The Destroyer Goddess Read Online Free Page A

is planning, Mirabar won't be safe the moment she leaves—"
    "You haven't told him?" Velikar said to Mirabar.
    "He just got here," Mirabar replied.
    Still ready for combat, Tansen snapped, "Told me what?"
    Mirabar cleared her throat. "We're getting married."
    "Who?"
    "Me and Baran," she said.
    He was sure the sky tilted. "You're what? "
    "Getting married," she said. "That's what I've agreed to, to convince him to side with—"
    " You're WHAT? " he shouted.
    Velikar said, "I'll leave you two alone."
    He ignored the retreating old woman as he shouted at Mirabar, "What in the Fires are you talking about?"
    "Baran set a price for his help," she said. "I've met it."
    Tansen stared at her in speechless confusion.
    She continued, "There were things he said—"
    "It's a trap," he insisted. "Baran has promised Kiloran—"
    "To kill me," said Mirabar. "I know."
    "You know? "
    "He's told me everything."
    Tansen shook his head. "Baran is shrewd. He knew we'd eventually find out about the truce meeting, so he told you himself. To disarm you. To make you believe he was lying to Kiloran."
    "Oh, I don't think he was lying to Kiloran."
    Tansen frowned. "Then what—"
    "Not at the time, I mean," said Mirabar. "I think he changed his mind afterwards."
    "Then how do you know he's not going to change his mind about whatever he's promised you? " He was shouting again. He didn't care.
    "Because this is our destiny. His and mine," she said.
    "Your destiny? To marry a waterlord? To trust that madman?"
    Another voice came from behind him. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
    " Baran ." Tansen turned his back on Mirabar and, swords poised for attack, faced the waterlord.
    Baran frowned at Mirabar. "Did we invite him?"
    "Go away," Mirabar said to her intended.
    "You hot-headed shallaheen ," Baran said disapprovingly to Tansen. "Always drawing your weapons on Sanctuary grounds."
    Through clenched teeth, Mirabar repeated, "Go away."
    Baran smiled at Tansen. A tall, big-boned man with unruly hair and famously wild eyes, Baran looked surprisingly older and thinner than when they had last met, but still formidable. Tansen retrained himself from glancing at the well in the center of the garden, knowing full well how easily Baran could wrap its waters around his neck and strangle him.
    "My condolences," Baran said to him, "on the death of your brother."
    "Don't even speak of Josarian to me," Tansen growled. "You don't deserve to."
    "On the contrary," Baran said, impervious to insult. "I know what it is to lose someone to Kiloran."
    "And I'm not going to find out what it is to lose someone to you ," Tansen vowed. He ignored the stifled sound Mirabar made and kept his eyes on Baran.
    Baran's gaze sharpened with amused interest. What he said next, though, surprised Tansen as much as the gentle tone in which he said it. "I swear I won't ever hurt her." He shrugged and added more prosaically, "Well, no more than men and women usually hurt each other."
    "You're lying," Tansen said, wondering what would happen if he did violate Sanctuary and kill Baran right here and now.
    "No," Baran said with quiet certainty. "If I'm lying, may my power forever desert me, and may I burn like the Fires for all eternity."
    "I won't let her do this," Tansen warned him.
    "How do you intend to stop her?" Baran asked curiously. "She's the most powerful sorceress in Sileria, and last I heard, you were still just a man."
    Tansen drew in a sharp breath. "So that's why you want her." Maybe Baran really didn't intend murder, after all. Still, there was no way Tansen was letting this marriage take place.
    "She knows why I want her," Baran replied. "I'll let her explain it to you."
    "Thank you." Mirabar sounded exasperated.
    As he turned to go, Baran added, "Try not to take too long. I'm getting bored." 
    Almost shaking with helpless anger, Tansen sheathed his swords and asked Mirabar, "So why does he want to marry you?"
    "Could your tone possibly be any less flattering?"
    " I wanted to