Whispers of the Skyborne (Devices of War Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

Nami go?
    Well, they were seeing it. She was going to kill her own daughter, whether she claimed her or not. She’d given birth to Oki. Chie wasn’t stupid. The other tainted bloods would follow and the only people who knew about it that could spread the word were her and Oki. Oki hadn’t taken it seriously, and no one would listen to a mere servant.
    The El’Asim needed to get his sister and all the other tainted bloods out of there. But how? He wasn’t that smart.
    But he was their only ally.
    “Eto Chie,” an older woman called from her market stall. “Eto Chie!”
    A frown flashed across Chie’s face as she stopped. “I do not have time, Oshiro Kota.”
    Kota grasped for Chie’s fingers, worry folding her worn face, calculation lighting her dark eyes. “What is going on? Everyone runs about, and no one says anything.”
    Chie gave the older woman’s fingers a squeeze. “As soon as I know anything, I will send a message, but right now, I must go.” She extracted her fingers and continued through the market.
    Who could Chie trust? Who could she tell? Who would she try to save? Who could she try to save? Oki. Obviously. Their husbands. Of course. But who else?
    Little shanties filled the market, temporary buildings made of dried sea flax with thin drapes for doors. A storm raged outside the protections of the letharan walls. Ino City had breached the protection of the ocean’s surface, so the market was closed. Being in the storm was dangerous. Breaching had been dangerous, but that had been the only way they could get the message to Synn.
    It was probably why Ino Nami had decided to act, though. Blessed waters! What could they do?
    Chie ducked behind a faded red drape and stepped into a potter’s shop. The old potter sat on a stool, painting his latest ware. He didn’t even glance up when she entered.
    She slipped under the horizontal board along the back wall, and pushed the hidden door open, ducking into the small room in the back.
    Kenta, Oki’s husband, had already arrived. He wiped his palms on his turquoise pants as he stood, the hard leathers of his haidate, or thigh guards, falling into place. The barest of light trickled through the slats above and glinted on his black top knot. “Have you seen Oki?”
    “You haven’t heard?”
    “Heard what?”
    How did some not hear the gossip that spread like wildfire amongst the servants? “Ino Nami has seized control of the city and has incarcerated Oki.”
    “What?” Disbelief folded his normally stoic features.
    “She is set for execution tomorrow.”
    He closed his eyes, his wide nostrils flaring. “You are sure.”
    “Yes. But there is more.”
    Kenta opened his eyes and studied her. “What more could there be?”
    “Oki managed to get a message to Synn.”
    “The El’Asim was within range?”
    Chie nodded. “And he is on his way.”
    “That is great news.”
    “It has happened,” Hitoshi said as he burst through the back, wearing a similar uniform to Kenta. His face was sharper than Kenta’s, his top knot smaller, his frame slighter.
    Kenta turned to him. “Chie has informed me. I would not think Ino Nami to be so bold.”
    He obviously didn’t know Ino Nami.
    Hitoshi met Chie’s gaze, his almond-shaped eyes brimming with saddened disbelief. “Did she get the message out?”
    “Yes.” Chie held up her slim hand and took a step forward. “But we need to—”
    Kenta brushed her off and met Hitoshi’s gaze. “Where is Oki?”
    “The jails below the family quarters.”
    “The jails?” Kenta shook his head as if sluffing off dew from his hair. “Fine. We break in, get her out, and then we seek refuge with the El’Asim.”
    “How do we get that information to the El’Asim now?” Hitoshi asked. “The message we sent out was brief.”
    Chie ground her teeth. To be ignored by others who thought themselves above her was one thing. To be ignored by her best friend’s beloved and by her own husband were another. “I have more