barely a man, a boy really. Let us test him and see how he does. We can reveal his true mission to him later, after we learn more about him,” replied the Flamekeeper. “I can’t read his character. There’s something wild and unpredictable about him. Take charge of him, Rokkman. Then we’ll see.”
    “There are others who know. People are already talking.”
    “I was so sure that I failed to keep it all a secret. I thought Orlan was still alive. Now all is changed.”
    “Someone may reveal something to him.”
    “I know. He must be tested, and soon. See to it.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    M artan’s office was a large room with walls of stone covered with maps and a dozen clerks and as many officers and messengers coming and going with dispatches. Rokkman ushered Clarian in to meet Martan, commander of scouts. Martan looked up and met Rokkman’s eyes with a quizzical look on his face. Rokkman rolled his eyes upward, his mouth set grimly.
    Martan studied Clarian for a moment, then turned to a messenger and gave him an order. The messenger hurried out. “Are you ready to fight?” he asked Clarian.
    Clarian stared hard at Martan but did not answer.
    Just then, Lillan, whose back had been turned, swung around to look at Clarian. Her long, chestnut hair was gathered in the back, her skin was fair, and she had lustrous brown eyes set wide with long lashes. She was almost as tall as Clarian, and her bold face caught his attention, something the long ride from the Grasslands had failed to do.
    “I am showing Clarian the castle and then I will take him down to the training fields,” said Rokkman.
    All the people in the room stopped what they were doing and stared at Clarian openly.
    He felt self-conscious. Why were they so interested in him, he wondered. Why did everyone he meet continue to stare at him, as if evaluating him? He was only a soldier, and he didn’t want to be there at all.
    “Why don’t I show Clarian the defenses of the castle? Let him view the soldiers being trained,” said Lillan.
    Lillan walked past Clarian, and he turned to follow her. As they passed through the door into the corridor, a soldier whose eyes had been on Lillan turned to another soldier next to him and said, “Did you see how he’s dressed? Right out of the wild frontier! He doesn’t look like much to me.”
    Suddenly, Clarian was