Read Chased By Fire (Book 1) for Free Online Page A

to force moisture back onto his lips.
    The corner of her mouth tilted slightly in a hint of a smile. “I’ve seen you before.” Her voice was musical and soft, though a hidden vein of steel ran through it. Someone who was accustomed to having her way.
    “You have. I’m Ephra’s son and was with her when she met with the Mother earlier today.”
    Amia closed her eyes and nodded. “You were, but that wasn’t the first.” The comment was not a question. There was an air of curiosity to what she said.
    “In the forest as well,” he acknowledged. He had forgotten the sounds of the trading around him, unable to focus on anything other than Amia.
    “You spied upon us as we traveled?”  
    “I wasn’t—” Tan sputtered. “I was tracking an animal that had killed some of our sheep.”
    “What kind of animal?”  
    Tan shook his head, remembering the unusual tracks upon the ground and the strange beasts that had trapped him in the tree. “I don’t know.”
    Disappointment swept through him when Amia frowned. She glanced from him to look back toward the mountains looming behind them, a darkness shadowed against the night. “Were you successful? Did you find your creature?”  
    “More like they found me.” When she frowned, he went on. “I followed their tracks up the mountain, following their howls.” She winced briefly as he said this and Tan wondered why. “They surrounded me, chasing me into a tree.”
    “You’re safe now.” She eyed him up and down, as if appraising a horse.
    He nodded. “I am. Something scared them off.”
    She frowned again, a sad tip of her full lips, still managing to remain beautiful. “What did you do to scare them off?”
    “I didn’t do anything. I shot arrows at them but it didn’t do any good. A gust of wind, I think, scared them.”
    “I’m surprised you were able to track them.”
    “It wasn’t easy.”  
    She shook her head and opened her mouth as if to speak, but was interrupted by the sudden appearance of three large figures slowly emerging from the shadows to hover behind Tan.
    “Minden,” one sneered, “out of your league, here, don’t you think?”
    “Lins,” Tan acknowledged.  
    Lins Alles was Lord Lind’s son and carried himself as if he were related to the king himself, bullying and taking whatever he wanted. It was unfortunate his father never disciplined him. Truth be told, few—if any—of the often cruel and just mean-spirited things he did made it to his father’s ears for discipline. Most were too scared to say anything. Tan had once made the unfortunate decision to complain about Lins to his mother who promptly spoke to Lord Lind.  
    Lins never forgave Tan for the insult, ignoring the beating that had been the impetus for Tan’s grumbling. Now Lins and his ever-present friends Rapen and Niles used every opportunity to pick on or humiliate Tan. Usually Tan had the presence of mind to steer clear of the lord’s son but occasionally he could not be avoided. He closed his eyes, wondering what humiliation Lins would think to bestow upon him tonight, and worse, in the presence of Amia.
    “Lord Lins,” Lins said proudly, turning toward the Aeta. Rapen and Niles remained silent, only grunting to note their presence.
    “Not yet,” Tan muttered, shaking his head. Maybe by that time he’d finally leave Nor. Or maybe something would happen to Lins, though that seemed too much to hope for.
    Lins glared at him and turned to Amia. He offered her a toothy smile. She tilted her head carefully and studied him. Tan felt a sudden pressure behind his ears that passed quickly before she smiled a half-smile.  
    “And you are?” Lins said.
    Amia shook her head slowly. “No one near as important.”  
    Lins laughed, a harsh and grating sound. “Nonsense.” His tone gave lie to his words. He turned his attention back to Tan, though remained facing Amia as he did. “Finish cleaning my stable, Minden?”  
    “Your father’s?”  
    “It’s the