Jayne Castle [Jayne Ann Krentz] Read Online Free PDF Page A

opposites. He indulged his appreciation of them
    at every opportunity.
    Quintel came naturally by his personal tastes. His hair was an unusual shade of silver gray that began at a
    peak above his high, intelligent forehead and was brushed straight back. The silvery shade was a strong
    counterpoint to the near blackness of his eyes which was, in turn, a contrast to the fairness of his skin.
    When he dressed in black, as he frequently did, he dominated any gathering. He most certainly
    dominated the white chamber in which he now sat.
    Of course, Ridge decided objectively, even without such adornments, Quintel of the House of the
    Gliding Fallon would dominate any crowd. The wealthy descendant of an old, established Great House,
    he wore his, inherited power and authority with unconscious masculine grace. He could be utterly
    charming, as he had been earlier that evening in Kalena's presence, or he could be quite ruthless,
    especially in business. Ridge knew better than most just how ruthless his employer could be.
    According to town gossip, Quintel was no longer satisfied with operating some of the most lucrative
    trade routes in the Northern Continent. Some said he had his eye on a seat in the new Hall of Balance,
    the fledgling legislative assembly that represented the scattered towns and communities of the continent.
    The new central governing body was still feeling its way and the local communities were not about to
    surrender too many of their precious rights to it, but there was no doubt that the town of Concinnity,
    home of the Hall of Balance, was becoming a center of power. One of the more important prerogatives
    the Hall of Balance had recently assumed was the right to recognize and legitimize newly established
    Great Houses.
    Physically, Quintel resembled the symbol of his proud House. His features were sharply aquiline, not
    unlike the bird of prey called a fallon. His body was lean and oddly slender. Ridge was aware that
    women often found Quintel fascinating, although everyone within his small circle of trusted employees
    knew he was not interested in females. He wasn't interested in men, either. In the years Ridge had
    worked for Quintel he had never known the House lord to demonstrate any real sensuality. Quintets
    passions were reserved for his studies.
    Quintel was the most learned man Ridge had ever met. His intellectual curiosity was wide ranging. He
    had developed a private library that was the envy of the University of the Spectrum and had, on several
    occasions, entertained masters who taught various
    subjects at the university. Such invitations were always eagerly accepted.
    Quintel's personal interests might be centered on intellectual matters, but he also had a business empire
    to run. The company of other learned men might interest him, but he had a practical need for a man who
    could be trusted to handle the dirty side of things. Operating trade routes demanded a certain amount of
    muscle. Ridge could not even remember when people had begun calling him Quintel's Fire Whip.
    Ridge walked across the room to a carved stone table and helped himself to another glass of warm red
    ale he was sharing with his employer. "All right, so you have hitherto unsuspected talents in the field of
    matchmaking. She isn't what I expected when you told me about her two days ago."
    "You thought I would arrange for one of the professional trade wives to accompany you to the
    mountains?"
    "It seemed logical."
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    Quintel shook his silvered head. "No, Ridge. Not logical at all. I want nothing to go wrong on this
    investigative journey of yours, and that includes the actual trade for the Sand. Your main task is to find
    out what has kept the last three trade masters and their parties from getting into the Healers' valley, but I
    also want a fresh supply of Sand. For that you need a woman, and my instincts tell me that this time you
    will need