Mirage Read Online Free Page A

the generosity your father has displayed to our people, we do not take offense. Soon you will better understand our customs, and such incidents will be merely a memory.”
    Scorch started to retort, then clamped her mouth shut and offered the High Khan a stiff bow. “Of course, Great Khan,” she said. “I acted on impulse, and as you can see, the traitors are unharmed.”
    Traitors
, Hoku thought. Nice how she worked that in there.
    Onggur nodded briskly. “It is forgotten. Furthermore, I see no reason not to grant you the lives you have requested, to do with as you wish.”

“Y OU CAN’T HAVE CALLI,” Hoku said to Scorch. He felt Calli’s wings brush his arm. He stood taller. “And you can’t have us, either.” He glanced at Aluna, hoping she’d back him up with more than just words. She nodded, her face grim.
    “If you want to kill us, you’ll get a fight,” Aluna said.
    Hoku heard a
snick
and saw Dash’s retractable sword expand to its full, deadly size. Dash said nothing. He didn’t need to. Calli struggled to her feet, her face still red from Scorch’s attack. She didn’t carry a weapon, but she glowered anyway.
    “Wait,” a new voice said. Everyone looked toward the group of Equians penned in at the khan’s side. A young woman a few years older than Hoku clomped forward. She had skin almost as light as his and wore her long brown hair in two braids woven with dark-blue and white cords. Her horse flank was a deep reddish brown and turned to black at her hooves and tail. “I am Tayan, khan-daughter of Shining Moon, and I claim the lives of Dashiyn and his three companions.”
    Scorch started to interrupt, but the High Khan spoke over her. “By what right?”
    Tayan spoke calmly. “The boy known as Dash is Shining Moon. He has broken his exile and must return to our homeland to face trial and punishment. I claim his companions as accomplices under herd law, until such time as their innocence can be determined.”
    There was a saying back in the ocean:
Escape a shark and find a Deepfell
. Just when you thought things were bad, they got a whole lot worse.
    “Oh, we’re definitely accomplices,” Aluna said with a growl. “Whatever happens to Dash happens to us, too.”
    “This is ridiculous,” Scorch said. “You’re going to listen to these children?”
    “I will listen to herd law,” High Khan Onggur said. “Tradition must not be overlooked. It makes us strong.” He turned to Tayan. “The
aldagha
and his companions are yours.”
    Tayan touched two fingers to her heart and bowed, but Scorch wasn’t done. “Karl Strand will not be pleased to hear of this.”
    “Hold your threats,” High Khan Onggur said impatiently. “I am not done.”
    Scorch raised an eyebrow and took a step back, giving the khan room. Onggur turned to the Equians penned in at his side, including Tayan. “Emissaries of the Equian herds, I give you this message to take back to your khans: the desert goes to war.”
    Hoku sucked in his breath and shared a look with Calli. He saw Aluna and Dash doing the same thing with each other. They’d come here to warn the Equians about Karl Strand, and they’d been too late. Way, way too late.
    The High Khan waited until the Equians’ shocked murmurs and hoof stomping subsided before continuing. “This year, the Thunder Trials will be more than contests of strength and skill. All herds will meet in peace, as we have done for hundreds of years. But when the games end and I once again earn the Sun Disc and am made High Khan, we will leave as an army.”
    “You will become the swift blade of Karl Strand,” Scorch said, and Hoku could hear the pride in her voice. “You will become the agents of my father’s justice throughout the land, from desert to ocean to mountaintop stronghold. Your High Khan will be king of all of that, and more. As payment for your loyalty, my father will give you our technology. If you want water brought to the desert, then we will turn the sands to