Scent of Magic Read Online Free PDF Page B

her fate.”
    Cellina sat straighter in the saddle. “So did I.”
    “There’s no reason for you to return to Tohon now.” But as he said the words, he realized she must still be in love with him. Either Tohon’s life magic had influenced her, or she’d never recovered from her school crush. In his younger days, he would have scoffed at the notion. However, he’d learned love didn’t follow logic at all.
    “You don’t have to do this,” he said.
    She clutched the reins tighter. The horse moved a few steps to the side, smelling her fear. “I can’t disobey him.”
    In desperation, he stepped away from the tree. The ufas growled and snarled but didn’t move. Kerrick pointed his blade at the ground, slowly approaching Cellina. Sweat soaked his shirt and burned in his eyes. But he kept his gaze on her.
    He stopped with two feet between them. Her lips pinched tight together as if she’d whistle, but no sound escaped. Yet.
    Kerrick offered her the hilt of his sword. “Take it.”

CHAPTER 3
    I arrived in Zabin around midmorning a week after I’d left Mom’s. The town was completely overrun with Estrid’s acolytes and soldiers. When I’d been here with Kerrick, there had been only a few red robes. Now, it appeared as if the streets were covered with blood. A bad omen.
    And the feel of the town had changed. Before, unease rippled just under the surface of the populace. Now, outright fear fogged the air.
    My dark gray cloak no longer helped me to blend in. Plus, the day would be too warm for my fur-lined garment. Summer was only three weeks away. I removed my cloak and packed it into my knapsack, put my glasses on, then strode through town as if I belonged. But it wasn’t long before a group of five soldiers stopped to question me.
    Showing them Chane’s letter, I asked where I might find Major Granvil. They glanced at each other with suspicion creasing their collective foreheads.
    “This letter could be a forgery,” the female lieutenant said, passing around the paper to her team again.
    I suspected this could take all day. To speed it up, I asked, “Why don’t we ask the High Priestess? I’m sure she’ll recognize her own nephew’s signature,” I bluffed. The last thing I wanted was an audience with Estrid.
    But my comment had the desired effect. At the mere mention of her name, they blanched. I offered them a more palatable suggestion. “Or we can all find Major Granvil and let him decide on the authenticity of the letter.” Plus it would give me an escort so I didn’t have to do this song and dance all over again.
    The lieutenant agreed. I suppressed a laugh as they surrounded me. What did they think I’d do? We walked through the center of town. While the market appeared crowded, I noticed there were fewer stands selling goods than before. I wondered if the nice lady who sold me my cloak and boots remained in business.
    We left the town proper. The buildings thinned, and soon farm fields stretched into the distance to the north and east. Except no crops had been planted. Tents, campfires and training areas filled the landscape. It appeared to be the bulk of Estrid’s army. She had a few training camps throughout Pomyt, but it seemed she had concentrated her forces here.
    I spotted the grand manor house east of the city’s heart. It had been built on a hill and overlooked Zabin and the surrounding lands. When I’d been a...guest of Estrid’s, I’d stayed there while I’d cared for her wounded. A decent-sized infirmary occupied the ground floor and the caregivers had been quick learners.
    A pang of remorse touched my heart. I should be saving lives right now and not playing dead. I did promise Estrid I would return to help with the injured after I healed Ryne. Not the best decision, but I’d thought I’d be dead. Actually, I wouldn’t mind working for her. Despite her strict rules regarding having fun—as in, not having any—she really cared about her soldiers and acolytes. Unlike Tohon,