Read Online Embers at Galdrilene by A. D. Trosper - Free Book Online Page A

any magic. At least none that he could see. And now this. He reminded himself that he could use magic, too. It didn’t bring him much comfort. Nothing like being reminded of a terminal disease even if Emallya did claim he wouldn’t go insane and die.
    She shook her head. “I did not. I do not have the power to heal. I only served as the vessel that allowed another to channel his powers through me.”
    The blond man looked stunned. “Who are you?”
    Emallya offered him a tired smile. “I am Emallya Lorant. This young man that travels with me is Vaddoc Eldark. How are you called?”
    “I’m Kellinar Doryne and this is Serena Cyen. Will she…live?”
    Emallya nodded. “Yes. She will sleep for a while, but she is completely healed.”
    Kellinar glanced at the road and the desiccated carcass of the horse. “What was that thing?”
    “In due time. For now, let us move away from the road and set up camp. Your friend will be thirsty when she wakes and will likely welcome a cup of hot tea.”
    Kellinar looked first at Vaddoc, then at Serena, and finally back at Emallya. “Have I lost my mind?”
    She smiled and stood up. “I am quite sure your mind is right there in your head. It is hard to lose one without losing the other.” She turned to Vaddoc. “Get this young woman settled and then you two can hunt down wood for a fire.”
    Vaddoc nodded and stepped forward to help Kellinar. He understood the other man’s confusion. It was one thing to know you can use magic; it was another to be confronted by a stranger who could use it.

    Serena shifted restlessly. Something disturbed her sleep. Maybe it was that horrible dream, the one where the Keepers were after Kellinar. No, that wasn’t right, that hadn’t been a dream. Something else awakened her. The delicious aroma of tea filled her nose. Her tongue felt as if it was made of cotton. A drink, she needed a drink. She struggled to swallow. Her eyes fluttered open.
    The night sky, glittering with stars, stretched overhead. A woman tended a tea kettle hung over a small fire. Serena glanced around, but saw no one else in the pool of light. She turned her eyes back to the stranger with rich, chestnut hair that hung to her waist. The firelight highlighted strands of gray in the woman’s hair. She had a fine featured face with full lips. Her violet eyes startled Serena. She had never seen eyes of that color before. Who was this woman? Her gaze traveled around the small campsite again. Where was Kellinar? She stirred uneasily.
    The woman glanced at her. “You should be resting, not worrying. Your friend went to bring a little more wood. He returns now.”
    A moment later, Kellinar walked into the firelight accompanied by a Shaderian man who looked to be no more than a year or two older than herself.
    “Serena, you’re awake.” Kellinar knelt down in front of her, his worried blue eyes traveling over her face. “How do you feel?”
    She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Tired, very tired. What happened?”
    “That flaming thing on the road threw a dagger at you. I thought you were dead.”
    The memory of the dark rider on the road made her tremble. “How did we get away?”
    He gestured to the woman who poured tea into four small cups. “She saved us. If it wasn’t for her, we would both be dead.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe she saved you.”
    Serena’s brow furrowed in confusion. “I don’t feel any wounds. Where was I hit?”
    Kellinar lowered his voice to a whisper. “In the back. She said the blade tip nicked your heart. She healed you, the same way you healed me.”
    The approach of the woman stilled the questions flooding Serena’s mind. She took the offering of tea and a small cake of traveling food with a whispered, “Thank you.” While she ate, she watched the woman surreptitiously.
    Finally, she asked, “Who are you?”
    “My name is Emallya Lorant and this young man is Vaddoc Eldark. He was Border Guard in Shadereen before landing in the