Everflame by Dylan Peters Read Free Book Online Page B

had had enough of his own thoughts and decided he’d like to hear of his son’s day. He looked over at the young man, his long, matted hair hanging around his bare shoulders. Evercloud wore leather pants and shoes but the bears hadn’t seen the use for anything else during warm weather.
    “Evercloud, what is it that happened today that made you ask about your name earlier?”
    “Oh, nothing much. Riverpaw and I were having a discussion about names earlier, and I realized that I didn’t know how I had received mine. I think that I had always assumed that it was because my skin is pale compared to a bear’s fur, like the clouds are paler than the sky. But after Wintersun said it was because I had clouds for brains, Riverpaw and I began thinking on it.”
    “Why would Wintersun say that of you?”
    “Only because I had told him that his true name was Fishface.”
    “And why would you do that?”
    “Because he had said that Riverpaw played johnball like a female. Which was only Wintersun being sore, as Riverpaw and I had just won a match against he and Redcoat.”
    Eveneye chuckled heartily.
    “I’m glad to see you getting on so well with your friends.”
    Evercloud smiled and climbed to his feet.
    “Father, I’ve been meaning to ask if you and Uncle Whiteclaw might teach Riverpaw and I to night fish sometime? We are both very eager to learn.”
    “So it would seem,” s aid Whiteclaw as he entered the room. “Riverpaw just asked me an hour ago. I told him yes, on the condition that the two of you continue to achieve high marks in your studies.”
    “Of course, U ncle. Thank you.”
    “All right, now run and tell your mother that the King is needed for an emergency meeting and it might take a while.”
    “Yes , Uncle.” Evercloud said his goodbyes and then left the room.
    “Emergency meeting?” asked Eveneye.
    “Yes, I have the rest of the advisors assembled. We shouldn’t waste time.”
    Eveneye rose to his feet and followed Whiteclaw down the tower steps. He knew what this meeting would be about. Eveneye had been expecting this for some time. His advisors were going to demand action on the plan for peace, or at least a timetable. Eveneye didn’t want to think about it. So, as he and Whiteclaw made their way to the advising room, he figured that he would lighten the mood with talk of their sons. Whiteclaw had married soon after the ritual, and he and his wife, Autumnbreeze, had given birth to Riverpaw not long after.
    “Did you hear? Our boys won a johnball match today.”
    “No, but I can’t say I’m surprised.”
    “Yes, I should send a gift to Wintersun’s and Redcoat’s fathers for teaching their sons to be good sportsmen and taking it easy on a lesser opponent. My boy is lucky to have such kind friends.”
    Whiteclaw looked at his friend in confusion.
    “Eveneye, when was the last time you watched your son play johnball?”
    “Well,” he hesitated, “I suppose that it has been a while. Why?”
    “Well, first off, your boy is as large and capable a man as I have ever seen. Should he walk into a human village right now, they just might mistake him for a bear. Secondly, I assure you, no one is taking it easy on him. He is a very good player.”
    Eveneye beamed.
    “Well, I’ll have to make some time to see him play.”
    The bears had reached their destination and entered the room. All the advisors were seated around the table and Eveneye and Whiteclaw took their places. Eveneye didn’t wait for someone else to begin.
    “All right, I already know what this is about, and I have to say that I would ask you to have a little more faith in my ability to know when the time is right. I–”
    “Er, Your Highness,” interjected Oaktongue, a small , brown bear with a nasally voice, “I don’t think that this meeting is about what you think it’s about.”
    “Yes,” added Forestmoon, “ this meeting has been called to address a rumor that has been coming from outside of the