The Child Prince (The Artifactor) by Honor Raconteur Read Free Book Online Page A

then she would give him an example of how that idea worked in the real world. He got the strangest insights to how her mind worked through those stories. He also learned far more than when he read it. No matter what she said about being a lousy teacher, she had a knack for explaining things that made the most complicated concept easy to grasp. It was just simple patience in explaining things that she lacked.
    Twelve days after being freed from his palace cell, Bellomi rose that morning, washed up quickly, snagged his swords, and headed for the training room. As he walked, he heard a loud thud knockknockknock coming from the front door. Hmmm. It couldn’t be an intruder, right? If it were, Big would have re-routed the tunnels and led them on a merry chase already. So it must be a friend?
    “Big, is Sevana going to answer that? Or should I?”
    In answer, the tunnel floor slopped slightly to the right, leading Bellomi toward the door. Apparently, he had to answer it.
    Knockknock .
    Impatient person. Or maybe someone that knew that Sevana probably wouldn’t bother to answer unless they were persistent. Bellomi pulled the door open and looked up. A man he had never seen before stood there. Handsome, well-dressed, his clothes were neat but not expensive and had no frills. If this were any other door, Bellomi would assume him to be a gentleman caller but with Sevana’s personality…well…he had a hard time picturing her flirting or having a beau.
    “Hello,” he greeted, putting on a child-like smile of innocence. Might as well play the part of “apprentice.”
    “Hello, Your Highness,” the man greeted with a bow.
    Bellomi froze, heart beating rapidly in terror. This man knows who I am. On complete instinct, he drew the twin swords strapped at his back and fell into a guard stance. “Who are you?” he demanded.
    The other man stepped back in alarm, hands raised in a pleading manner. “Whoa, whoa, I’m not here to cause trouble. I’m a friend of Sev’s.”
    His left hand started to feel a little heavy. Whoops, he hadn’t quite gotten the stance right. He shifted it into the proper guard position before asking Big, “Is that true, Big?”
    Friend , the mountain sighed.
    “Morgan Chansamone,” he offered with an extended hand.
    Well, Big knew him and he knew Sevana, so… Bellomi slid both swords home before accepting the handshake, although it felt awkward shaking a hand so much larger than his own. Morgan had a strong grip, too.
    “Bellomi Christoff Vogel braun Dragonmanovich. Call me Bel. Sevana does.”
    For some reason, this made Morgan smile dryly. “Yes, she likes to give people nicknames. It’s a bad habit of hers. I’m glad to see you here, Bel, and in one piece. Sev tends to be a little rough on people. Or maybe I should say she’s careless with them.”
    An understatement if he ever heard one. “It’s been interesting staying here,” Bellomi admitted. “But fortunately, Big’s better at communicating than a certain Artifactor. Come in, Master Morgan.”
    “Just Morgan is fine,” he assured as he stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. “We are, after all, the same age.”
    Really? They still had radically different ranks, though. Well, not that Bellomi could really claim his title at this point. He didn’t even want to, considering that it would just get him locked back up again. “Morgan, then. I believe that Sevana is in her workroom if you want to see her.”
    “Ah…no, that’s not why I’m here.” Morgan shot a nervous look in the direction of the workroom. That expression said a great deal—he definitely knew Sevana well enough to know that going anywhere near that room put a man’s life in jeopardy. “I actually came to see you. I just wanted to make sure you arrived and were still safe. It’s…ah…challenging living here. I should know, as I’ve stayed here a time or two.”
    And the man had survived to tell the tale? That was heartening.
    The door to Sevana’s