Earth & Sky by Kaye Draper Read Free Book Online

father and Winona left the room with his guards, I
made my way to the kitchen.  Most of the servants had already eaten, but a few
lingered around the big wooden table that took up one end of the massive room. 
The smells wafting from the kitchen were delicious, and I followed my nose.  My
stomach rumbled loudly as I entered.
     “I don’t think you growl that loud when you’re furry and
four-footed,” Logan called from the table.
    I crossed the room and pulled up a barstool, scoping out
what was left on the serving trays.  Pulling a half-empty tray of meat toward
myself, I gave him a warning look.  “You try standing around while everyone
else is stuffing their face and see if your stomach doesn’t growl.”  I gestured
at my harness, cinched tight over my narrow waist.  “Look at me, I’m wasting
away!”
    Logan rolled his eyes, and the cook snorted.  The big man
pulled a tray of bread off the counter and slid it and a crock of fresh butter
onto the table next to me.  He gave Logan a warning look.  “Only an idiot picks
on a hungry wolf.”
    I nodded and swallowed a mouthful of warm, homemade
bread.  “You should really listen to him Logan,” I said.  “One day you’re going
to end up wolf-chow.”  I bared my teeth.
    He only shook his brown head.  “I’m a wolf too, you
know.”  Though, in actuality he was a mixed breed, wolf and coyote.  He looked
up suddenly.  “That reminds me- my mom still wants to meet you, Wren.  Come
home with me this weekend.  She bakes a mean peach pie.”
    I wrangled a bite of bread into my mouth before the melted
butter could run down my chin.  “Why do you always want to take me home with
you?”  I asked around a mouthful.
    Logan rubbed the back of his neck, a dusky color creeping
up from his chest.  I paused and started at him.  “Ah, Logan- you don’t have a
crush on me or something?”
    He dropped his hand in alarm.  “What?  Are you crazy?  No
way!”  The cook snorted.
    I eyed Logan suspiciously, as I dug into the leftover
stew.  He was younger than I was, but fiercely protective.  “Look,” he said
defensively.  “We’ve been friends for years.  She asks about you, so I just thought
it would be nice if you two could meet.”  He threw up his hands in
exasperation.  “Besides, it would do you some good to get away from here and
out of Winona’s shadow for a few days.”
    I swallowed.  “Sorry, no can do,” I informed him.  “I have
training with the new martial arts instructor, and field strategy drills all
weekend.  Maybe I could come visit Sunday afternoon?” 
    He slid off his stool and shook his head.  “There won’t be
time.  She lives in Ardus- that’s way out west- almost into Fallen lands.  You
wouldn’t get back here in time for drills on Monday.”
    I shrugged, all my concentration on stacking thick slices
of beef between two rolls.  “Maybe next time.”
    Logan headed for the exit.  “I mean it,” he said
seriously.  “You need to take a break once in a while, get out, see the world. 
This isn’t healthy.”
    I waved him away and squished my sandwich flat so that it
would fit in my mouth.  “I’m fine.  I have duties here.”  There was no such
thing as a break.

Chapter 5
    A mist of rain hazed the mirror grey sky, and mud squelched up through the lush
green grass beneath my boots.  I knelt to place the bouquet of pale lavender
irises on the base of the tall marbled headstone. 
    “Hello mom,” I whispered, ignoring the dampness soaking
into the knees of my supple leather pants.  “Happy Birthday.”
     I breathed deep, filling myself with the pungent,
rain-scented air.  Reaching out, I ran my fingertips over the smooth curve of
stone, then down across the bumps that outlined the dates of such a short
life.  I barely had any memory of her, just vague memories of a comforting hand
and a rich alto voice singing me to sleep.  She had been murdered when I was
three years old, at the