aHunter4Saken (aHunter4Hire) by Cynthia Clement Read Free Book Online Page A

chided. “Take this to the table.”
    Peta
grabbed the plate of pancakes and banged it on the table before pulling out a
chair. She sat with her arms crossed. “I just want to know if they are like
Niail.”
    “Yes.”
Niail’s voice was even. “They are my brothers. I have fought many battles with
them.”
    Peta’s
eyes widened. “Will they come and help you?”
    “It
is possible.”
    “Cool.”
Peta grinned. “Then we can meet them.”
    Niail
opened his mouth to speak, but was stopped by a shout from Wil. He was out the
door before Kimi could turn around. She pushed the frying pan off the burner
and followed Niail.
     

Chapter 5
     
    The
boy was bent over a large puddle beside the vehicle. Niail picked him up and
held him in a protective hug as his eyes scanned the horizon. There were sparse
groupings of ponderosa pine and aspen as far as he could see and mountains in
the distance. The roadway was clear. There was no sign of movement anywhere.
    “What
happened?” Kimi’s words came out in gasps as she struggled to catch her breath.
    “I
dropped the phone.” Wil pointed down at the puddle.
    Niail
eased his hold on Wil. “There was no danger?”
    Wil
shook his head. “Just to the phone.”
    Niail
put him down. “It is good you are safe.”
    “You
scared me half to death.” Kimi’s voice held a note of reproach. “I thought
someone had hurt you.”
    “Sorry
Mom.” Wil bent and picked the phone out of the puddle. “I don’t think you can
use this.”
    Kimi
took the dripping instrument from Wil. She flipped the back open and pulled out
a battery. “I’ll try putting it in rice. I might be able to dry it out.”
    Niail’s
chest tightened. He had hoped to contact Partlan, but that was not to be. He
eased his breathing and started to the house. No point dwelling on something he
could not change. He would have to devise another plan for contacting the
others. The alternative was not worth considering.
    Never
had he been left without backup before. Always his brothers were with him,
whether it was in battle or in his thoughts. Even when technology failed, there
was the mind connection. The injury to his head had changed that.
    Niail
was truly alone.
    Peta
was at the door waiting for them. “Is Wil okay?”
    “He
dropped the phone.” Niail picked her up in his arms and moved with her to the
kitchen. “He was upset.”
    “Boy,
I bet Mom is too.” Peta looked over Niail’s shoulder. “You sure can run fast.”
    Niail
grunted and put Peta back in her chair. “I have trained since I was younger
than you.”
    Kimi
and Wil followed them into the kitchen. “We’ll try and dry the cellphone out. If
that doesn’t work, then I’ll drive you into Browning. You can probably find a
way to contact your friends there.”
    Niail’s
tension eased. It would only be a matter of hours before he was connected
again. Kimi’s house was isolated. He would be safe here until they could go to
town. He might be on his own, but he was well trained. If a situation developed
he would take care of it then.
    “You
kids need to eat.” Kimi put the pancakes in front of the children.
    Wil
grinned and Peta’s eyes sparkled. “Our favourite,” they sang out in unison.
    Niail
leaned against the counter and observed the children. A surge of warmth spread
through him. This must be how it felt to be part of a family. Unlike the
Kaladin and Holman, humans were still connected with their children. The love
between Kimi and the children was tangible and comforting.
    When
the pancakes were done, Wil and Peta took their plates to the counter. Kimi
filled a kettle with water from a hand pump at the sink and put it on stove to
heat. She started to clear the table, but Niail stopped her.
    “I
can put this away. You need to sit.”
    He
gathered the syrup and butter and put it in the fridge and then cleared the
rest of the dishes. He stacked them in the sink and when the kettle had heated
he started washing.
    “I
understand you want