Fallen Ward (Deepwoods Saga Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

Before we talked about going to Saoleord.”
    “ Sinte ,” Wolf swore. “That means I lost the bet with Conli.”
    An amused grin took over Rune’s face. “You two bet on this? Really?”
    “We bet on everything,” Wolf responded dryly.
    “True, but I didn’t think anyone else realized it.” Rune had thought, actually, that everyone else was too involved with their own problems to pay much attention to what he was feeling.
    “You really thought that Conli wouldn’t notice you paying extra attention to his niece?” Wolf shook his head in pity. “Kiō, be sensible.”
    Alright, well, maybe he should have realized that Conli’s protectiveness towards Denney would make him hyper aware of anyone being close to her. Not ever having family until Siobhan, Rune couldn’t always predict how family relationships worked.
    While this was interesting, it wasn’t what he came out here to talk about. He lifted one shoulder and shrugged this aside. “Y’know, it was me realizing my own feelings that made it obvious how you felt for Siobhan. Do you know your own heart, Wolf?”
    Wolf met his eyes steadily. “Your attempt at sympathy is badly done, Rune. You need to work on your people skills.”
    Only partially offended by this (because even he could admit Wolf was right), he responded indignantly, “I have some.”
    “Assassination does not count as a people skill.”
    Delighted at the teasing, Rune laughed outright, rocking backward on his seat.
    Wolf’s mouth twitched upward, apparently amused at Rune’s reaction. “I suppose I should take it as a good sign that you’re even trying to be sympathetic.”
    Grin still splitting his face, Rune parried, “It’s not sympathy. It’s empathy.”
    “Ahhh. I should have figured.” Shaking his head, Wolf went back to staring at the plain paving stones under their feet. “I know my own heart, Rune. And I know why she reacted the way she did. I said the wrong things.”
    Oh? Then he (hopefully) knew what to do next. Rune was glad for that, because he only had one piece of advice to give. “If you’re stuck for what to do, go ask Markl.”
    “Markl?” Wolf repeated, an odd look on his face.
    Rune nodded somberly. “Markl. He knows how to protect a woman without ruffling her feathers.”
    For a long moment, Wolf turned this over in his mind. “I’ll do that.”
    Satisfied that Wolf was no longer depressed, and knew what to do, Rune felt his job was done. He pushed his way up to his feet and turned, ready to head off.
    “Kiō.”
    Stopping in mid-step, he turned just enough to look back over his shoulder. “What?”
    “ Heill ok sael .”
    Hearing the traditional expression of thanks in that moment took Rune completely off-guard. It was the first time that Wolf had ever said it. He had to find his tongue before he could respond, “ Pakkan .”
    Wolf’s eyes crinkled in a subtle smile. “And for the record…I’m glad that you’ve learned you love Denney.”
    It wasn’t only the strong sunlight that made Rune feel warm in that moment. “Me too.” Content for the first time since they’d lost Goldschmidt, Rune turned on his heel and headed off.
    If he were to keep Denney safe, he had work to do.
    While Wolf and Siobhan had been fighting upstairs, Darrens had sensibly chosen to break the meeting for now and go gather information before meeting back in the afternoon. Rune and Grae had been tasked to go with Ryu Jin Ho to the outer wall. They were to make calculations and do some investigating of the land and the water to see how feasible Wolf’s idea was. Rune had stayed behind only to talk to Wolf, but with the other enforcer more or less taken care of, he went directly to the eastern gate to meet up with the other two men.
    He saw Grae first, standing just inside of the gate, a pencil stuck behind an ear and rolled up paper in one hand. Rune knew from experience that Grae could do all of the calculations in his head, but when people were asking for