Blood of the Watcher (The Dark Ability Book 4) by D.K. Holmberg Read Free Book Online Page B

Seeing, that was useful in my line of work. Can’t say I don’t miss it.”
    Rsiran realized that was part of the reason Haern pushed him as he did. He wanted Rsiran to be better prepared for whatever he might face, including the possibility that his abilities would fail. “You’re still gifted.”
    His eyes went distant. “That’s the thing. I was never a strong Seer before I went to Venass, so when I took away what they gave me, the implant, I expected it to fade. Only… only I retained more than I expected. Sort of like I gained strength through use.”
    “Is the scar from when they implanted you with lorcith?” He didn’t know if it had been lorcith or heartstone, but Venass seemed more likely to use lorcith.
    “From when it came out. Jessa’s father… He helped.”
    Haern fell silent and Rsiran decided not to push on that issue any further. “That’s why you helped her? She told me that you rescued her.”
    Haern’s face darkened. “That would be as good a way to put it as any,” he answered.
    “Where was she? I mean, she told me that slavers thought to sell her, but not where.”
    Haern shook a moment. “What would you do, Rsiran? You think you would go to Eban, find the slaver responsible for what happened to her, and get revenge for what they did?”
    What they did? Jessa hadn’t said anything about what they had done to her. “I didn’t mean—”
    “It doesn’t matter, anyway.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I already took care of them,” Haern said.
    He said it with such force, and an edge of darkness, that Rsiran took an involuntary step back.
    “Elaeavn is protected,” Haern went on. “And that isn’t necessarily something that should change. Most who live here do not know about the darkness that exists outside the city, and never learn how hard a place it can be. You’ve seen some of it—more than most who have lived here their entire lives—but you’ve been protected as well.”
    “I’ve seen what Venass did. I’ve seen what the Forgotten—”
    Haern laughed. “The Forgotten. They only matter to the Elvraeth, and to Elaeavn. But what of other places? In Elaeavn, we think the Great Watcher has granted us abilities, and that makes us special, but there are other places and other abilities. The only thing special about Elaeavn is that we know so little about the rest of the world.”
    Haern raised his sword and held it out. “Now. We need to continue to practice. If you lose your connection to lorcith, you might need to know simple technique. I don’t think to make you into a Neelish swordsman, but you can learn enough to get past someone who knows less than you. That might make the difference between getting caught and getting to safety.”
    “Haern—” Rsiran started.
    Haern shook his head, cutting off additional questions. Then he leapt forward, swinging his sword in attack.

Chapter 7
    T he bandolist playing in the back of the Wretched Barth was a man Rsiran had seen before, and the mournful tune he played was familiar. There was a certain soothing quality to the fact that he could sit at a table in the Barth again, and hold a mug of ale. Perhaps in that, Brusus had been right to buy the tavern.
    Jessa sat across from him, absently rolling dice in her hand, shaking them before letting them spill out across the table. Her ale sat untouched. Since returning to the smithy to see him practicing with Haern, she had been quiet, though Rsiran hadn’t learned why. She had whispered something to Haern before he left, making him promise to meet them at the Barth later. And now they were here.
    “What is it?” he asked.
    She shook her head. “When Brusus gets here,” she said.
    Rsiran took a long drink and set his mug back on the table. His eyes darted around the Barth. There were others here tonight, the first time that he’d seen that since it had reopened. A couple sat along one wall, eating a plate of beef and bread, speaking quietly. Rsiran couldn’t help but check