Enflamed (Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

first!” Nester jeered.
    Kaijin
quirked his eyebrow at the innkeeper. “Ankhram? You are from Ankhram?”
    The man’s eyes turned to
Kaijin. “Yes, and contrary to what the little man says, I am quite reputable,
as is anyone from Ankhram. We are a noble race.”
    Kaijin moved away from the
door. “How interesting. My mother—she was from
Ankhram.... At least, that was what my father once told me when I was a boy.”
    The man’s thick, jet-black
beard shifted slightly upward as he made a wide smile. “Ah, then you would
understand, yes? It is not often I meet travelers from the old country. Most
are traders.”
    “My father was a trader,”
Kaijin said. “My mother stayed at home and took care of my brother and me.” He
paused, feeling a lump forming in his throat as he remembered his family.
    “Ankhram is very far from
here. You have come a long way. How wonderful it is to speak to a fellow
brother.”
    “Well, actually, I’m not—ow!”
Kaijin glared at Nester.
    Nester innocently glanced
toward the ceiling, then regarded Kaijin. “Oh! Sorry,
mate—did I step on your foot? Didn’t see it there. Silly me.”
    The innkeeper looked between
the two, then approached Kaijin, handing him the silver pieces. “I will be
lenient just this once because of this pleasant conversation. But business is
business, and you will need to pay next time. But I will give you ... special
rate.” His gaze briefly shifted to Nester. “Your price still remains, little
man.”
    Nester puffed out his chest. “’Ey, now! If it wasn’t for me bringin’ Kaijin here, you
wouldn’t be chewin’ gums with your ‘fellow brother’!” He swiped the silver
pieces from Kaijin’s hand.
    The innkeeper made a sour
face. “Perhaps you have point. Fine. In three days,
you pay, and not a day later.”
    Nester smiled wide. “That’s
fine with me! Come on, Kaijin.”
    Before Kaijin could speak,
Nester grabbed his hand and pulled him upstairs.

 
    * * *

 
    Nester
clicked open the last door down
the short hallway and shuffled into the room. “Ah, ’ere we
are.”
    Kaijin peered inside. The tiny
room was furnished for a single occupant—a stripped, wooden bunk; an engraved
armoire that sat against the wall across from it; a small desk atop which
several parchments were strewn; and a washtub in one corner. A makeshift
hammock crafted from the linen bedding was strung in another corner next the
room’s only window, which sat on the far wall. The ends of the hammock were
nailed haphazardly to the adjacent drab walls.
    “You’re paying double for
this?” Kaijin asked, stepping into the room.
    “Aye, can you believe it? ’E’s
robbin’ me blind, I tell you! But what can I do? If I don’t play by ’ is rules , ’e’ll kick me out. An’ there ain’t no other place to stay in this city. Anyway, I don’t mind
th’ room so much. Th’ bed’s too soft for my tastes, though. You can ’ave it.”
    Kaijin beamed at the sight of
the bed. “Thank you, Nester. You don’t know how grateful I am to be able to
finally sleep in a bed again.”
    “Sure I do.” Nester chuckled.
He wriggled out of his leather jerkin, kicked off his boots, and then climbed into
his hammock. “The more I think about it, the more I realize we’re not that
different from one another, y’know?” After making himself comfortable, he
pulled the woolen blanket over him.
    “I doubt that.” Kaijin
wandered over to the corner and peered at the washtub, which was half-filled
with water.
    Nester propped his hands
behind his head and watched him. “It’s simple, really. No one likes me ’cause
they think all brownies are nothin’ but priggers and lowlifes. Well, it ain’t
true, y’know. We actually got a spot of dignity in our ’earts. I don’t like
’urtin’ people—well unless they intend to ’urt me first. Anyway, ’umans are
stubborn. I’d just be wastin’ my breath tryin’ to convince ’em I’m not a bad
person. As for you? Well, no one