Of Noble Chains (The Ventori Fables) Read Online Free

so…”
    “It’s just an interview,” the man said with a hint of a laugh.  Zia turned away from him and focused on the door in front of her; hopefully that would keep her from staring at him.  But all it really did was give her a gnawing sensation in her stomach, and reminded her that all of her hopes were riding on the next hour.
    “But it’s an important interview,” Zia found herself saying, “if it doesn’t go well I won’t be able to get into the Tracker program.”
    That seemed to catch his attention.  “Tracker program?  You want to be a Ventori?”
    “Hells yes,” Zia said and quickly covered her mouth.  “I mean, yeah, I do.  It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
    “Have you ever actually Tracked a Specter?” the man crossed an ankle over the opposite leg and leaned back in the metal chair.  His left arm stretched out over the backs of two other chairs, his fingers almost playing with the fake plant that sat on the table next to them.  He wasn’t looking at Zia anymore, either.
    “Kind of,” she admitted, scratching at her neck, “I’ve gone out with my brother before, but I was too young to do anything so I usually waited in the car and watched.”
    “Your brother’s Ventori?”
    “Yeah…” Zia paused.  Her eyes drifted down to her lap, her body no longer shaking or scared.  “Well…he was.”
    “And now you want to follow in his footsteps?” the man began to peer about the room, seeming to be getting bored with their conversation.
    “No,” Zia laughed and it seemed to surprise him.  His head turned to face her, eyebrows high.  “I want to be a Tracker, but I want to do it my own way.  I mean, I know my brother influenced my choice, but I’m not going to end up like he did.”
    The man didn’t say anything and instead seemed to ponder Zia’s words.  She didn’t mean she didn’t want to end up in the same place as her brother, but she didn’t want to be the same kind of Tracker he was.  Zia planned on being a whole new class of Ventori, whether the Board of Justice approved or not.
    The door clicked open just as the man opened his mouth and a woman emerged.  Zia had expected another student to come out, either looking happy or sad about how their interview went, not this middle-aged clan member.  On her jacket she wore a pin, identifying her with the Shakti clan, and as a high ranking member.  Zia swallowed loudly.
    “We’re ready for you Ms. Noble,” she said and waved Zia inside.  Her eyes then fell on the man next to Zia and narrowed.  “You’re late, Aeryn.”
    “Sorry,” Aeryn held his hands up and stood.  Zia followed after him.  “I had things to do.”
    “Get inside already then,” the woman scolded, “you missed two interviews this morning.”
     
    Aeryn shrugged and sauntered into the room, the young Zia Noble trailing behind him after another look from the Shakti woman.  He tried to resist laughing, knowing how terrified she must be; he had caught her swallowing her own fear.  When they were both inside, the door slammed shut and Aeryn made his way to the windows, leaning against them casually.
    He watched Kehzia move her way inside the room, taking everything in.  He could tell by the way she carried herself that she was better than some of the Ventori he had partnered up with, and at only seventeen.  But she wasn’t what he had pictured from Donataen’s description.  Donataen always described his sister as a hell-raiser, determined and far from level-headed.  Not this…this girl.
    Kehzia was tall though, like her brother, with short chestnut hair and the same bright blue eyes.  The way she moved was almost like a dance, and Aeryn could tell she was aware of her surroundings, whether she was conscious of it or not.  When she came further into the room she looked out the windows, and for a brief second Aeryn caught a glimpse of bliss on her face.  He touched his hand to his lips, hoping to hide his smile.
    Aeryn didn’t