Promise of Blood Read Online Free PDF Page B

the Dynize.
    “Fascinating,” Tamas said. “How did you come across her?”
    “She was the scout for our regiment,” Taniel said. “Helped us track Kez Privileged through the Fatrastan Wilds. She became my spotter, and I saved her life a few times. She hasn’t left my side since.”
    “She speaks Adran?”
    “She’s a mute. She understands it, though.”
    Tamas leaned forward, looking into Ka-poel’s eyes. He examined her cheeks and ears as well, as one might a prize horse. Taniel wondered if Tamas would check the teeth next. Ka-poel would bite him for that. Taniel almost hoped he did.
    Taniel said, “She’s a sorcerer, a Bone-eye. The Dynize version of a Privileged, though their magic is somewhat different, from what I gather.”
    “Savage sorcerers,” Tamas said. “I’ve heard something about them. She’s very small. How old is she?”
    “Fourteen years,” Taniel said. “I think. They’re a small-statured people, but demons on the battlefield. Not bad with a rifle either. Ah,” he said as he suddenly remembered. “I wanted to show you something.”
    He pointed to his rifle. Ka-poel undid the knot holding his satchel to it and brought it to him. Taniel grinned and held the rifle out to his father.
    “Is this…? Is this the rifle you used for that shot?” Tamas asked.
    “Sure is.”
    Tamas took the rifle by the barrel, flipped it up, and sighted. “Awfully long. Good weight. Rifled bore and a covered pan on the flintlock. Beautiful craftsmanship.”
    “Take a look at the name under the barrel.”
    “A Hrusch. Very nice.”
    “Not just the design,” Taniel said. “Made by the man himself. I spent a month with him in Fatrasta. He’d been working on it for quite some time, made it a gift to me.”
    Tamas’s eyes widened. “Genuine? I’ve not seen better-made rifles. We bought rights to the patent a year ago and have been churning them out for the army, but I’ve only seen one made by the man himself.”
    Taniel felt warmth at his father’s wonder. Finally something new. Something Tamas might be proud of. “The Kez tried to buy the patent too,” Taniel said.
    “Really? Even though they were at war with Fatrasta?”
    “Of course. The Hrusch rifle kicked their asses on the frontier. Hardly a misfire, even in the worst of weather. Hrusch wouldn’t sell it to them, not for a chest of gold and an earldom. And Kez gunsmiths can’t replicate his work.”
    “No one can, not unless they’ve been trained by the man himself.” Tamas examined the rifle closely for several minutes before handing it back.
    “You like it?” Taniel said.
    “Remarkable.” His interest seemed to wane suddenly, his attention becoming distant.
    Taniel hesitated. “Then you’ll like this.” He held out a hand to Ka-poel. She brought him a wooden case, a little longer than a man’s forearm and made of polished mahogany.
    “A gift,” Taniel said.
    Tamas set the case on a table and flipped open the top. “Incredible,” he breathed.
    “Saw-handled dueling pistols,” Taniel said. “Made by Hrusch’s oldest son—who they say is a better gunsmith than his father. Refined flintlock with a rainproof pan and a roller bearing on the steel spring. A smoothbore, but more accurate than most.” Taniel felt the warmth return as his father’s face lit up.
    Tamas lifted one of the matched pair of pistols and ran his fingers up and down the octagonal barrel. Ivory inlay caught the lamplight, the polish on it shining beautifully. “These are incredible. I’ll have to provoke an insult, just so I can use them.”
    Taniel chuckled. That sounded like something Tamas would do.
    “These are… wonderful,” Tamas said.
    Taniel thought he saw something glisten in his father’s eyes. Was he proud? Grateful? No, he decided, Tamas doesn’t know the meaning of those words.
    “I wish we had more time to talk,” Tamas said.
    “On to business?” Of course. No time for chatting. No time to catch up with a long-absent