Ice Burns by Charity Ayres Read Free Book Online Page A

the idea. She doubted the guard’s methods of removal would be little more than attempted target practice.
    Chandra was hesitant to try to coax the bird. It had settled itself in a very relaxed posture on the window and, despite the little trepidation she had with having a wild creature so near, the bird’s presence was so unique in her unchanging life. She found herself in awe of its stark beauty and the intelligence in its eyes.
    Chandra moved the chair and settled herself to one side of the table. She shifted her meal and books over before lighting the lantern on her wardrobe. Her appetite did not encourage her, so Chandra found herself looking at the plate for a long moment before picking at the meal. She looked up and saw the bird still watching her from its new roost and wondered if it was hungry. That might explain the odd behavior and the fact that it had found its way to her room. Maybe the smell of the food had somehow drawn it over.
    She made a face at the meal and doubted the smell would bring anything but flies. Chandra chewed the idea for a moment before she tossed half of the fish toward the hawk. It landed with a wet plop on the floor not far from the window ledge where the bird resided. The creature cocked its head at her in question. Chandra found herself mirroring the bird's reaction by cocking her head back.
    "It's not poisoned, as far as I know," she murmured, mindful of the guard outside of her room. "Please eat. I’m sure you’re hungry." The hawk seemed to nod in reply before it jumped down to eat. Chandra had expected him to ravage the flesh, but the bird ate daintily. She wondered if maybe it wasn't hungry or if the fish was that bad.
    Thinking about the wet sound the fish made when it hit the floor, she was inclined to agree. Chandra had never cared for the salted fish eaten at the estate. You could always tell when Master was away by the quality of the food. Chandra flopped a bit of the meat back down on the plate and sighed.
    “If you would prefer some bread or cheese instead, you are welcome to them,” she told the hawk as she pushed her plate away and leaned back in her chair. She eyed the book and parchment wondering if she could do something to appease Master when he returned.
    The table rocked loudly with a sudden movement, and Chandra fell backward in her chair. The hawk landed on the table but ate nothing. He, she decided it must be a he with the beautiful, full plumage, walked across the wooden surface to look over the edge at her.
    Keek keek.
    "I'm all right," she told him and rubbed at where her backside had hit the floor. She stood slowly, and the bird backed up a bit on the table. She eyed the creature and shook her head at the momentary notion that the bird could understand what she said and picked up the hated book. She eyed it in the same way she would have a slug on her shoe and shifted it from hand to hand while watching the hawk as he now ignored her to neaten his feathers.
    He was a gorgeous bird. The light from the lantern caused his white and silver feathers to glow. Several shades of white reflected the light and Chandra realized that there was no such thing as simple white but varying shades of white mixed with different grays, silver, and even blue. She imagined that if she were able to hold a massive snowflake in her hands that the bird would be the same frost white colors.
    "I don't know how long you plan to stay or if you're only visiting, but I'm going to name you Frostwhite, if that's okay with you," she spoke in a low tone, not wanting the guard or Andre to come in the room and see the hawk. Of course, she reasoned, if they hadn't come in when she fell over in her chair or when Frostwhite landed on the table, it wasn't likely they were going to bother even if they heard her screaming about someone killing her.
    Frostwhite didn't acknowledge her words but instead continued to rake at his feathers with his beak and then smooth them over. Chandra was reminded of how