13 Day War by Richard S. Tuttle Read Free Book Online

Bonnay scrambled to her feet and raced over to where the prince was sprawled.
    “Are you all right?” Bonnay asked with concern.
    Harry grinned broadly. “Stop mothering me,” he replied with a chuckle. “I am no longer brittle.” Harry jumped to his feet and picked Bonnay off the ground and whirled her around.
    “So I see,” laughed Bonnay. “What do you say we take a break and have some hot cocoa?”
    “An excellent idea,” Billy responded as he led Rynda towards Harry. “While Harry and I might be used to this cold weather, I am not sure that the others are quite as hardy. The cocoa will warm everyone up.”
    “I could use some warming up,” replied Rynda. “I have never seen this much snow in all my life. I’m cold.”
    The three couples grabbed their sleds and started making their way to a small stand set up outside the city walls. Samana followed quietly, pulling her own sled. Billy purchased the cocoa and carried it to a small table set up alongside the wall. Everyone sat down and started drinking, but Samana sat quietly, looking at each of the others in turn. To her eye, Billy and Jeanie appeared to be in their element, but neither Sam nor Harry appeared to be used to such weather. Being a southern girl herself, it made her curious.
    “How much snow do you normally see each year, Sam?” she asked.
    “Nothing like this,” Sam answered. “A few flurries once in a while, but this amount of snow is awesome.”
    “How about you, Harry?” asked Samana.
    Harry frowned at the question. When she had asked Sam it sounded like normal conversation, but when she asked him it seemed as if she was fishing for something.
    “I can’t remember ever seeing this much snow,” he answered, “but I am curious why it matters. Can’t we just enjoy the snow without comparing it to other years?”
    “I don’t think this year is typical anyways,” interjected Billy. “The early winter seems to be fiercer than anything I ever saw, and I am used to a lot of snow.”
    Rynda looked at her sister curiously. She knew that Samana was after something, but she wasn’t sure what it was. “What is the real question, Samana?”
    “I would think that the real question would be obvious,” Samana replied. “Look at each other. Look closely. Bonnay has Occan features, but none of the rest of us do. Aren’t any of you curious who we all are?”
    “Such topics are off-limits,” warned Harry. “You should know that.”
    “I know that we are not to let others know who we are,” countered Samana, “but that should not include each other. We all occupy the same lair. Why shouldn’t we know about each other?”
    “Because it is forbidden,” answered Harry. “There are reasons for the rules given to us, and I will not abuse the hospitality given to me.”
    “I thought I was the only stranger here,” frowned Billy. “Now that Samana has pointed it out, I am curious, too.”
    “You were just the last to arrive,” stated Samana. “Who are you, Billy?”
    Billy really had nothing to hide, so he answered. “I am Bultar. I am from Candanar.”
    “Prince Bultar?” asked Rynda.
    “Yes,” the prince answered meekly. “Does that make a difference between us?”
    “Hardly,” grinned Rynda. “Samana and I are the daughters of Emperor Jaar.”
    Harry and Sam looked at each other with anxious gazes.
    “We shouldn’t be talking about this,” warned Jeanie. “Nothing good will come of it.”
    “Oh?” retorted Samana. “And what country are you a princess of?”
    “She’s Tyronian,” offered Rynda. “I heard her talking about the Ur Woods.”
    “Princess Jeanel,” smiled Samana. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance.” Samana turned to gaze at Harry, expecting him to be the next to reveal himself, but Bonnay interrupted.
    “I am not a princess,” Bonnay declared. “My father is a minor baron in Zarocca. I think that ruins your theory about everyone here being royalty of some kind. Let’s just drop the