Hand of Fire (The Master of the Tane) Read Online Free PDF Page A

returned.
                “That his Tane be revealed and his name be known, that he may receive his soul.”
                “Then bring the child forth and your wish shall be granted by the power given of TehraMae.”  Lyn looked hesitantly at her husband and then brought the baby forward and gave him to LorVenPa who took him back to the other waiting Kinpa. As before, they gathered in a circle cradling the child between them. The air was still as the chant began. “We, the chosen of the five Tane, TehChao the earth, ArVen the wind, QenChe the fire, MarGua the water, VerSagn the blood, call upon the one who gives us all to divulge the Tane of this child that he may receive his soul and the mark of the TanIs be given, that he may receive a name to carry him and give him remembrance of the Tane revealed this day. We ask TehraMae to make it so.” 
                  There was a long pause. Lyn looked at Del while wringing her sweaty hands in anticipation. Del looked straight ahead unmoving, watching the Kinpa in brooding silence. The crowd seemed frozen in time. All had become still, even the forest was without sound and it seemed as if an eternity had passed. Then, without warning, all five Kinpa violently jerked their heads back and spoke in unison. “Let his Tane be known, the TanIs is given. He is Thane of the five Tane.” The Kinpa brought their heads back and stared at the child in amazement. No one moved. Recovering from her initial shock, Lyn rushed forward. In the seconds it took her to reach the Kinpa, she watched anxiously as the five Chufa elders gasped in shock and began to stagger back from the child. All became as if in slow motion as Lyn watched in horror as her child was bobbled and then dropped. She screamed and found herself diving for her son as he plummeted towards the ground. In that moment time seemed to stop and Lyn found herself pondering over all that had occurred. What was the significance of having all five Tane and what had taken place for the Kinpa to stumble back as they did, letting her baby fall to the ground? Just then her elbows skid on the dirt and her chest hit hard knocking the wind from her lungs as Thane landed softly into her arms. Time seemed to regain its strength with a jolt and everything happened at once. Lyn rolled onto her back cradling her infant as the crowd rushed forward to check on the Kinpa and then her. The Kinpa had also fallen to the ground and all of them sat as if in shocked amazement. Lyn lay in the dirt for a short moment before sitting up in the midst of a mob. She looked around assuring everyone she was all right when she noticed the looks on their faces as many stepped back in terror. Lyn stared at them in wonder at their reaction when she noticed they were looking at Thane with clear horror reflected in their black eyes. She quickly looked down at her baby terrified he may be hurt, only to be greeted by the cause of such a strange reaction from the Kinpa and the villagers. 
                  There, staring up at her, were two bright, green eyes.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER TWO

                  The leaves crunched softly as the two Chufa quietly made their way through the dense woods. The sun cast long, eerie shadows upon the forest floor as it continued its late descent towards the mountains. A small breeze picked up lightly rustling the trees around them adding its voice to the low rumble of voices coming from the village to the south. A lonely bird cried softly in the distance its call quickly fading into the uncanny hush enveloping the woods.  
    The two spread out a short distance from one another and each nocked an arrow in anticipation. They had come to trust each other and knew that when the moment came each could rely on the other to do his part in making sure they were successful. The taller one suddenly motioned with his hand and both