Uleni's Gamble Read Online Free PDF Page A

shrugged, “For making the effort to walk so close to me. I must seem a mess right now.”
    She wasn’t sure where it came from, but she quipped without thinking, “Don’t worry, you’re in good company for that.”
    She blushed until he started laughing, it wasn’t really funny, but she found herself laughing with him…
    *
    Sally sighed. Intellectually she understood they would always stand together, they would always be there for their family. But emotionally she was terrified, what if someone died because of some idiot back in Uleni that couldn’t leave her in peace.
    She watched the others walk back after Justin and Sara.
    “Nicci, I’m going to build some warded traps out here, maybe the spy will come back.”
    Katrina said, “I’ll stay here with you, I’m wary of leaving any of us alone right now.”
    She sighed, she wanted to be alone. Katrina must have read it in her face because she said, “Don’t worry, you won’t see me.”
    She watched as Katrina turned into a large tiger, then jumped into the trees. She could still feel Katrina’s magic, but she couldn’t see her at all. It wasn’t perfect, but Katrina was probably right about them not being alone.
    She spent the next hour casting wards from three hundred yards out to the west in a semi-circle. Aware they may catch more than an enemy in this area, she set them to trap and hold. Hopefully they would be able to get out here if another spy came, before they got away.
    As she came cast the wards she came to terms with it, there was nothing else to do really. She wouldn’t run or back down, and if someone came after her or her family she would destroy them without mercy.
    She smiled and said, “Thanks for ignoring me, and keeping me company.”
    She almost jumped when Katrina came out of nowhere and rubbed her body against her side. She smiled as she made her way back to the tavern, she wasn’t the only one that wouldn’t show mercy to their enemies.

Chapter 4
    Nicole was glad she had started practicing her magic with Sally if there was to be another conflict. She hadn’t thought it would come from Uleni. She was sure they would face something eventually, even if it was just assassins from Egeria from what they accomplished there. From what she understood though, they were still in turmoil, deciding on who would be king.
    She looked around at her new home, and it already felt like home even though it had only been a few days since they built it, and hoped it weathered the attacks she thought were probably coming. They would all rally and protect Justin from any attempt on his life… almost all. She forgot they had a guest. She turned and went up the stairs and knocked when she reached Trina’s room.
    Trina answered the door and said, “Do you need something highness?”
    Nicole waved her hand, “Please, call me Nicci. I wanted to tell you that it may not be safe here in the near future, you may consider returning to the temple for a time.”
    She watched as several emotions flashed across Trina’s face before the acolyte asked, “Why, what’s going on?”
    Nicole summed up what happened, and what they believed. She also said that they would protect her and keep her safe if at all possible if she decided to stay, but it was much safer to leave.
    With wide eyes Trina said, “I will stay, the high priestess sent me here and I won’t run from danger. The goddess will keep me safe.”
    Nicole had the strange feeling Trina was suppressing laughter, but she told Trina to have a good night, and went back downstairs.
    *
    Nora felt fidgety. All the paranoia about keeping Justin safe that had gone away, was back. She had still been wary of course, keeping out an eye to make sure he was safe, but she had started to feel safe about not being glued to his side. Now her head swam with all the possible ways an assassin could reach him. It was much harder to protect against, enemy soldiers were easy, silent killers not so much.
    It was her turn with