Changed By Fire (Book 3) by D.K. Holmberg Read Free Book Online Page B

hair, she could have been twenty or forty. Tan would have believed either. “How long have you been in Ethea?”
    She laughed. “You want to know how long it took to master fire?”
    He shrugged. “Yes.”
    “I’ve known I was a fire senser since I was nearly ten. Nara is different. The land is hot and dry. But I learned to find places that were cooler, almost as if drawn to them. That was my first sign.” She looked over to the palace. “Fire sensers in Nara have a choice. Ignore it or attempt to chase it and learn to shape.”
    “Why would you want to ignore it?”
    Cianna frowned at him. “You don’t know your geography very well, do you?”
    “Galen borders Incendin the same way Nara does.”
    “Not the same way,” Cianna said. “Galen is separated from Incendin by the Gholund Mountains. Not so easy to pass through, even without the barrier. You’re protected. Not the same with Nara.”
    “Because Nara was part of Incendin?”
    “Not Incendin,” she said quickly. “Rens. And what we call Nara was a part of it.”
    Tan remembered Roine mentioning Rens when telling him about King Weston. “And Rens took part of Nara from the kingdoms.”
    Cianna nodded. “Not as stupid as you pretend,” she said with a smile. “Rens always had two different peoples. There were those who eventually came to Nara and joined the kingdoms, and those who eventually became Incendin. Irashers and Selanders. Back before Incendin existed, back when that land was still known as Rens, it was sometimes hard to tell people apart. There were similarities, but differences, too.” She smiled and touched the braid in her hair. “I’m lucky. There’s no confusing me for a Selander.”
    “And Seanan?” Tan asked. The other fire shaper didn’t look anything like Cianna.
    She nodded. “Seanan has some Selander blood. Many people in Nara do. There are still some people who believe all of Nara should rejoin with Incendin. That is why Nara is so different than Galen, even though we both share the border.”
    Tan couldn’t imagine anyone in Galen thinking they should join Incendin. “You haven’t told me when you came here.”
    Cianna snorted. “I came when I was fifteen. It was either come here and learn so I didn’t destroy myself, or risk the crossing into Incendin.”
    “People do that?”
    Her face turned serious. “Plenty of fire sensers from Nara make the journey across the border. They think that if they are to learn fire, they should learn it from those who truly serve it.”
    “Lacertin said he learned much from Incendin fire shapers,” Tan said.
    Cianna nodded. “And he’s said to be one of the most accomplished fire shapers in generations.”
    Tan studied her. “You were never curious? Never thought to cross the border to learn?”
    “I am committed to the king.”
    “That’s no answer.”
    “No? You were raised in Galen, where there are trees and grass and plentiful water. Nara is different. Hot. Sandy. Harsh. Even that is nothing compared to Incendin.”
    Tan nodded. “I’ve seen Incendin.”
    Cianna laughed. “Seen Incendin? From your side of Galen? That is nothing like the Incendin I watched growing up. There, Incendin has stunted growth, but there are still trees and water.”
    “Now who’s stupid?” Tan asked.
    Cianna glared at him.
    “I have ridden the draasin. What makes you think I haven’t visited Incendin?”
    She considered him a moment and then laughed. “Well, maybe I ambeing stupid now. Probably my turn anyway. Couldn’t let you be the only one.”
    They rode onward, Cianna continuing to follow Tan. He wondered if she had somewhere to be. He did: Amia might be able to help the king, but there was something he could do that might bring him answers.
    “So. You were in Incendin?” she asked after awhile.
    Tan smiled. As blunt as Cianna seemed, he decided he was beginning to like her. “Not intentionally.”
    She laughed again. She undid the top clasp of her leather overcoat to reveal