Fortress Of Fire (Book 4)

Fortress Of Fire (Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Book: Fortress Of Fire (Book 4) Read Online Free PDF
Author: D.K. Holmberg
in her shaping. Ara seemed to dart around him, tugging playfully at the heavy overcoat that had replaced his worn traveling cloak, before disappearing again.
    “Mother. You don’t have to be here for this.”
    She studied the lisincend, tightness in her eyes betraying her concern. “When we spoke earlier, I hadn’t known that it was today.”
    “It was Roine’s deadline.”
    She sniffed, eyeing the lisincend. “I am unconvinced this is the right thing to do. Or that you should even attempt it.”
    “So is Amia.”
    She glanced over her shoulder at Amia. “In that, at least, we agree.”
    “I think you agree on more than you realize.”
    Roine approached, dressed in more finery than Tan had ever seen the warrior wear. A sword much like the one Tan wore was strapped to his waist. “Let’s get this over with, Tan. The others will hold their shapings in reserve, but if I sense danger to you—”
    “All I want is the opportunity to try and save him.”
    “Him? You know what you’re talking about, right, Tan? This is one of the creatures that attacked Amia’s family. The lisincend attacked this city. They were the reason Lacertin died!”
    “Should they not have the chance for redemption?”
    “Redemption? These creatures have been attacking the kingdoms since before you were born. There can be no redemption.”
    Tan stared at the lisincend. Locked in chains as he was, he didn’t move. “You would have said the same about Lacertin once.”
    Roine frowned and bit back a retort. The emotions conflicting on his face said enough. Without Lacertin, they would not have defeated Althem. Tan wondered what Lacertin would have said, knowing what Tan intended.
    Roine’s jaw clenched. “I have not objected to your attempt, Tannen, but only because after everything you’ve done, you deserve the benefit of the doubt. I can’t say I don’t think this is a folly.”
    “All I ask is the chance.”
    “And if you succeed?” he asked, staring at the lisincend. The heat that would normally roll off the creature was held in check by the kingdoms’ shapers. “Will you trust that you can release him?”
    “Amia released me,” he reminded.
    Roine sighed. “There were other reasons behind that, you know. I seem to recall you sharing the fact that a bond has formed between you. I think that bond would inform her of whether she needed to fear you.”
    That, and the bond between him and Asboel, but Roine knew little about that bond.
    “There are ways to destroy it humanely, Tannen. You wouldn’t have to even be involved.”
    “Humanely? You don’t think they’ll take a little pleasure from destroying one of the lisincend?”
    Roine lowered his voice. “Didn’t you?”
    Instead of answering, Tan took a slow breath and patted Roine on the shoulder as he stepped past, moving to stand in front of the twisted shaper.
    Shapers ringed the creature, all now more familiar to Tan than they were when he first came to Ethea. They treated him differently as well. He said little, but Ferran spoke to him as almost an equal, asking questions of golud and listening, as if what Tan said couldn’t simply be found in the archives. Alan, another wind shaper, nodded to him almost respectfully. From the moment they’d met, Tan recognized the regard Alan had for Zephra. Now that she had returned, she had taken her place at the head of the wind shapers; none rivaled her in skill, and none could speak to the great wind elemental as she could. He knew the water shapers, Essa and Jons, less well, but they would be instrumental in what he intended. He remembered that he needed to ask one of them—likely Jons—whether they would be willing to work with him.
    And then there was Cianna. She stared at the lisincend, standing before it with a curious expression. A shimmery copper shirt clung to her, as did the deep indigo leather pants she wore. She turned as Tan approached. “It has not spoken since we brought it out from the archives.”
    “I
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