Chased By Fire (Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

where were they traveling from?”  
      “Came from Incendin direction. An old traders’ road.”  
    His mother’s sharp eyes closed for a moment, quickly considering what he told her. “They crossed through Incendin?”  
    The question took him aback and made him think of the darkness that trailed after them. “Can they cross the barrier?”
    His mother frowned at him. “Another reason you need to go to Ethea. The barrier doesn’t prevent all passage. Just some. You’d know that if you studied.” She came around her desk and waved at him. “Come.”
    She led him through the manor house and quickly to the lord’s office. The door stood open and she did not knock before entering, walking brusquely into the room. It was a large room, with a fireplace in one corner and walls interrupted by large open windows, letting in the warm breeze that smelled of rain. Animal hides adorned most of the remaining wall space, though the horns of an elk were displayed proudly as if Lord Lind caught the animal himself. The manor lord sat at his desk poring over a stack of parchments, and looked up at the sound of her entrance, smiling when he realized who entered.  
    “Ephra,” he said warmly, setting down his pen. A dark red ink smudged his hand, looking almost like blood. “What brings me this honor?”
    The quiet snort was such that Tan knew the lord would not have heard it. Lind Alles had been pushing his mother for marriage since she had joined his staff with an insistence that irritated him. He was reassured that it still was obviously so for his mother.  
    “My lord,” she answered curtly. Lord Lind only smiled wider. “Tan brings word of the Aeta. Likely traveling from Incendin.” She said the last as if it were important. She didn’t mention the strange beasts that killed Cobin’s sheep.  
    Lord Lind turned toward him and the smile was still painted across his face, yet his eyes narrowed and his shoulders tensed. “Truly?”  
    Tan nodded, not wanting to make eye contact but knowing his mother would be angry with him if he did not. “I spied them in the mountains.” Better not to admit to Lord Lind that Bal had been with him.
    Lind scratched his chin and a bit of the dark ink stained it. He turned to look out one of the large windows of his office, staring out into Nor as if the caravans would already be arriving.   “See that they set up outside of town.”
    His mother tilted her head slightly and crossed her arms over her chest. “You know custom allows the Aeta to trade in town.”
    Lind turned back and shook his head once. “Not in town. They may set up outside of town only.” When she didn’t move, his face changed. “Do not cross me in this, Ephra.”
    “Why?”  
    Lind looked down to the stack of papers upon his desk. “The king has sent missives,” he began. “There have been skirmishes on the borders of Nara and Tern. Some his strongest shapers were sent to investigate.” Lind shivered slightly.  
    Some didn’t care for the abilities of the shapers and were uncomfortable with them. Usually they had no ability of their own—not even a weak sensing like Tan. He hadn’t known Lind was among them.  
    “The king didn’t pass along details, only that he worries these aren’t isolated incidents. I was instructed to remain guarded against any possible threat. So I am.”
    His mother shook her head. “And you think the Aeta pose a threat?”
    Lind shrugged. “Probably not, but I won’t chance some attacker posing as the Aeta and gaining easy access to town.”
    “There is small chance someone could imitate the Aeta, my lord,” she chided. “There are few folk like them. And do you really think we have anything in Nor valuable enough to attack?”
    Lind turned away and did not disagree.
    “That’s not your only reason. What is it?”
    He said nothing and she pressed.
    “Lind!”  
    He looked up at her stern tone. Tan was surprised, unaccustomed to the familiar note his mother