Read A Thread of Time: Firesetter, Book 1 for Free Online Page A

filled with colors,
although I couldn’t say which ones. 
    “He won’t die in outer space,” my cousin
replied thoughtfully, a small smile tugging at his lips.  “Do not fear for it
shan't be the last time you see your brother.  He is doing what he is called to
do.”
    I nodded.  I liked when Amyr spoke as if
the future was written and displayed before his eyes.  He always smiled when he
did this, which made me think the future wouldn’t be so bad.
    “What am I called to do?”
    “Play chess with me,” Amyr declared,
reaching for the ancient marble set stored on a tray beneath his chair.  Uncle
had carried it home one day, saying it was brought to him by a man who claimed
to have received it from the Duke of Turko. 
    “He said it once belonged to the Great
Emperor,” Uncle had cried excitedly.  “See here the Imperial Signet stamped
upon the bottom of each piece.”
    “Can you see it, Amyr?” I had asked,
holding the white queen close to his strange eyes. 
    “I see it.”  Amyr smiled, but I didn’t
believe him because his eyes were closed.
     
    “Aw,” I moaned then as he began to set up
the board, for I was none too pleased to be invited to play this game. 
Although given the choice of returning to my weeping mother or remaining here,
my options were both poor.  “Alright, but where is the black king and white
queen?  We are missing two very important pieces, cousin.”
    “I gave them to Taul before he left.  We
can use salt and pepper shakers instead.” 
    “Amyr,” my aunt interrupted, fortunately
for me.  “Jan isn't here to entertain you.  She has fish to catch.  Work to
do.  Unlike you, Jan has no free time.” 
    Auntie was working a fine cloth, something
shiny and satiny that belonged to a rich lady.  It rustled between her fingers
and reflected light across the room.  I imagined a dress made of this material,
briefly envisioning how it might appear on me, before brushing that thought
aside.  That was something I would never wear.
    “And, I have nothing but free time,” Amyr
agreed.  “Endless hours to sit and think.  But, it is raining and Jan doesn't
like fishing in the rain.  Furthermore, the wind will come up to ruin her sail
and rock her boat.  Go get the shakers, Jan.  I’m setting the board so you will
be white.”
    “It's not raining,” I said, nodding toward
the window where long, dirty streaks made the blue sky look as if it was dark
and gray.  “But, Auntie is right.  I am busy.”
    In truth, I hated playing chess with
Amyr.  Despite my best efforts, he always won.  Occasionally, he would let me
get close by capturing a rook, a knight, and several pawns.  Once or twice, he
even let me capture his queen, giving me false hope, making me believe that I
might survive.  Then, in a blink of an eye, he had my king locked in a deadly
trap. 
    Amyr smiled and shrugged a little, just as
thunder clapped overhead.  Giant splatters of rain pinged against the filthy
window. 
    “You see?  It is a poor day to be out in a
boat.”
    “I promised my mother I would clean the
house.  She has taken to her bed in sorrow over Taul’s departure.  I’m sorry,
Amyr.  Perhaps, we can play another time?”
    “Perhaps.”  He yawned and closed his eyes,
absolving my guilty conscience for he was tired.
    “Embo is acting ridiculous,” Aunt Ailana
declared.  “Your mother's theatrics are exactly that.  But, go on, Jan.  Amyr
doesn't need you.  He can play chess against himself just as well.  It's a pity
his eyesight is too poor to stitch, else he could sit here and earn a coin the
same as me.”
    “Now, you know why my eyesight is poor,”
my cousin teased lightly, in between another yawn.  His eyes closed, and his
long dark lashes created a fan across his cheek.  “When the angels asked if I
should like to see, but in exchange I must stitch and sew, I promptly refused
their generous offer, and chose to be helpless instead.”
    “Oh Amyr,” my auntie