Salome at Sunrise by Inez Kelley Read Free Book Online

“Let the king know about Gamot’s idiocy. Hold nothing back. Tell him where I head and what you told me. Tell him Myla’s little present doesn’t change a thing. Tell him…in chess, the rook falls and the king stands alone.”
    Nudging Jester toward the south, he dug in his heels and left them without a wave. Once clear, with the road before him and brilliant cloudless blue stretching from mountain to mountain, he gave the horse freedom to run. The thundering hooves ate into the soft earth, churning up clods of dirt and grass. Bryton hunched, weighted himself in the stirrups and pulled his rump from the saddle, letting the mount fly. Powerful muscles thrummed in a furious gait, the moist horseflesh gleaming in the sunshine. Wind, from his speed and not from a magic spell, whipped his hair and stung his eyes. The familiar heavy press of his sword to his back bounced and jarred. Nothing touched the empty void in his heart.
    A flutter of color flickered in the corner of his eye. Beside him, at a height even with his head, Salome flew. Sun dappled on her feathers. The tiny head cocked, caught his gaze and her neck elongated. Bryton spurred Jester faster. They raced, neck and gullet, feather and nose. Every downbeat of her wings sent a charge through him. Spittle and lather foamed at Jester’s bit and still Bryton pushed on. The animal stretched its head and summoned a burst of energy that pulled him ahead. The wide flaring nostrils blew noisily and Bryton grinned.
    Salome snapped her wings and shot like an arrow straight ahead by a good twenty yards. Swallowing defeat, nearly as winded as his mount, Bryton tugged the reins and dropped back to his seat. He allowed the horse to slow naturally from gallop to canter to trot to a walk then to a wheezing standstill. Salome circled and dipped above him.
    “All right, you won,” Bryton grumbled, although he wasn’t really surprised or irritated. “I don’t like talking to a bird. Give the feathers a rest.”
    The falcon pitched at a steep angle, spread her wings wide and coasted to a landing just in front of him. A cloud of lilac appeared, then the woman turned and smiled. “I liked that.”
    “Flying or racing?”
    “Both.”
    A noncommittal sound growled in his chest as he climbed down. “You’re fast, I’ll grant you that.”
    “I am. Much faster than you, but that is nature. You are stronger.”
    Bryton strolled, cooling his mount as an itch settled into his blood. He needed movement. Salome fell in step with him, her tiny hands clasped lightly in front of her.
    “How’s your hand?”
    “All is well, see?” A delicate palm thrust in front of his face, stopping him abruptly. She was pushy for a little thing. He turned her hand over to examine the backs of her fingers. Not a scar or bruise marred the slender digits.
    “Good,” he murmured, dropping her hand.
    Dust and pollen kicked up as he strode along the pathway. Salome kept pace, her eyes darting left and right, from insect to plant, flower to weed. Scarcely harnessed energy vibrated from her. A rabbit scurried out of a hole and hopped across their path. A laugh trailed as she ran after it for a few paces before something else caught her attention. She squatted, tucking her silk gown between her knees and peered into the grasses. Lightning fast, her hand shot out and grabbed a small garter snake. She held her prize high, a smile curling her lips wide. The snake flickered its tongue and squirmed in her hand. Those uninjured fingers caressed the shiny skin before she released it back to the ground.
    “You shouldn’t pick up snakes. Some are harmless, others aren’t.”
    Sunshine sparkled on her chiton, the hue glowing more golden than orange as she stood. “Nature cannot harm me.”
    “It can’t?”
    “No. I am a windsinger. The rhythm of nature fuels my blood and my magic.”
    She matched her gait to his, skipping a step or two and trying to move in tandem. His legs were too long. A frustrated frown