The Black Shard Read Online Free PDF

to her head to try and douse the flames, but instead she only felt moisture with a fragrance that smelled like lily of the valley. Breathing heavily, she glared at Kristina and Werrien, who were still laughing. They made her so furious that she began stomping toward them, but at about three stomps into it, a servant gnome, holding a tray of butter tarts topped with spiced whipped cream, suddenly stepped in front of her. Davina made an abrupt stop, almost knocking the tray out of the servant gnome's hand, and ended up with her face right over the delectable goodies.
    "Would you care for an appetizer?" the distinguished looking servant gnome asked her.
    "Yes, I would," Davina huffed. "As a matter of fact, if I don't eat something very soon, I'll probably faint from hunger."
    "Well, in that case, you'd better take a few," the gnome said, looking quite concerned, probably because he didn't want her to faint and fall on him.
    Seeing the desserts, Hester timidly walked up to the servant gnome, and he served her as well.
    A short distance away stood two unusual-looking teenage boys, holding croquet mallets—unusual-looking, because they kind of looked human but on the other hand, kind of gnomish. It was hard to say which of the two races they resembled more.
    The servant gnome glanced over at the boys and then he grinned at Davina and Hester. "I think Sepel and Heerzek Brinewine would like you two lovely ladies to join them in a game of moonlight croquet."
    With her mouth stuffed full, Davina's eyes grew wide, as she looked at the boys and then back at Hester to see what her reaction was. Hester looked at the boys as well, and one of them, who had shoulder-length, shaggy black hair, waved to her. At school, Hester had a secret crush on a particular boy, who dyed his hair black and wore earrings, one in each ear—a bad influence type of boy is how Hester's mother put it; definitely not up to their family's prim and proper standards—and so, of course, he was just the type of boy Hester was attracted to. This black-haired boy with the croquet mallet reminded Hester of the boy at her school. She turned to the servant gnome and enthusiastically nodded her head.
    Davina, nowhere near enthused as Hester, shrugged her shoulders. "I guess we'll go for it—that is, if they don't mind getting creamed by us," she said arrogantly.
    As they made their way to the boys, Hester whispered to Davina, "What do you mean 'creamed by us'? I've never played a game of croquet in my entire life."
    "Leave it up to the expert. I'll give you pointers as we play," Davina whispered confidently. "Croquet is my forte. I play it at my family reunion every three years, and I've never lost a game yet." She blew on her knuckles and then rubbed them on her shirt.
    As Werrien and Kristina watched Davina and Hester make their way to the brothers, a dwarf carrying a tray of bubbling fairy blossom punch approached them. Werrien took two tall glasses from the tray and gave one to Kristina. Then he lifted his in a toast. "To having you at my birthday celebration," he said, his intense blue-green eyes staring into hers.
    Looking into Werrien's eyes, Kristina suddenly felt goose bumps form on her arms. "And, to the birthday boy," she said, as they clinked their glasses together. Then they sipped their drinks and gazed upon the party below the tiered terrace where they stood.
    Many events were simultaneously taking place, such as lawn games, card games, archery competitions, and acrobatic and fire-breathing performances. There were jesters as well as magicians entertaining and much more.
    "You mean this spectacular event was a surprise for you?" Kristina asked Werrien.
    "Actually, yes, it was. I was told by my mother that I would be having a quiet birthday dinner in the dining hall."
    "I feel honored to be at your party, but could you explain to me how I was able to come back to Bernovem?"
    Werrien thought for a moment and then said, "I'm not sure how you were able to come