The Heartstone Blade (The Dark Ability Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

“Jessa can see better than I can,” he started. “And there is something else I need to do.”
    Not for the first time, Rsiran wondered how much any of the others knew of Brusus’s secret heritage. Jessa knew. Della too. But did Haern? Did Firell? The secret was not his to share, any more than his own secret should be shared by them, but Rsiran was learning to trust the others, learning to accept that they would keep him safe. If he still kept secrets from them, dangers that Haern had Seen, he wondered when Brusus would feel the same?
    “What are you going to do?” Jessa asked Brusus.
    “There is something else that I need to check on. Haern will come with me.”
    Haern hesitated a moment and then nodded. The long scar on his cheek twitched.
    “And me?” Firell asked.
    “Find Shael. That damn man knows practically everyone along the docks. If anyone knows what might be going on, it would be him.”
    “Shael’s not in Elaeavn,” Haern said. His eyes took on that faraway expression again.
    Brusus frowned. “I saw him two days ago. No transports since then. He’s here.”
    Haern’s frown deepened.
    “I’ll see if I can find him. He owes me, anyway.” Firell said. He looked at Jessa for a moment, a wide smile crossing his face, and then started away from the dock at a quick pace.
    Brusus looked after him for a moment and then pulled Rsiran aside. “Need you to Slide to the warehouse. Look for anything that might be missing or out of place. See which crate might be gone. I’ve been through quite a few, but there are too many there to sort through all of them. But if one of those crates was here,” he started, flicking his eyes to Haern, “then we need to know which one. And why. Jessa will help.”
    “I don’t know that I will even recognize if anything is missing, Brusus. You’ve been handling the transactions there. I’ve been focusing my energy on the forgings, trying to get enough for you.”
    Brusus rested his hand on Rsiran’s shoulder and squeezed. “And know that I appreciate what you’ve been doing. You’ll get your cut soon. Jessa has been there enough that she should be able to tell if something is out of place.”
    “That’s not what I’m getting at.” Rsiran didn’t want Brusus to think that he wanted only the money.
    “I know, but I don’t want you to think that I’m taking advantage of you.”
    Jessa stepped up next to him and grabbed is hand. A playful smile split her lips. “No. That’s my job.”
    Brusus just shook his head. The urgency never left his eyes, not like it once had. Rsiran didn’t know what it meant, but it was significant somehow.
    “Don’t worry, Brusus. We’ll help you figure out what’s going on.”
    Brusus’s eyes flashed deep green for a brief moment. “Probably nothing,” he said, “but with what we’ve been doing, can’t be too careful.”
    He turned away from them and made his way toward the shore. Haern followed after, watching Brusus’s back rather than walking alongside him.
    Rsiran waited, worried about when the Elvraeth would learn of him, learn how he Slid into the palace, killed one of their own, and now used lorcith in ways they had forbidden. Or whoever remained of Josun’s rebellion discovered he had killed their leader. Unless they already knew. And then it was too late to do anything but run.
    Jessa studied his face, almost as if Reading him. He forced a smile as he squeezed her hand, but didn’t say any of that to her.

Chapter 4
    T he Slide took them to the outside of the warehouse. Rsiran had been here only a few times before and never alone. The first time he had come, Brusus had nearly died. It had taken Rsiran exposing his abilities to save them. And, because of that, he had learned Brusus’s secret, one that was more shocking than what Rsiran hid. The second time he’d come, he had met the Elvraeth Josun. He had not known it at the time, but he had just met the only other person he knew about who shared the ability