The Frostwoven Crown (Book 4) Read Online Free PDF

hair drape over one shoulder as he regarded Garrett's uncle. "You look... tired. Have you come about my offer?" The vampire regarded him, hopefully.
    Uncle Tinjin laughed. "Ah, no," Tinjin said, "I'm afraid I've grown rather attached to the taste of food."
    "Food?" Jannis scoffed, "You'll forget that in a year! You've yet to taste real sustenance, Tinjin."
    "Another time perhaps," Tinjin said, in a tone that brooked no argument.
    Jannis smiled, squeezing Tinjin's arms slightly before releasing him to step back. He turned his pale, amber-colored eyes to Garrett now and crossed his hands in greeting. "I welcome your presence, young one," he said.
    Garrett did his best to return the vampire's greeting, with as much grace as he could manage.
    Looking to Tinjin again, Jannis asked, "Is this your new apprentice?"
    "Yes," Tinjin said, "and he is in need of something special to wear... tonight, if at all possible."
    "For you, anything," Jannis laughed, "What is the occasion?"
    "He is to accompany the young Lady Veranu to an event at the embassy this evening," Tinjin said, "I was rather hoping that you would be able to suggest something appropriate for the occasion."
    Jannis's eyes widened. "The reception for Valfrei Senzei?"
    Uncle Tinjin's face darkened. "Why is she here?" he asked.
    Jannis gave a nervous laugh. "She is to be... as I understand, the young Lady Veranu's tutor."
    Uncle's lips pulled back over his teeth. "That was not the arrangement," he muttered.
    Jannis lifted one eyebrow. "Is this about your visit to Thrinaar?" he asked.
    Tinjin let out a frustrated sigh. "I suppose it was too much to hope that the other elders would not interfere in this," he said.
    "Meddling in politics again, Tinjin?" Jannis chuckled, "You know it would be much easier, if you had the leisure to play the long game."
    Tinjin smiled. "I have no taste for the game at all, Jannis," he said, "I, at least, can look forward to the day when I can set it all aside and get some sleep."
    "No," Jannis said, "for all your protesting, I believe you do love it... and it pains me to think of playing the game without you at the table."
    "You grew weary of it yourself," Tinjin said, waving his hand at the vampire, "Why else would you retire?"
    "Retire?" Jannis laughed, "I'm simply taking a well-deserved vacation."
    "Vacation? You've been a tailor for twenty years now!" Tinjin protested.
    Jannis shrugged. "What is twenty years to me?" he said.
    Tinjin chuckled. "Fair enough," he said, "Let us speak no more of it. My nephew is looking forward to enjoying a party in the company of a lovely young lady."
    Jannis gave him a half-hearted grin. "As you wish, Tinjin," he said, "but, for your nephew's sake, he might want to distance himself from miss Veranu while the Valfrei is around."
    "What do you mean?" Garrett asked, feeling increasingly uncomfortable since seeing his Uncle's reaction to the tutor's name.
    "He means that Senzei doesn't like humans," Uncle Tinjin said, his voice hard and low, "She has tried to have me killed on more than one occasion."
    "What?" Garrett gasped.
    "Legally, of course," Jannis insisted, "She would never do anything outside the proper channels. You can be grateful for that."
    "How do you kill someone legally?" Garrett asked.
    "She has petitioned to have my envoy status revoked and have me reclassified as a threat to the public order ," Uncle Tinjin explained, "At that point, any citizen of Thrinaar would have the right to kill me without fear of legal repercussions."
    "But why?" Garrett said.
    "Your uncle dares to lecture our race on morality," Jannis said, "and we prefer to have as little to do with such nonsense as possible."
    Tinjin laughed. "Some of the most noble people I have ever met have been vampires," he said, "Do not dismiss your people so lightly, Jannis. I even know of one old silk spinner who makes a habit of saving the lives of strangers."
    Jannis wagged his finger at Tinjin. "That was just an experiment," he said, "I was