The Order War Read Online Free PDF

food.”
    “Actually,” Gunnar ventured, “our father is the cook, and he’s very good.”
    “Well, I’ve heard of that. It’s good to know.” Arline took a small chunk of bread from the loaf in the basket.
    “What do engineers do, Magister Justen?” asked Wenda in a high voice that squeaked between wide-gapped front teeth. “You wear black…does that mean an engineer is like a magister?”
    “Engineers make things for ships.”
    “You’re too old for me. Do you have any other brothers, younger ones?”
    Krytella grinned as Justen shifted his weight in the red-oak chair. “No. We do have a little sister. Her name is Elisabet.”
    “Why isn’t she here?”
    “She lives in Wandernaught with our parents,” interjected Gunnar.
    “If your father cooks, what does your mother do?” asked Wenda politely.
    “She’s a smith.”
    Carnela raised an eyebrow.
    “She could have been an engineer,” explained Justen after swallowing more stew, “but she said she wasn’t interested in building ships or living in Nylan.”
    “Sensible woman,” offered Arline.
    “She has been called that,” Justen said.
    Krytella glanced sideways at Gunnar, who continued to watch Justen. The young engineer looked at the red-haired healer before finishing the last of his stew and turning his eyes to Dagud. “Do you think trade here in Nylan will pick up?”
    “Trade always picks up. Just a matter of time. Could be years. But then, it could be seasons, too. Might take until the nastiness in Sarronnyn’s over.”
    “What will happen there?” asked Wenda. “Will the Whites win?”
    A silence fell across the table. Arline coughed softly. Justen took a small sip from his mug.
    “I don’t know that anyone can say, child,” Dagud finally answered. “That’s a matter for the Council, I’d guess.”
    “It is getting late, and we mustn’t keep you out too late,” said Carnela, rising from the table.
    Gunnar followed her lead and stood. “You’ve been very thoughtful to have us.”
    Justen gulped down the last of the beer in his mug and swallowed too rapidly, the liquid hurting his throat as it went down. He stood as quickly as he could. “Very thoughtful,” he echoed, trying not to cough…or to laugh as he saw the glint in Krytella’s eyes as she stood.
    Carnela and Krytella followed the brothers through the parlor and to the front door.
    His hand on the heavy iron of the door handle, Gunnar bowed to Carnela. “Thank you again for the dinner. I enjoyed it very much.”
    Justen looked at Krytella’s mother, seeing the same lanky figure and mobile mouth that so resembled her eldest daughter’s. “It was delicious, and I had a very good time.” He glanced back toward the parlor. “And a delightful dinner companion.”
    “I won’t tell her that,” replied Krytella. “It would make her insufferable. More insufferable,” she added. “I’m glad you could come.”
    “So are we,” Gunnar said, taking another step back on the porch.
    Justen nodded and followed.
    Then the brothers turned and began to walk toward the Brotherhood quarters.
    “They’re a nice family,” mused Gunnar.
    “Yes,” agreed Justen. Especially the older daughter . He kept pace with his long-legged brother as they passed under the lamp that neither needed to make his way in the dark.
    Finally, Justen spoke again. “Do you think everyone in Recluce is trying to avoid thinking about Sarronnyn?”
    “What can we do? We don’t have an army. Besides, what can they really do to us?”
    “I don’t think it’s that simple.”
    “It probably isn’t. That’s why people don’t want to think about it. It’s troublesome and far away. They hope it will stay away. But we wear the black, and they don’t want to talk about it.”
    “Krytella’s a healer.” Justen paused to look toward the harbor, empty in the starlight except for the Llyse .
    “Healers are different.” Gunnar kept walking.
    So is Krytella, thought Justen. He turned back and