Read Finder: First Ordinance, Book One for Free Online Page A

the reckless gallop through the streets of Lironis. Ten would-be assassins had been left empty-handed—there would be no terrible news to cry through the streets come daybreak.
    As frozen as I was, I went to Runner and Midnight both, stroking foreheads gently before going with Rodrik to the palace. Both horses knew of my gratitude before I left them, and both were willing to do it again if I asked.
    * * *
    Amlis was just as bleary-eyed when he rose as if he'd done what his older brother believed—spent the night in a brothel. Timblor teased him over it, too, at breakfast. Brin poured tea for Timblor and cut his meat, tasting it before serving it to the Heir.
    Amlis had to resort to asking a servant to do the same—I would not touch the ham that lay on his plate for anything. I, too, felt the effects of a long night and short sleep, but I forced myself to pay attention as Timblor made his brother the butt of his jokes.
    "We were to hunt today, brother. You should be thankful the snow is preventing it. I fear you would have made a poor showing; Runner would have left you behind, I think."
    Rodrik grimaced at Timblor's words as he cut into his own breakfast, but as Amlis' man-at-arms, Timblor paid him little mind. In truth, I worried that Timblor's remark was a dig at Amlis for Runner's apparent waywardness the night before, and Amlis' failure to keep the horse in hand.
    Was Timblor having his brother watched? I suspected several of being behind the thwarted ambush, but Timblor didn't have the sense to be so devious. Amlis wisely kept his silence and continued to eat.
    A knock came on Amlis' door later in the day, while Amlis was sleeping extra hours and Rodrik was at blade practice with some of the twelve men who'd traveled with the Prince from Vhrist. Schooling my face to hide my reluctance to allow Yevil into the Prince's suite, I motioned for him to make himself comfortable and offered wine from a carafe before knocking on the Prince's bedroom door. Yevil refused wine but studied me beneath hooded eyes as I went through the motions.
    "What is it, Finder?" Amlis muttered as I peered timidly inside his bedroom door. The window drapes shut out most of the light, leaving the room in near darkness. I pointed behind me, hoping that Amlis would determine that he had a guest. There was no way I'd send Yevil Orklis away; the man held too much power, and I'd seen him kill in the past.
    "Ah, Lord Orklis," Amlis didn't pretend that he'd not been sleeping, letting the King's right hand know immediately by politely covering a yawn. "What might I do for you?" Amlis added carelessly, as if Yevil held no importance at all.
    "Your father requests your presence at the table tonight," Yevil replied stiffly, the same vein I'd witnessed before throbbing in his neck. He was angry—no doubt about that. I wondered briefly if Yevil thought to have the same importance he now held when Timblor took the throne, but squelched that thought quickly before my talent kicked in and let me know exactly how things could be. A two-edged sword, my talent sometimes was, often revealing things I'd rather not know.
    "Of course I will come," Amlis nodded to Yevil, never once taking his eyes away from the King's assassin. I imagined that Yevil had been somewhere in the mix the night before, whether he'd planned the ambush or not.
    "I will inform the King." Yevil couldn't get away from Amlis fast enough, leaving the door to the suite open behind him. I closed it quietly after listening for Yevil's fading footsteps down the lengthy hall.
    "Have you wondered about the suite across the hall?" Amlis stifled another yawn as he lifted an egg-shaped sculpture from a delicate table just inside his door. The egg looked to be made of green marble, a precious commodity in Fyris. Little of it was found on the small continent—I'd read that in one of my books. I shrugged slightly at Amlis' question.
    "You make me want to laugh, your reactions are so neutral," Amlis actually