King of Sword and Sky by C. L. Wilson Read Free Book Online Page B

he knew, he was flat on his back with his own Fey'cha pressed against his neck, and death was glaring down at him from the eyes of the man who'd little more than a week ago been the most dreaded and feared dahl'reisen who ever lived.
    "Very sloppy indeed," Gaelen repeated softly, his tone a cold wind, his eyes lethal shards of purest ice. "Are you so eager to die?"
    Kieran froze. Part of him was sure this was yet another of Gaelen's humiliatingly effective demonstrations of how little the current generation of Fey knew of true sword mastery. Vel Serranis had pulled one of the black-handled blades from Kieran's chest straps rather than a lethal, poisoned red Fey'cha.
    Another part of Kieran feared that maybe this wasn't a lesson after all.
    "Answer me, puppy," Gaelen snapped. "Are you so eager to die?"
    "Are you?" Kiel growled with low menace.
    That was when Kieran noticed the Water master leaning over Gaelen, two red Fey'cha pressed against Gaelen's neck and belly.
    Gaelen spat out an oath, and the knife pressing against Kieran's windpipe eased back. When Kiel's blades withdrew as well, Gaelen rolled left, sprang to his feet, and glared at them both. "The Mages are at work in the north. A warrior has disappeared for days on end, and you do not know where he's been. Yet you welcome him without suspicion? You stand there like a dull-witted fool while he strips you of your own blade and threatens you with it? I ask you again, are you so eager to die?"
    He expanded his disparaging gaze to include Kiel and the dozen glowering Fey standing outside the blocking weave he'd woven when he'd lunged for Kieran. "And that goes for all of you as well. Not one of you even cleared steel from scabbard before I had a blade at your brother's throat. Vel Tomar, at least, has tolerably swift reflexes…and good instincts." The last he added with grudging approval. He nodded at the deadly red-hilted Fey'cha still gripped in each of Kiel's hands. "Red is the right choice when you suspect the threat may be real."
    Gaelen dispersed his final shield, and the surrounding Fey muttered angrily and sheathed their weapons.
    "That's a good way to get yourself killed, vel Serranis," someone called out.
    "By you lot?" Gaelen scoffed. "Not flaming likely. I'd have to be sel'dor pierced, bound, and blinded before you had the advantage. Are you the best the Fading Lands can produce? Gods save us all." Gaelen shook his head in disgust. "What is the Tairen Soul thinking to let his mate stay so long outside the Faering Mists with naught to keep her safe but a pack of untrained infants scarce weaned from the breast?"
    Kieran slapped the dust off his leathers and, scowling, caught the black Fey'cha Gaelen tossed back to him. "He was thinking to protect her family on their journey to their new home—and to give the Feyreisa as much time with them as he could before she passes through the Mists. Our scouts have been securing our path five miles in every direction. And, for your information, there have been no attacks—nor any sign of danger."
    "Have there not? How lucky for you."
    The sarcasm rubbed Kieran the wrong way. "Is this how you honor your oath to the Feyreisa?" he snapped. " 'Learn to get along,' she said, yet here you are again, taunting and attacking us. After she told you to stop."
    Gaelen's mouth opened…then shut. His eyes narrowed, and he bowed his head to acknowledge the point scored. "Sieks'ta, kem'jita'nos. You are right. She would not be pleased." His gaze became pointed. "That you started it is no excuse."
    Kieran's face froze in midsmirk.
    Kiel coughed into his hand. "He's got you there, Kieran," he muttered, which earned him a frigid glare from his friend. "Well, you did," he said, then turned to Gaelen. "Since you find our warrior skills so lacking, perhaps you could help us improve them?"
    Several of the other Fey stiffened in outrage.
    "Are you asking me to be your chatok?" A mocking lift of one black brow accompanied the question.
    Kieran