Read Online Blades of the Old Empire by Anna Kashina - Free Book Online
Authors: Anna Kashina
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fresh as ever. Before Ellah could even unstrap her saddle bags, one of the Rubies collected wood for the fire and the other went to the brook with a small kettle. Mai disappeared into the bushes on one end of the glade and soon reappeared on the other side. He nodded to the Rubies, then settled by the fire, using his boot dagger to cut the supports for the kettle from the prepared wood pile.
Ellah wanted to participate in cooking, but soon found that she was no match for Odara Sul. The Keeper’s deft hands seemed to be everywhere at once as she peeled, chopped and stirred, adding pinches of substances from small boxes and pouches packed into her travel bag. Even the Majat looked at her in awe as she moved around the fire, in control of the ingredients that appeared in her hands as if by magic before making their way into the pot. The result was a meat stew so juicy and rich with flavor that it seemed like the best meal Ellah ever had. She scraped her bowl clean with a piece of bread and sat back sipping tea and enjoying the warmth spreading over her tired limbs.
Somewhere during the meal the two missing Rubies appeared from the direction of the road and took their places beside the fire. Odara Sul handed each of them a steaming bowl, but before starting their meal they exchanged glances with Mai. Only after receiving his nod of approval did they direct attention to the food, which they wolfed down in no time.
Ellah took it upon herself to clean up. She collected the bowls and spoons into the empty pot and made her way down to the brook. Pulling out a patch of tall grass she rolled it up into the likeness of a washing sponge, using sand and mud on the bank to scrape off the grease.
Halfway through her washing, she turned her head searching for a fresh patch of grass, and jumped.
Mai was standing behind her, only a few paces away. She had no idea when or how he got there. She scrambled up to her feet, shaking the unruly strands of hair out of her eyes and trying to keep her greasy hands out of sight.
“How long have you been standing here?” she demanded.
He didn’t respond. In the gathering dusk his eyes were in shadow and his hair glimmered like gold against his pale skin.
“How did you know they weren’t the Holy Knights?” he asked.
Ellah was taken aback. She didn’t expect this. Should she tell him about her gift – if indeed she had one? She wasn’t sure what to say at all. It was so hard to think with him looking at her like this. She was beginning to feel hot and was grateful for the dusk that hid the color of her face.
“I just – it seemed to me that they were lying,” she said.
“It didn’t just ‘seem’, did it?” he insisted. “You wouldn’t have risked everything if you weren’t sure.”
Ellah lifted her chin. She didn’t like it when people thought they could read her.
“How do you know I wouldn’t have?” she challenged.
He stepped closer, looking into her face. From this distance she was no longer sure she could hide her blush. She wanted to back away, but there was nowhere to go. Behind her, there was only water.
His eyes were still in shadow, but she could feel the intensity of his gaze.
“Call it a hunch,” he said.
He was so close now that she could smell his skin – a faint fresh scent of spring water with a touch of pine. The blush rolled down her neck. Her heart pounded, making it hard to think.
“All right,” she admitted. “I knew.”
“How?”
She forced herself not to blink. Her helplessness against his closeness made her angry. She gathered all her remaining wits and took a deep breath.
“Call it a hunch,” she said.
He held her gaze for a moment longer. Then he turned and slid off into the darkness in the direction of the camp.
When Ellah finally made her way back with a pile of clean dishes in her arms, Odara Sul was waiting.
“You took a while.”
Ellah didn’t respond. Her gaze drifted toward the fire, where Evan and the Majat were
Ellah wanted to participate in cooking, but soon found that she was no match for Odara Sul. The Keeper’s deft hands seemed to be everywhere at once as she peeled, chopped and stirred, adding pinches of substances from small boxes and pouches packed into her travel bag. Even the Majat looked at her in awe as she moved around the fire, in control of the ingredients that appeared in her hands as if by magic before making their way into the pot. The result was a meat stew so juicy and rich with flavor that it seemed like the best meal Ellah ever had. She scraped her bowl clean with a piece of bread and sat back sipping tea and enjoying the warmth spreading over her tired limbs.
Somewhere during the meal the two missing Rubies appeared from the direction of the road and took their places beside the fire. Odara Sul handed each of them a steaming bowl, but before starting their meal they exchanged glances with Mai. Only after receiving his nod of approval did they direct attention to the food, which they wolfed down in no time.
Ellah took it upon herself to clean up. She collected the bowls and spoons into the empty pot and made her way down to the brook. Pulling out a patch of tall grass she rolled it up into the likeness of a washing sponge, using sand and mud on the bank to scrape off the grease.
Halfway through her washing, she turned her head searching for a fresh patch of grass, and jumped.
Mai was standing behind her, only a few paces away. She had no idea when or how he got there. She scrambled up to her feet, shaking the unruly strands of hair out of her eyes and trying to keep her greasy hands out of sight.
“How long have you been standing here?” she demanded.
He didn’t respond. In the gathering dusk his eyes were in shadow and his hair glimmered like gold against his pale skin.
“How did you know they weren’t the Holy Knights?” he asked.
Ellah was taken aback. She didn’t expect this. Should she tell him about her gift – if indeed she had one? She wasn’t sure what to say at all. It was so hard to think with him looking at her like this. She was beginning to feel hot and was grateful for the dusk that hid the color of her face.
“I just – it seemed to me that they were lying,” she said.
“It didn’t just ‘seem’, did it?” he insisted. “You wouldn’t have risked everything if you weren’t sure.”
Ellah lifted her chin. She didn’t like it when people thought they could read her.
“How do you know I wouldn’t have?” she challenged.
He stepped closer, looking into her face. From this distance she was no longer sure she could hide her blush. She wanted to back away, but there was nowhere to go. Behind her, there was only water.
His eyes were still in shadow, but she could feel the intensity of his gaze.
“Call it a hunch,” he said.
He was so close now that she could smell his skin – a faint fresh scent of spring water with a touch of pine. The blush rolled down her neck. Her heart pounded, making it hard to think.
“All right,” she admitted. “I knew.”
“How?”
She forced herself not to blink. Her helplessness against his closeness made her angry. She gathered all her remaining wits and took a deep breath.
“Call it a hunch,” she said.
He held her gaze for a moment longer. Then he turned and slid off into the darkness in the direction of the camp.
When Ellah finally made her way back with a pile of clean dishes in her arms, Odara Sul was waiting.
“You took a while.”
Ellah didn’t respond. Her gaze drifted toward the fire, where Evan and the Majat were
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