Handmaiden's Fury Read Online Free Page A

confusion,
following the widest path in the garden. At first I’d thought to avoid the
crowds by slipping through the shadows, but people kept tripping over me,
running toward the fire. They would brush my shoulder or trip over my foot,
give me an annoyed glare, and continue on, frantic in their haste to put out
the growing conflagration. After the first few encounters, I decided to follow
the wide path around the other outbuildings to the side gate.
    Nearer the main house and out of
sight of the fire, the turmoil calmed. Here I grew more anxious that my
presence would be questioned, but I needn’t have worried. Obviously a lady, I
carried myself with the bearing of one who would not be questioned, and Orin’s
servants asked no questions, quite accustomed to his ways. Most pretended not
to see me. The few that did actually acknowledge me simply nodded and carried
on their way.
    I made it to the outer gates, leaving
only the simple matter of passing though them.
    “Is everything well, miss?” The
guardsman peered at the lights flickering in the distance, a sign of the
unusual level of nighttime activity.
    “The fire has been brought under
control now,” I replied, mentally urging the man to open the gate quickly.
    “A fire!” He gasped but hurried to
the gate lock. “Is it bad? I heard all the commotion.”
    How could he not have known?
    He craned around, trying to get a
better look, but maintained his post nonetheless.
    I had to commend the man, not even a
fire would deter him from his duties.
    I added, “We are lucky; we might just
save the garden house. However, since it is unavailable for use at this time,
we have deferred my audience with Lord Devariis until a more convenient
occasion.” Without another word, I brushed on by, and he let me go, still
gazing back at the properties.
    I was free. Sire Mattias’s plan had
worked.
    The night enfolded me like a cloak of
velvet. The moment I stepped beyond the gaslight of Orin’s home, I breathed a
sigh of relief. Here, in the dark of the city, I was far safer than I was in
the home of a man like Orin Devariis. Yes, lawless men found a safe haven in
the nights of Stormhaven, but I could defend myself. Even after calling on the
fire, I had tapped only a fraction of the strength my Goddess provided me. Her
power still pulled at my sigils, a fiery passion begging to be unleashed.
    The Mist and Days was only a few
blocks from Orin’s manse, but I did not make for it in a straight line. I
instead did my best to follow the flow of the townsfolk. A beautiful night in
the city meant the streets brimmed full with revelers and street merchants.
    Still, I mustn’t take too long. Brys
awaited me.
    As I slipped through the misty
streets, I kept my eyes about me. The last thing we needed was for Orin to know
that something had been amiss and have me captured.
    Then I saw them, shadows following in
my wake.
    They were cunning, I could say that
much. I hadn’t seen them trailing me as I left Orin’s grounds. Yet two men
subtly drifted wherever I turned. They wore dark cloaks with their hoods
obscuring their features, which left me little doubt. One had to be the man
with the black-streaked death-pallor from Orin’s manse.
    They kept their distance for now, but
they moved with a lithe cunning that bespoke of training or magic unavailable
to simple street thugs.
    I shivered, recalling his hissed
words:
    I am not fooled, Handmaiden. Silence
now, and I will send you to the painless blanket of death.
    Sire Mattias had been very specific
about his goals for my encounter with Orin.
    “We must not let him learn you are a
Handmaiden.” He placed his hands on my face and kissed my forehead. “You are a
witless highborn, just some new dove he has tempted into his bed with empty
promises and sweet whispers. Use only a small measure of your strength to gain
his secrets, but otherwise avoid the Lady’s power if at all possible. We want no
one aware of our intent.”
    It was too late for