Spiritwalker 3: Cold Steel Read Online Free PDF

passionately before I realized
     he was the spirit of a dead ancestor, wearing Vai’s face. Being dead, opia could wear
     any face they wished. “Yes, it was quite disconcerting. He’s the one who explained
     why the Taino spirits are so angry at me.”
    “Why is that? For it seems to me that here in the Antilles, living people and their
     dead ancestors are not often hostile toward each other. But perhaps the spirit people
     here wish to protect the spirit lords of Europa, who might be in some manner their
     cousins.”
    “Quite the contrary. Long ago, Taino fire mages wove a protective spirit fence around
     their islands to keep out the Wild Hunt and any other spirit visitors from other parts
     of the spirit world.”
    Kayleigh nodded. This casual talk of the spirit world seemed perfectly normal to her.
     “I suppose that spirit lords protect their territory just like princes and mages do
     in the mortal world.”
    “So it seems. Anyway, I was able to cut a gate in the spirit fence. The Wild Hunt
     rode through the gap I made. My sire would never have been able to reach the cacica
     if not for me.”
    “It’s not as if you did it on purpose! You were just trying to save your cousin’s
     life, for it was her the Wild Hunt wanted to kill.”
    “Yes, but the cacica died regardless.”
    “You’ll need to sail to Europa, then. If we can’t get the bank to open Vai’s account
     to you, you shall have the money Vai settled on me when I married.”
    “I can’t take your dowry.”
    “Of course you can! It’s mine to give, because Vai settled the funds on me according
     to Expedition law, which follows Taino law in giving women title to households and
     the family purse. Which do you think I would rather have? The money, or my brother?
     You have to go to Europa. The hunters of our village can help you rescue Vai out of
     the spirit world. Shh!”
    Lantern light shimmered, illuminating carts lined up against the back wall: The family’s
     business was local transport. Kofi shepherded his mother, his aunts, and the eldest
     men into the dusty shed. I receivedtheir blessing, which they gave by each one touching a hand to my hair. His mother
     offered me a cup of juice. After hearing my tale, they agreed that I might stay for
     one night. As for my brother, however, they were not so sure, for they had never met
     him and wished to know more about his character and manners.
    One of Kofi’s brothers appeared, escorting Rory and Lucretia. I smiled to see them
     safe, until I noticed the inappropriately intimate manner in which their fingers were
     intertwined.
    “Rory,” I murmured, “did I not tell you to stay away from her?”
    Rory released Luce’s hand. He sauntered right past me to greet the older women, his
     smile as bright as the lanterns. With his lithe young man’s body well clad in one
     of Vai’s fashionable dash jackets and his long black hair pulled back in a braid,
     he surely delighted the eye. The men watched in astonishment but I knew what was coming.
     He offered chastely generous kisses to the women’s cheeks and tender pats to their
     work-worn hands.
    “My apologies. I mean no offense by charging into your territory without an invitation.
     But I must obey my sister. You understand how it is with a sister who speaks a bit
     sharply to one even though she is the younger and ought, I should suppose, to look
     up to her older brother. Please, let me thank you. Your hospitality honors and humbles
     me. The food smells so good. I’m sure I’ve never smelled better.” He had routed two
     already and turned to the remaining skeptic. “That fabric is beautifully dyed, and
     looks very well with your complexion, Aunty.”
    A cavalry charge at close quarters could not have demolished their resistance more
     devastatingly. He turned his charm on the old men, drawing them out with irresistible
     questions about their proud and memorable youth.
    I went over to Luce, grasping her wrist. “Luce.