Shrouded Sky (The Veils of Lore Book 1) Read Online Free

Orryn was panting almost as hard as she was.
    Orryn let go his hold and staggered back, his eyes wide. “I’ve been away too long,” he said, then turned and headed toward the horse.
    Chandra wasn’t sure how to react. One minute she was running from him, the next he was running from her. She glanced at the sky. It would soon be dark. And then what? She had no food, no shelter, no idea where to go. “Orryn!” she shouted.
    He did not turn around.

CHAPTER 3
    Orryn reached the horseand prepared to mount. With one hand on the pommel and the other on the reins, he lifted a boot into the stirrup, but for some reason he couldn’t lift the rest of him into the saddle.
    He threw a glare at the girl who was still wrapped in his jacket. He’d require its warmth if he was to journey home unscathed. But he would not, could not, require the warmth of the girl. He clenched his teeth. Fool , he whispered to himself. What’s wrong with you ?
    “Orryn,” the girl called.
    Orryn detected a hint of desperation in her voice, but why should he care? She’d already made it clear she wished to flee him. Then again, everyone he’d ever found on the beach wished to flee him at some point or another.
    “God,” he muttered. He turned to face her. “Come if you’re going or stay if you’re not,” he hollered back, but Syddian law required that he take her. There was no real choice in the matter.
    The girl’s eyes darted back and forth along the beach, then toward the sea. Orryn shook his head. If she was looking for the boat from which she had tumbled she was wasting her time and his. No vessel survived the elementals, though occasionally a survivor was spat to shore.
    The girl called Chandria stepped toward him, her shoulders slumped in what appeared to be resignation. Good, he thought, easier to manage that way.He watched as she approached, assessing her features and looking for as many impurities as he could find. Her black and lavender hair was too short, that he decided instantly, and her eyes, so pale. He did not like them at all. He cocked his head. Decent face, he would give her that. But her skin was ruddy from too much sun and too little attention. No matter; it would likely regain its luster once healed. He moved his eyes past the pink under-tunic she was wearing and toward the bandaged wound on her thigh. As he did, he noticed her legs were well-shaped—something in her favor at least. How unfortunate one was damaged and likely to scar.
    The girl stood facing him, her bothersome eyes raised to his.
    “Will you help me find my father?” she asked.
    Orryn realized her voice had quivered somewhat, but he held his contempt in check. Perhaps she was due a littlecourtesy. After all, she did not yet realize her father was dead and the life she once knew all but over. Orryn sighed. He disliked this part of the rotation more than anything. It was one thing to save a person’s life, another to tell them it would never be the same.
    “I cannot help you,” he said. “It will be dark soon and we must reach shelter before night falls.” He glanced toward the mountains. Their pastel hues were deepening to emerald and amethyst. He cupped a hand over his eyes and squinted at the sun. They would have to spend one night here before leaving, but as soon as the sun rose he would take her to Syddia. To delay the journey would mean trouble for him. And four nights with this girl was going to be trouble enough.
    “Could we at least search the beach?” she asked, drawing his attention back to her.
    “No,” he replied.
    Her eyes went black with rage. Perhaps they were not so pale after all.
    “Listen, elf boy,” she snapped. “I don’t care what you want or how dark it gets or what kind of la la land I’ve ended up in, but I’m going to find my father whether you like it or not!” With that, she turned her back to him and limped down the sand.
    “Well, return my jacket before you go,” he shouted. “I, for one, would prefer