Read Heart Song for Free Online

It tends to bring him more trouble than he cares to deal with. But you should know he's quite the opposite.”
    I raised an eyebrow. Maybe that was the point of this morning's routine. “Uh huh. Was that the point of the duels?”
    “It was to gauge your ability to wield a sword.”
    “Why is that important?” He ignored me. “If you’re impressed with that, just wait till you see what I can do with a bow.” It was meant to be bitter and sarcastic.
    “Marren will be pleased to hear of more abilities.”
    I’d had enough of the coy banter. I needed some real information. “Okay, that's enough.” I stopped in the middle of the road.
    Enid paused in his walking to turn and face me. “Is there a problem?”
    “Yes, there is. I'm spinning my mind trying to figure out what is going on here and for the life of me I can't! As soon as I get one theory down, there is another one that completely replaces it. Why is my ability to fight such an important need?”
    “Your questions are best kept for Marren.”
    “Wonderful,” I spat, throwing my hands up into the air and stomping forward.
    The top of a small stone house came into view just as we climbed the crest of a hill. The roof was made from twigs and straw. Behind it, just a short jaunt away, was another small hut with black smoke billowing from the chimney.  The sound of a rhythmic clank- tink floated on the air.
    “Raden,” Enid called out, “we have need of your service.”
    In response, a short man with a long beard and hair pulled back, strutted out from the smoking building. His skin and clothing were covered in a fine black dust. I nearly gasped when I realized he looked exactly like the dwarf statue in the room with the weapons—only not made of stone, w earing armor, or wielding an ax .
    “Ne'er seen a dwarf before, have ye?” His bright green eyes twinkled under the layers of soot that covered his face.
    I shook my head and stammered, “N-no, sorry, I thought the stories were all myths.”
    “N o worries, lass. Ye 'll soon discover there are things about the world ye live in that the books didn't cover.” He winked at me and held out his arms for the sword. I handed it to him, and watched as he turned and started for the small building he came out of. From that angle, I saw that his hair was not only covered in black soot but was black. I felt my mouth gaping open and forced myself to close it.
    “Marren would like for you to bring it back once you are done. Don't sharpen it, A'lainn wants to do that.”
    The dwarf paused long enough to turn around and say, “It'll be a while. Y e really dinted the girl.”
    “Why is the sword considered a girl?” I asked Enid.
    He shrugged with his arms crossed over his chest. “Everything has an essence. That one seems to like being handled like a woman...” Enid started walking along the road back towards Marren's marble palace.
    “Oh really?” I asked sarcastically. “And how exactly does a woman like to be held? Because, I have yet to meet one that likes to be smacked against another repeatedly.”
    He continued walking without a word. I followed behind, more slowly, taking as much time as was stubbornly possible.

4
Forgotten Secrets
     
    I stepped into the corridor, my mind preoccupied with trying to figure out the puzzle my life had become. As I made my way to my room, I fell deeper and deeper into my thoughts. So much so that I hadn’t noticed Enid’s voice calling out to me—until he shouted.
    “A'lainn?”
    I turned around, concerned about the reason for his tone. “Yes?” I asked.
    He had a worried look on his face. The sadness in his eyes made them a darker blue. “Would you like anything brought to your room?”
    I shook my head. “No, thank you.”
    “Very well.” He nodded then turned on his heels and walked back into the dining hall.
    I finished the trek to my room, stopping in front of the door to watch how the vines and flowers moved and grew right in front of me. “How is