Fire And Ice (Book 1) by Wayne Krabbenhoft III Read Free Book Online Page A

hammer on steel, a boy emerged from another wearing blue livery, with a small sun sewn on the left breast and took the reins of his horse.  The livery was too large for him and hung loosely from the shoulders.  Coran swung to the ground, grabbed his bags from behind the saddle, including the wrapped bundle, and walked towards the welcoming doors of the palace.  He took the steps before the open doorway two at a time and entered a high vaulted entry hall.  White columns lined each side of the hall; doors to other parts of the palace were set between them.  A skinny, sharp-nosed and gray-haired man was walking across the hall when he stopped cold at the sight of Coran.
                  “Coran?” the aged Herrith asked.  He was the man who saw to the day to day business of running the kingdom, much like Kirsire in Tyelin.  He would receive the reports of expenses and income, legal disputes and anything else that was necessary to know.  They would handle the mundane matters, only reporting to their Lords on what course they took.  Otherwise, they brought forward only important matters.  Coran knew that without Kirsire’s efficient skills at organization and prioritizing he would have been at a loss.  To do such a job himself would have left him with time for nothing else.  “It is you,” Herrith said as he came closer.  “It is good to see you again.  I know the palace has not been the same without you.”
                  “It is good to be back,” Coran agreed truthfully.  “Do you happen to know where my father is?”
                  The old man nodded.  “He is with the King in his Majesty’s study.”
                  “And the others?” 
    Herrith smiled.  “If you mean their Highnesses, the King’s daughters, they could still be in their rooms, or they might be out in the garden, since it is such a nice day.”
                  “Thank you, Master Herrith.”
                  He left Herrith and continued down the hall.  He wanted to see the girls, but it would be more proper to see his father first.  He went up a flight of stairs and rounded a stone corner.  About halfway down the hall a guard stood at attention beside a dark wooden door.  Coran slowed from his eager pace and approached the guard.
                  “Coran Tyelin to see my father,” he announced himself.
                  The guard stuck his head in the door and spoke briefly with someone inside before motioning Coran to enter.  Stemis sat behind his cluttered oak desk in a red shirt and open coat.  Oran stood off to one side, his back straight and his chin high as always.
                  “Coran!” the King exclaimed.  “I am glad you are here.  Oran here was going to send a message to you tomorrow.”
                  Coran raised one eyebrow at his father. 
                  “You were requested to attend her Highness’s birthday celebration,” Oran reported evenly.  Then a thin smile spread on his lips.  “But I missed you too.”
                  “We all did,” Stemis added.  “I am glad you came here first, but we can talk about things later.  If my daughters found out that I kept you from them I wouldn’t hear the end of it.  So you had better go and find them.  That is, unless you saw them already?”
                  “I came to see my father first.” 
                  “Of course, I should have known with your sense of duty.  It was inherited from your father.”  Stemis looked fondly at his oldest friend.  “Now you should go.”  He waved his hand towards the door. 
    “Father?” Coran asked respectfully for permission to leave.
                  “Go on,” Oran told him.  “If you think those girls would be any easier on me you are wrong.”
                    He needed no further urging and