Read The Journey of the Marked (The Miyran Heir Book 1) for Free Online Page B

city, and she
intended to keep her end of the bargain. Traudin had lived two houses away from
her. He was “difficult,” according to her father and stepmother, though he
could always enliven their horribly boring social affairs. Traudin dreamed of
being a Miyran warrior and used to practice warrior games constantly. Of
course, he required a sparring partner, which was how he and Prizene became
good friends. Prizene’s father was appalled and forbade her to play with
Traudin. While she respected her father, she never stopped.
    Her mother had fallen victim to
random violence when she was less than a year old. At least that was the
official story. Her father believed the incident was prompted by the Tyrnotts,
though he lacked proof and the ability to challenge them. She learned early in
life that their world wasn’t safe and that she had to protect herself. She
developed good fighting techniques and, unlike most delicate female Krystics,
was able to deftly wield a number of bladed weapons.
    The one important detail Traudin
and Prizene failed to decide was exactly where they would meet. Certainly, she
carried enough coins to survive for a time in the city, but she needed a place
where no one would notice her. She had been wandering the city for days,
debating what to do. This neighborhood thrived with the bustle of shoppers and,
though this wasn’t the safest part of town, she could easily lay low here until
she decided her next step. Luckily, the weather was still cool enough that she
could cover her head to blend better with the crowds, but warmer weather would
arrive soon.
    She sipped the rather bland broth
as she watched the passersby outside the diner, noting the many different
species. Then one caught her eye — a skinny boy with fluffy hair that bounced
when he walked, brown hair with bright green tips. The boy was intriguing, but
the two Graeliths moving at a steady pace not far behind him were even more so.
Were they following him? As the boy wove in and out of the crowd, so did the
Graeliths. As he stopped to view goods in a shop window, the Graeliths stopped
as well. No one else mirrored the actions. It must be the boy they were after. His
hair was full enough that even if he were marked, the mark would not
necessarily be visible. Still, he carried a full knapsack and his clothes
weren’t common to the city. He wore heavy brown pants and jacket with lots of
pockets and a thin, cream-colored, flowing shirt. He must have ventured to the
city to join the royal warriors, as many outbounders did each year. Whether or
not he was marked, he was an easy target.
    The boy turned and paused for a
moment. Perhaps he noticed the Graeliths after all. But wait — he was simply
stopping to help a female citizen lift a parcel onto a city street transport
hovering a foot above the ground. The woman smiled at the boy and patted his
shoulder before the transport’s doors shut. The boy watched the transport zip
away down the street. Surely he could see the Graeliths now, but if he did, he
showed no concern. He turned and continued down the street, the Graeliths
moving along behind him.
    Prizene smiled as she thought about
his generosity. He showed such kindness to help another when no one else would.
She gulped one last spoonful of her broth, pulled on her jacket and bag, and
tossed coins onto the table, catching the server’s eye as she did. The server
nodded, as she opened the door and made her way onto the busy street.

Chapter 8
     
    Five days’ walk from the southwest
wall of Caldot, far beyond the town of Banston and east of the Western mountain
range, lay the forest of Kullac. Darkness was falling when Anthony finally
arrived at the small log cabin deep in the forest. It was the house Isabelle
had shared with her son, Eros, before he departed for Caldot. He rapped on the
door, and almost too quickly it was opened by Isabelle. She anxiously motioned
for him to come inside.
    After closing the door behind him,
he followed