The Storm's Own Son (Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

armor and carrying a sword."
    "I'd imagine," yawned a short girl with a round face and elaborately coifed chestnut hair, standing next to her noticeably distracted boyfriend, "it helps to be bigger... and heavier."
    Katara glanced at Talaos, who gave her the slightest nod in reply. She then turned back to fix her gaze on the chestnut-haired girl. Her eyes narrowed and her face took on the grim expression she'd worn facing Borras.
    "It does," replied the Northwoman, drawing herself up to her full height, taller than many of the men in the crowd, and crossing her arms over her leather-bound chest. Her forearms showed hints of muscle, as did her trim bare waist. Her gray eyes gleamed like frost. "But," she continued, her accented voice dropping low, "speed and surprise are more reliable friends to women than strength... I could show you."
    The girl's eyes grew wide, and she shrank back into her boyfriend's arms.
    A few of the men in the crowd exchanged excited glances.
    "You could show me," said an earnest young man of about twenty, with the close-cropped brown hair and the respectable clothes of an aspiring tradesman or merchant.  As he stood, his shoulders and back were slightly bowed and his palms up, but his averted eyes kept darting to Katara's breasts. "I'd be honored to learn..."
    "I'm done for today," replied Katara disdainfully, to the obvious disappointment of many of the men, and visible relief of many of the women. With that, she stalked back to Talaos's left side, beads of sweat cooling on her skin.
    As Katara sat and leaned close to him, Talaos overhead another young man whisper to someone nearby, "She carries herself like a queen..."
    Talaos smiled inwardly, thinking of a secret known only to him and Katara. If she carried herself like a queen, it was because she was the daughter of a king.  Granted, one of many in a warlike land where, it was said, one king could almost look from his keep to the keep of his neighbor. And, she was a daughter who had reasons not to want to return home, but a king's daughter still.
    A bit later, a group of newcomers arrived at their gathering.  They weren't sailors, but they had the tang of the sea still clinging to their clothes, and tousled hair fresh in from the wind.  One of them was a strong-built , black-haired man in weathered tan clothes. His tunic, pants, and cloak were trimmed with bronze fittings, and his brown boots reinforced with bronze plates. He had a long, finely crafted sword strapped to his back. The man smiled, and raised a hand in greeting.
    "Hail, Talaos! How goes the easy life here in the jewel of the Republic?"
    "You 've been missing the war, Daxar."
    "War? You have no idea... I did hear there was some kind of trouble among the gangs."
    "Palaeon's winning. He's lord in this part of town now."
    "Can't say I like the sound of that. Mind if I sit down?"
    Talaos gestured, and one of his friends grabbed a vacant chair and gave it to Daxar as the rest of the newcomers found places wherever they could.
    Daxar waived to a barmaid, ordered a round of wine, then took a second look at Talaos, and the beauties at his side.
    "Sorya? It's been long time. Tal, you and Sorya? Well now. I have missed a lot of news."
    Sorya nodded and forced a smile.
    "And this is Katara," added Talaos.
    "Good afternoon to you," added Katara herself in a friendly but formal tone.
    "You're from Schald?" Daxar mused, turning her way. "No... Vorhame."
    "Yes, Vorhame," she replied, suddenly wary, as she turned back to Talaos.
    Talaos smiled benignly. "Dax, how went things across the mountains?"
    "All the warlords and city-states in Hunyos are sorting out who is on whose side."
    "That much I'd heard."
    "Yes, but the fighting is heating up. Good business for mercenaries, not for anyone else. Bandits are everywhere. Trade is falling apart, and unless you're like me... selling weapons, and willing to use them, it isn't worth the trip."
    "I wasn't planning on it. Since you're alive and in good