Uleni's Gamble Read Online Free Page B

mage?” He hated being ignorant, which happened to often on this world.
    Sally said, “It is a very hard magic to learn, if a mage wants to spend four to five years studying it, they can move from one place to another in the blink of an eye. I doubt I’ll ever do it, I can learn so many other things in that span of time, plus, most that try wind up dead the first attempt.”
    Teleport? Kind of cool, but not so much when it was someone spying on them. He was failing to come up with an explanation of why they would want to even spy on him or his family.
    Sally said softly, “I wonder if this is my fault, Uleni has mages that can do it, and I am sure they have had word of me by now.”
    He pulled her into a hug and said, “Don’t jump to conclusions, and even if that is the reason, we all have your back. Let’s check our other spy shall we?”
    The moved to the north and stopped, they didn’t see anyone there.
    Sara pointed and said, “Right there.”
    He burst into flame and pushed out an arc of white flame, as it ran across the spot she pointed at, a nervous looking man appeared. The man’s mouth fell open and he raised his hands in a peaceful gesture.
    The man asked curiously, “How did you know where I was?”
    Sara replied, “Your magic hides sight, smell and sound, but not your emotions.”
    The man sighed, “Damn empaths,” bowing to Nicole he continued, “Your highness, nice to see you again.”
    He turned and looked at Nicole as she frowned and said, “Why did father send you to spy on me Reg?”
    He started to feel amused as Reg struggled to find an answer, finally the man sighed and said, “Uleni, our spies there are picking up troop movements and preparations for war, but so far none have moved to the border. We think they plan to take advantage of our weakened state, the only reason we could think of for them to wait, is because of your… intended mate. Nothing else really makes sense.”
    Reg added, “I think he is really worried about you, but mostly I’m here to keep an eye on the Flame of Cytherea, make sure he stays alive,” looking embarrassed he kept going, “Or in the worst case, that word of his death reaches the palace quickly.”
    He shook his head and turned, walking back toward the tavern. No reason not to let the man haunt his forest. He thought he was done with all that, and he realized how naĂŻve that was. Even without the dark god, because of what he was, he would be pulled into other conflicts. He was both regarded as a hero, and a deadly enemy to be dealt with.
    He had never really believed he was that important, and the idea a whole kingdom was putting off an invasion simply because he was alive, just didn’t make sense to him. His only consolation right now was he had already been determined to keep Sally safe from the kingdom of Uleni’s machinations. Now though, he was a target as well, and he had no idea how to process that information, or what to do…
    *
    Sara walked along side Justin. She was almost positive he had no idea she was there. His emotions were a roiling mix of self doubt, anger, and worry. He wasn’t the only one, she was quite a mix of emotions as well being so close to him. She felt fear, shame, and a kind of helplessness that she hated, even though she was positive he didn’t judge her, or wouldn’t threaten her.
    Those weren’t the only emotions she felt. She was scared that these people who had saved her, and taken her in were in danger, and although she was positive he would never return her feelings, she was pretty sure she was more than a bit in love with him. She ached to reach out and take his hand, reassure him that her and his intended mates were there, and it would all work out somehow.
    She suppressed a sigh, might as well ask her to put her hand in a fire.
    “Thank you.”
    At first she wasn’t sure who he was talking to, then she blushed and said, “For what?”
    He said, “For staying with us, for warning us at dinner,” he