Read Twisted Enchantment (Unbreakable Force Book 5) for Free Online

anything, everything. Everyone hates our kind, Adaryn, and the reason? Because we’re different. We wield magic. You admitted yourself that it’s far, far worse in the north. I don’t understand how you can sit back and take it.”
    “The people in Sen Altare weren’t that bad.” I thought back to our time at the Dancing Cat inn. “The innkeeper was kind.”
    “If Aaric hadn’t been there with a handful of gold, you would’ve been thrown out,” Fyrsil retorted. “If Aaric hadn’t been rubbing elbows with the Scholar’s Guild, chances are very good they wouldn’t have helped you. Though who knows?” He rubbed his chin, thinking. “Sirius Archer looked like a man who knew opportunity when he saw it. He possibly wouldn’t let his prejudice get in the way if it benefited him.”
    The brigand king turned to face me, still frowning, his deep blue eyes expressing indignation. “Besides, I wasn’t all cruelty. I healed those who needed it from time to time.”
    “So they knew you were a magic user.”
    “The rumor was that my healing was more of a . . . clerical ability.” Fyrsil smirked at me, one eyebrow cocked. “That makes it different.”
    I held up my hand, cutting him off. “We’re getting off topic. How did you gain the throne?”
    His smile was cold. “I killed the fool king and Elerith, of course. Once I reached adulthood.”
    I sighed, frustrated, trying to keep everything straight. “So your mother was a princess, and your father a nomadic brigand.”
    Fyrsil arched an eyebrow. “Close, but not quite.”
    “Where am I off?” I tilted my head in puzzlement.
    “My father was a Twyli.”
    “What?” I reached up, gripping matted strands of my hair in amazement. “Matias, you can’t be serious.” The old name slipped out in my shock.
    Fyrsil smirked, pleased at my reaction. “I’m completely serious.” His smirk turned to a puzzled frown. “All I know though, is what my mother told me of him. She said he’d traveled through the mountains alone, and started his band of rogues in the Tyrko Ruins. That is all he told her. I don’t know why he left.”
    “None of the brigands knew anything else?” I asked, and he shook his head. “So do you look more like your mother or father?”
    Fyrsil chuckled, amused by the question. “My mother was a tiny wisp of a thing, with large brown eyes and light blonde hair, so I’m going to guess my father. Why does it matter?”
    “It doesn’t,” I admitted. “I just like to know those sorts of things.”
    He rolled his eyes and I laughed. “Thank you for allowing us to stay for the night,” I said. “But we need to move on.”
    “Where to?”
    I opened my mouth to speak when I noticed Aaric and Dahlia had woken and were walking toward me. “We haven’t quite decided,” I admitted. “Aaric and I haven’t come to an agreement yet.” I smiled warmly at Aaric as he came to sit beside me, and smoothed Dahlia’s hair out of her face. Aaric was probably right. While I wanted to help the people here, I also wanted to keep Dahlia safe. Maybe we could go back to my clan.

 
    13
    Aaric
     
    “ S o why did you come here then?” Adaryn asked Fyrsil. “To learn more about your father?” She now held Dahlia in her lap, and was running her fingers gently through the child’s hair, detangling it. Spectacles perched on his nose, Aaric scribbled in his book, reminding himself to buy a brush at the next village they came across. Adaryn’s hair was a hopeless rat’s nest, but the girl’s white-blonde hair looked fine enough that it would brush a little easier.
    “Not in particular.” Fyrsil looked up as a young, willowy woman glided over with a tray of hot drinks. He took one from the tray and continued speaking. “After my escape from Sen Altare, I hid myself in the Tyrko Ruins. Many of my men, when they discovered I had escaped, came and found me. Their loyalty ran deeper than I realized, but I shouldn’t have expected any less, I suppose.