Prince of Storms by Kay Kenyon Read Free Book Online

in the air. It bounced onto the ground cover, where the child raced to fetch it.
    He was so young that he still ran like he would fall over any minute. Dressed in a long tunic with his hair cropped close, he was too focused on the ball to notice Sen Ni’s approach. He squatted down to pick up the ball once more, and then tossed it with a heave of his arm. She watched him, finally ascending the gazebo stairs to take a seat on the bench inside.
    With jerky strides the boy pursued the ball into a tangle of vines. Once found, the ball flew out of the boy’s hands again. This time it landed in the gazebo, rolling under the bench. He spun around, looking.
    â€œTiejun!” came a voice in the distance. “Tiejun!”
    Now the boy saw Sen Ni, and at the same time, the ball that had come to rest near her feet.
    â€œTiejun!”
    Sen Ni picked up the ball and held it out to him. “Here it is.”
    The child stood soldier-still, considering her. Then he took a step toward the gazebo, his face suggesting that this interloper was something of a thief.
    She rolled the ball across the floor toward him.
    Just as he was about to pounce on it, a servant burst into the clearing, spying her quarry. “Tiejun! You are so bad a child!” She stalked forward and swept him up.
    She noticed a woman in the gazebo. “Oh! Is that you, Yali?” Then, seeing her mistake, she quickly bowed. “Mistress, pardon!”
    â€œNo harm. Tiejun was entertaining me.”
    The servant misjudged Sen Ni’s mood, hastening to explain. “He ran and we tried to find him, but he wouldn’t sleep…and this ball, we’ve had no end of trouble with the ball and then—”
    Sen Ni stopped her with a wave. “Your name?”
    â€œLing, Mistress.”
    â€œWell then, Ling, let him run free when you can. The children should play as much as possible, yes?” Sen Ni approached the nurse and child, holding out the toy. “Here, Tiejun. But bedtime now. Tomorrow, throwing again.”
    The boy took the ball, not smiling, but eyes more forgiving now that she had not kept his prize.
    That’s right, small boy. Do not trust too easily.
    â€œMy sister.” A voice from behind.
    Geng De had come into the clearing. “Here is a small party, escaped from the larger one.”
    â€œYes,” Sen Ni said. “We’ve been throwing a ball.”
    On hearing the word ball , Tiejun thrust his fat fists in the air, holding the ball in two hands.
    â€œSen Ni is good to give you the ball, young one.” Geng De flicked a glance at Ling. “Is she not?”
    â€œYes, Master Navitar.” Ling’s demeanor was now all formality, with two personages catching her in the errant duty of containing Tiejun.
    â€œIt was your mistress who made the orphanage and bid the children come. Remember to tell those you see.” He turned to Tiejun. “Can you say ‘Sen Ni’?”
    The boy solemnly stared. “Sen Ni,” Geng De repeated.
    â€œHe has few words yet, Master,” Ling said.
    â€œOh? I am not used to children. Do they not talk from the start? I did. But no matter; it was the Nigh that taught me.”
    Sen Ni waved Ling away, and the two figures disappeared into the shadows of the garden.
    â€œThe people love you for the children’s sake,” Geng De said, watching Tiejun and the nurse depart.
    â€œThat’s not why I wanted the orphanage.”
    â€œIt’s why I thought of it.”
    The youngsters’ parents had been slaughtered by the lords in the midst of the city. Some of them fell before their own children’s eyes. “You have no heart, Geng De.”
    â€œNo. Is it good to have one?” He sounded like he wanted to know.
    It gave her pause. “I’m not sure.” When had having a heart ever given her anything but the most exquisite pain?
    Oh Riod , she thought. Tomorrow’s journey would take her to him. If things