The Hungering Flame by Andrew Hunter Read Free Book Online Page A

serve my call, and I challenge the King of Astorra to... to a friendly competition. The one who kills the most Chadiri by the solstice wins the honor of the hunt. ”
    A smile spread slowly across Cabre’s face, and he nodded in assent.
    “ I pledge your father a hundred eternal servants if he wins, ” Cenick said. “ and, if I win... ” Cenick chuckled. “ If I win, I’d like permission to commission a piece from Madame Olipres. ”
    “ The seamstress? ” Cabre asked.
    “ She is the finest tailor in the world today, ” Cenick said, “ Only kings and nobles wear her cloth. ”
    Cabre shrugged. “ I’ll put it to my father, ” he said, “ I can’t promise he’ll listen, but thank you. ”
    Cenick nodded. He looked at Garrett. “ I think it would be best if you and Warren escorted the prince back to his homeland. ”
    “ But I want to stay and help! ” Garrett said, “ I’m old enough now. I can fight too! ”
    Cenick put his hand on Garrett 's shoulder . “ I know, Garrett, ” he said, “ I’m not sending you away. I’m sending you on a mission. I think the prince has a chance of convincing the Astorrans to join the battle with us. It is vital that he make it home. With Warren’s nose and your wits, you can get him there. ”
    Garrett nodded, feeling a little ashamed. “ Yeah, ” he said.
    “ Good, ” Cenick said . He faced the prince and offered his hand. “ May we meet again on the field. ”
    Cabre grasped his hand. “ Until then, ” he said.
    ****
    “ I want you to take Ghausse and Hauskr with you, ” Marla said. She knelt alongside Garrett in the tent, helping him to pack his supplies for the journey.
    “ You could come with us, if you want, ” Garrett said.
    She looked at him, a tense smile on her lips. Then her eyes fell. “ I can’t, ” she said, folding a shirt a bit too aggressively .
    Jitlowe had offered several of his spare shirts for Garrett’s kit. Garrett would have to roll up the sleeves to wear them, but at least they would not fall off his shoulders. Cenick, far too large of frame to loan the boy any clothing, had given him a watertight leather pouch containing stone, steel, and tender for starting fires. Garrett wore it inside his belt, next to his skin as the older necromancer had instructed.
    “ I’m sorry if I got you in trouble, ” Garrett said.
    She smiled. “ I went with you because I wanted to, Garrett, ” she said, “ and, anyway, now I get to ride a gaunt. ”
    “ Really? ” Garrett said. He disliked the very thought of the faceless, winged creatures that the vampires used as flying mounts, but Marla wanted more than anything to ride one.
    “ Yes, ” she said, her eyes sparkling, “ Master Krauss wants me to learn, in case... ”
    “ What? ”
    “ Well, in case we have to leave in a hurry, ” Marla said.
    “ Oh, ” Garrett said.
    “ I’d send Reigha with you too, ” she said, “ but she still doesn’t like boys. ”
    Garrett laughed.
    Marla tucked the last of the folded clothes into Garrett’s pack and cinched it closed. She sat back with her hands on her knees. She wore the same gray coveralls she wore when working in the pet shop back in Wythr. She met Garrett’s gaze and then looked away with a shy smile.
    “ Marla, ” Garrett said.
    “ Yes? ”
    “ I... thank you, ” Garrett said. He paused before speaking again, “ We wouldn’t have made it this far without you... I don’t want to leave you here. I don’t want to leave you... ever. ”
    Marla’s eyes lifted. “ I... ”
    “ I mean... I don’t know, ” Garrett shook his head, “ I don’t know what I’m saying. ”
    She reached out and took his hand. His heart ached that he could not feel her touch through the dead white skin on the backs of his hands.
    “ I’m glad you lost your gloves, ” she said, “ I like it better when you aren’t trying to hide from me. ”
    He smiled, silently cursing his cowardice for wearing the hood. The scars on his hands were one