Read Online Crystal Fire by Kathleen Morgan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kathleen Morgan
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in spite of her best intentions, Marissa couldn't help one last little dig. "Well?" she prodded. "Are, or are you not, a coward?"
Her taunt sliced through Brace, laying open that old wound of his imprisonment. A coward. Gods!
Scorching fury flared in his eyes. "You dare question my courage? Then why not call the whole thing off? Surely you've no need for a coward on your precious quest?"
His challenge drew Marissa up short. Why had she goaded him in such a stupid, mindless manner? Her foolish reaction to the possibility of his cowardice now threatened Ardane's con- tinued participation. She must calm him, and quickly, or risk losing everything. Everything .
Her eyes lowered. "II beg pardon. It was mymy anger at hearing of more Bellatorian offenses that drove me to lash out at you."
She glanced back up at him.
He graced her with a thunderous glare.
"Why were you imprisoned? Can't you at least tell me that?" she asked, managing a tentative smile.
"And why do you care?" he growled.
"Partners work best if they understand each other," Marissa replied softly. "And besides, I've decided you're not as loathsome as I first imagined."
Her reluctant admission teased a slow, grudging smile. Brace's anger faded.
"My brother," he finally sighed. "I was imprisoned because I dared stand up to the Bellatorian High Council and defy their sentencing of my brother."
"Your brother? What did he do?"
"While on a military assignment to the planet Agrica, Teran refused a lawful order to slaughter a helpless village. For his 'cowardice' he was condemned for life to the prison planet of Carcer."
"But no one survives more than six monates on Carcer," Marissa exclaimed, "and you've been in prison over two cycles now."
"Oh, I realize he's dead," Brace admitted, a bleak look in his eyes, "but whether alive or dead, his punishment has no further bearing on my sentence. Unless I recant my disobedience and publicly beg forgiveness before my uncle, King Falkan, my fate is no less final than his. If not for your timely rescue I'd have soon been dead from tortureor have lost my mind."
Understanding, and a wondering respect, flared in Marissa. "That's why I found you starved and half-beaten to deathbecause you stood up for your brother."
Silently Brace returned her gaze.
A soft smile touched her lips. "You're no coward, Brace Ardane. A stubborn fool and unrealistic dreamer, perhaps, but no coward."
A dreamer once , he thought, but no more .
"Careful, Marissa," Brace warned. "Your back-handed compliments threaten to overwhelm me."
Her mouth tightened in exasperation. "Don't misconstrue my meaning, Ardane. I meant no compliment. It was a simple statement of fact."
"Oh, I understand . . . I think."
Marissa frowned. This male was becoming one of the most disconcerting
She pulled her thoughts back to the safer topic at hand. "So, where is this treasure trove you spoke of? If the Bellatorians stole it from others, I've no qualms about liberating a little for ourselves."
"The Repository is located in a town called Olena, a short detour from Tutela. Think about it, Marissa. Not only will this gain us Rodac's cooperation in getting us through the mountains, but, by also dangling the temptation of acquiring some of Ferox's fabled wealth, I've assured his continued participation in the rescue of your sister.''
Renewed anger surged through her. "Nothing was said about his accompanying us on our quest!"
"No, but Rodac has invaluable skills, not to mention his brute strength. And we need all the help we can get."
Marissa's thoughts raced. Another participant would only complicate her eventual betrayal of Ardanea betrayal that was fast becoming difficult to contemplate. Curse him for revealing that act of courage and integrity, and all because of his love for his brother! She didn't want to know that. But then, why had she asked?
She shook her head. "No. I neither want nor need him on our quest. You are sufficient."
"And I thank you for yet
Her taunt sliced through Brace, laying open that old wound of his imprisonment. A coward. Gods!
Scorching fury flared in his eyes. "You dare question my courage? Then why not call the whole thing off? Surely you've no need for a coward on your precious quest?"
His challenge drew Marissa up short. Why had she goaded him in such a stupid, mindless manner? Her foolish reaction to the possibility of his cowardice now threatened Ardane's con- tinued participation. She must calm him, and quickly, or risk losing everything. Everything .
Her eyes lowered. "II beg pardon. It was mymy anger at hearing of more Bellatorian offenses that drove me to lash out at you."
She glanced back up at him.
He graced her with a thunderous glare.
"Why were you imprisoned? Can't you at least tell me that?" she asked, managing a tentative smile.
"And why do you care?" he growled.
"Partners work best if they understand each other," Marissa replied softly. "And besides, I've decided you're not as loathsome as I first imagined."
Her reluctant admission teased a slow, grudging smile. Brace's anger faded.
"My brother," he finally sighed. "I was imprisoned because I dared stand up to the Bellatorian High Council and defy their sentencing of my brother."
"Your brother? What did he do?"
"While on a military assignment to the planet Agrica, Teran refused a lawful order to slaughter a helpless village. For his 'cowardice' he was condemned for life to the prison planet of Carcer."
"But no one survives more than six monates on Carcer," Marissa exclaimed, "and you've been in prison over two cycles now."
"Oh, I realize he's dead," Brace admitted, a bleak look in his eyes, "but whether alive or dead, his punishment has no further bearing on my sentence. Unless I recant my disobedience and publicly beg forgiveness before my uncle, King Falkan, my fate is no less final than his. If not for your timely rescue I'd have soon been dead from tortureor have lost my mind."
Understanding, and a wondering respect, flared in Marissa. "That's why I found you starved and half-beaten to deathbecause you stood up for your brother."
Silently Brace returned her gaze.
A soft smile touched her lips. "You're no coward, Brace Ardane. A stubborn fool and unrealistic dreamer, perhaps, but no coward."
A dreamer once , he thought, but no more .
"Careful, Marissa," Brace warned. "Your back-handed compliments threaten to overwhelm me."
Her mouth tightened in exasperation. "Don't misconstrue my meaning, Ardane. I meant no compliment. It was a simple statement of fact."
"Oh, I understand . . . I think."
Marissa frowned. This male was becoming one of the most disconcerting
She pulled her thoughts back to the safer topic at hand. "So, where is this treasure trove you spoke of? If the Bellatorians stole it from others, I've no qualms about liberating a little for ourselves."
"The Repository is located in a town called Olena, a short detour from Tutela. Think about it, Marissa. Not only will this gain us Rodac's cooperation in getting us through the mountains, but, by also dangling the temptation of acquiring some of Ferox's fabled wealth, I've assured his continued participation in the rescue of your sister.''
Renewed anger surged through her. "Nothing was said about his accompanying us on our quest!"
"No, but Rodac has invaluable skills, not to mention his brute strength. And we need all the help we can get."
Marissa's thoughts raced. Another participant would only complicate her eventual betrayal of Ardanea betrayal that was fast becoming difficult to contemplate. Curse him for revealing that act of courage and integrity, and all because of his love for his brother! She didn't want to know that. But then, why had she asked?
She shook her head. "No. I neither want nor need him on our quest. You are sufficient."
"And I thank you for yet
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