Caller of Light Read Online Free

in agitation as they walked away, and Carina rolled her eyes. “Mira doesn’t like being inside,” she muttered, justifying her friend’s behavior.
    She looked at Marek. He was staring at her again with those piercing eyes, as if trying to penetrate her defenses and spy upon her innermost secrets. Self-conscious, she peered at the ground. She never should have kissed Mira farewell. What an unladylike thing to do.
    “Did you know that we spotted a Criton rider at your border when my men and I entered King McKay’s territory?”
    Her heart hiccupped. She’d get into trouble if Father discovered she’d defied his no Criton riding mandate. She continued to survey her feet, but could sense him probing her. In a weak attempt at deflection, she guided the conversation away from its current direction. “You said your men.” She glanced up to focus on the waiting eyes of the man accompanying her. “Does that mean you’re Captain of the Guard?”
    He smiled and his expression softened. “Aye, I guess you could say that.”
    “Oh my,” she whispered and then wanted to kick herself for sounding so childish.
    “Now, as for that rider,” he continued. “We gave chase, but she eluded us.”
    She tried not to smile at the frustration coloring his words. She was very proud of escaping King Duncan’s men.
    “The rider had long, brown hair…much like yours. And the little Criton she rode looks a lot like the one we just left in the barn. Do you know anything about that?”
    Her heart thumped in an erratic rhythm as they wandered toward the main house. She inhaled the cool, harvest day air deep into her lungs, struggling to think of an answer that wouldn’t incriminate her. Deciding avoidance was her best option, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind an ear and ignored his question altogether. “Mira does fly fast.”
    Marek stopped and stood in front her. His lively eyes hardened into green ice, the grey flecks like little pokers boring into her. “It’s not safe for you to ride alone so close to your father’s border. You should never leave without an escort.”
    She stared into his determined face and her resolve crumbled on a defeated sigh. “But Father doesn’t let me ride. He says riding confuses the Critons, so they might not rider-bond.” Once she started, the words spilled out. She couldn’t stop herself. “I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t fly. I only ride Mira since she’s small and no one wants her, I swear.”
    Her other hand reached out to clutch his arm. “Father says Mira won’t amount to anything, and I don’t mean any harm by it.” Her grip tightened, as if by squeezing harder she could convince him that for a few hours a day riding freed her from a life filled with loneliness and boredom.
    “Flying means that much to you?” His voice lowered and his lips pressed together in a firm line. “To cause you to disobey your father and place your life at risk?”
    She blinked back tears as her heart tumbled into her stomach, and glanced toward the hunting pastures stretched out in the lower fields. She had displeased this man, and for some unknown reason felt horrible about it. Except for flying, she always obeyed her father. She went out of her way to vie for his attention and gain his acceptance, but nothing she did earned his favor. And now, she’d disappointed the only man who had ever shown her any measure of respect. She chastised herself for even considering a Captain of the Guard would be interested in her anyway.
    When he spoke her name, his voice rippled through her like a soothing caress, commanding her with a quiet calmness. “Answer me.”
    But what could she tell him without sounding like a whining, spoiled noble…or rather, mixed noble? Fortunately, she didn’t have to answer as her half sister’s high-pitched voice permeated the air. Carina stepped away, waiting for Marissa to take center stage.
    “Father, he’s over here.” Marissa giggled as she sidled up to