The Darathi Vorsi Prince (Song of the Swords Book 0) by Tameri Etherton Read Free Book Online Page A

your plaything, and the sooner you realize this, the better for everyone .” The stirrings of his ShantiMari warmed Rhoan e’ s blood. H e’ d not let himself use his power since he left the vier. The image of his mother engulfed in flames had been enough to pacify him, but now, he embraced the darkness that swirled within.
    “ My laird ,” one of the guards said, warning Amdi of Rhoan e’ s growing need to release his fury ,“ he calls on the elements . ”
    “ You dare call forth your power before me, boy ?” Flames lit upon Amd i’ s palms, and for a brief moment, Rhoane hesitated.
    A fight in the arena was one thing, but a ShantiMari battle against the armed Ullan could be suicide. Yet if he backed down now, he suspected Amdi would never let him leave.
    “ I do. For nine moonturns, you have deprived me of freedom. You have abused my trust, my faith, and my position. I have allowed this. Not because I respect you, but because I hated myself. In those long days of solitude, I found something in me I never expecte d— hope .” Rhoane released his power in a rush .“ There is a reason I chose Ulla when I first left the vier. At the time, I did not see the purpose, only my own misery. But you have taught me to be a warrior of the mind and body. Let me be a part of your tribe, so that we might be allies, not enemies . ”
    Amdi considered him with cold, calculating eyes. Children ran past, shrieking in excitement after some game the y’ d been playing. The bleating of sheep drifted over the tents. A lifetime passed in the few moments it took Amdi to make his decision. When his dark eyes softened, Rhoane breathed out a heavy sigh.
    “ You will fight once more in the arena ,” Amdi said .“ If you win, you may live among us without restrictions . ”
    Ferra n’ s bells, the man was exhausting. Still he abused Rhoan e’ s patience .“ I can leave whenever I choose ? ”
    “ With the pick of our finest stallions .” Amd i’ s wry smile cracked the tight skin of his burnished face.
    “ And I can see Kaleigh as often as necessary ? ”
    Amd i’ s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.
    “ She is not m y Darennsa i , Your Majesty. I will not endanger the prophecy by bedding your woman . ”
    “ If you survive tonight ,” the chief said ,“ you will earn your freedom as my guest, and not a subject . ”
    Rhoane touched his thumb to his heart and gave a heartfelt thanks to the man. He did n’ t like the ominous edge to Amd i’ s tone and suspected the nigh t’ s fight would be far more brutal than h e’ d experienced thus far, but the promise of freedom was too rich to pass up.
     

     
    A QUARTER bell into the fight, Rhoane was seriously thinking death woul d’ ve been an easier option. His opponent, a titan the likes of which Rhoane suspected had given more than one man nightmares, had entered the arena with all the swagger and confidence of a man wh o’ d already won. He turned slowly in a broad circle, waving to the crowd, enticing them to cheers that rent the evening sky. Rhoane stared dumbly at the man, certain Amdi had planned this from the moment Rhoane arrived at the encampment.
    And Rhoane had played right into his deception. Accepted the challenge blindly, without any terms or conditions for the fight. H e’ d been a fool, and now he was going to die a horrible, painful, inglorious death.
    The beast of a man roared, and fresh cheers pierced Rhoan e’ s sensitive hearing. His left eye bled from a vicious punch the man had given him, and his lip was split. His head rang from the blow, and his vision blurred.
    Rhoan e , Verdaine whispered in his mind , you can best him. You are young and agile. You are Eler i .
    He drew strength from the fact his goddess had not abandoned him. All those days without anyone for company, and nights spent in battle either with an opponent or one of Amd i’ s women, had him doubting his sanity and believing the Eleri had forsaken him.
    You will one day lead us to a