Honor Found (The Spare Heir) Read Online Free Page B

been no ambushes today.  This had been the hardest climb he could remember.  As he stopped to catch his breath he slipped and nearly fell.  Realizing he’d been thinking too much about the past and not focusing on the task at hand Jorem blew into his hands to warm them and studied the snow covered landscape.
    Taking a deep breath Jorem pushed on through the snow.  Just a bit further and he could start making his way back to the inn.  The sun came out from behind a small bank of clouds and the expanse of snow beyond the trees sparkled brightly in the sunshine.  It looked like a carpet of miniature suns lay on the ground.  Jorem had read of an entire army being defeated because they had been blinded by the sun’s glare on the snow.  Now he understood how it could happen.  The snow was so bright it was painful to look at.
    He was just about to step from the shadows of the trees onto the glittering surface before him when the snow at his feet exploded upward.  He attempted to jump back but his feet slipped on the icy surface under the snow.  As he fell he heard the swooshing of a sword above his head.  The powdery snow covered him as he went down.
    In his mad scramble to get back up he collided with his attacker.  Without thinking Jorem reached out, grasped the assailant and heaved.  There was a squawk of surprise amidst the flapping of arms. Jorem quickly stood and drew his sword.  The look Neth gave him did not bode well as she stood and wiped snow from her face.
    With a quick flip of his fingers Jorem removed the flap of his mittens to expose his fingers.  He had just that much time before the mercenary charged.  Even in hip-deep snow Neth was incredibly fast.  The clang of sword striking sword rang through the trees.  Jorem grunted with pain as Neth slipped an elbow through to his chin.  He kicked out with his foot but the mercenary dodged back.
    They battled back and forth for some time.  Although still fast, Neth’s speed was slower than usual due to the deep snow, giving Jorem a little more time to react.  He was beginning to think he might actually be able to hold his own when Neth launched a furious attack.  It took every bit of concentration he had to deal with the onslaught.
    It was obvious to Jorem he was about to be defeated.  He took a step back and bumped into a tree trunk. Snow cascaded off the branches of the tree.  Both he and Neth were engulfed in snow.  Jorem gasped as snow went down his neck, melting into a cold stream trickling down his back.
    Looking over at Neth, he saw she was no better off than he was.  She was covered from the head down with snow.  Snow was piled high on top of her head and shoulders. There was even snow on the tip of her nose.  Jorem could easily see her as a legendary snow beast, especially with the deadly look she had on her face.  Her fierce gaze would have been more effective if another branch hadn’t chosen that moment to release its load of snow onto the already covered mercenary.
    Jorem couldn’t help himself. He got the giggles.  Maybe it was the many days of practice and training without a break. Whatever it was he could not stop laughing. Even when Neth threw a hand full of snow in his face he continued chuckling.  In the blink of an eye they went from fierce combat to children having a snow fight.  The snow didn’t pack well so there was little danger of injury.  Soon they were both covered with snow and laughing at the other’s condition.
    It didn’t take long before they were both soaking wet and getting cold.  Even so, they were both smiling by time they stopped throwing snow at one another.
    “We’d best get back to the inn before we freeze to death,” Neth said as she brushed the snow out of her hair.  Although Jorem could feel the cold numbing his fingers, he felt good. Better than he had felt for some time.  The crisp air felt good as he breathed it in.  For the first time since Neth had started training with him he