Thieves of Islar: Book One of The Heirs of Bormeer Read Online Free PDF

herself erect and smoothed her silk dress into place. Dark blue and tightly fit, it exposed shapely calves, a hint of her breasts. Enough of Larsetta’s skin to addle her opponent’s gameplay with thoughts of sex.
    Not that such distractions work on Mennat.
    She checked her face in the wall mirror – blush, eye shadow, lip rouge, and smile. She did not deny herself any advantage. It was time to greet him. Her guest did not expect to be kept waiting.

Six
    C hazd glanced around. The fire brigade had gotten the edge over the flames. It seemed like half of Walnut Street had shown up to fight the blaze. The first floor fire was almost under control, suffocating, and the volunteers were making their way up the staircase. He held his place in line and continued passing buckets, but his heart burned with the urge to follow his brother. He had started to charge into the building immediately after Jaeron, but Avrilla had stopped him.
    He glanced over at her again and wondered, with more insight now, how she was able to do that. Avrilla seemed to have been able to influence both Jaeron and Chazd whenever she wanted. It was something he remembered from when they were very young. He had always thought it was their capitulating to the only girl in the family. After seeing her brief display of power this evening though, perhaps it made a bit more sense. Not that he believed that Avrilla used her abilities on them on purpose, but maybe some of her magic just leaked out.
    A sudden shattering of wood and glass overwhelmed the sound of the crowd. One of their dining room chairs came crashing to the street. A moment later his brother followed, rappelling down the charred apartment wall on a makeshift rope of curtain and linen. He was halfway down when the cheap material tore through. Jaeron dropped to the ground, breaking the hard fall with a clumsy tumble.
    Chazd ran to his brother, Avrilla a breath behind.
    “Jaeron, are you okay? What’s going on?” Avrilla asked.
    Jaeron shook his head.
    “Avrilla, Chazd. Come with me,” he said, a little too loudly. “Quickly!”
    “I’m here,” Chazd said. “What the hell, Jaeron?””
    Jaeron got to his feet and pushed his way through the small group forming around them. He beckoned them to follow and broke into a run.
    Chazd looked at his sister. She could make Jaeron answer their questions. But she spoke before he had a chance.
    “Let’s go,” she said and followed Jaeron’s lead.
    He moved with her, seeing recognition and concern on some of the faces gathered about them.
    “deAlto!” someone called out to them, but he did not stop.
    They made their way into a dark gap between the buildings on the other side of Walnut. Even in the light from the dying fire, the shadows there were still deep.
    ~
    Jaeron’s eyes were tearing and his lungs could not take in enough air. It’s the smoke. He repeated it until he almost believed it. He could not turn back and look. Not yet. So he stood in the darkness, waiting.
    “What in the name of Teichmar are you doing?” Chazd exploded as he and Avrilla sprinted up to join him.
    Judging by the look on his younger brother’s face, he could tell that Chazd was still on the verge of bolting back to the scene.
    “Shh,” Jaeron said, “not now. We’re in trouble. We need to get out of here.”
    He motioned for his siblings to follow and moved further back into the alley. He paused a moment, desperate to find the strength to look. He snapped his head around to watch the crowd at the fire, to gauge whether they were being watched or followed.
    “Let’s go,” Jaeron’s whisper was hoarse. He moved quickly, deeper into the dark.
    Normally, the abundance of shadows available in the Ninth Ward had been a blessing for thieves-in-training. But tonight Jaeron saw nothing but threats in the once familiar streets.
    “Jaeron, what’s going on?” Avrilla whispered.
    Jaeron stopped. They had made it to Lutzer Street, several blocks from their home. From