Read Online Fire And Ice (Book 1) by Wayne Krabbenhoft III - Free Book Online

away.
                  Coran felt his blood heating.  He started after the arrogant prince but something held his arm.  He realized that Devon was holding him back and gave his friend a questioning look.
                  “I know your temper.  You should calm down first,” Devon said sounding worried.  “You have heard how good he is with a sword and he wouldn’t think twice about challenging you.”
                  Coran knew his friend was right, but he could not let it go at that.  “Torvilin!” he called and waited for the pompous Voltian to turn around.  Devon released his sword arm with a sigh.   “Fair warning to you.  Whatever you said, I am guessing, was not well received.  Do not disrespect her like that again.”
                  Torvilin sneered at him.  “Coran is it?  Since we have not been formally introduced I will let your incivility pass.  This time.”  Then he continued on his way with his nose in the air.
                  As he watched Torvilin leave Coran felt genuine hate for the first time in his life.  Over the last two weeks he had noticed how people stayed out of the prince’s way.  Servants were afraid of his temper and armed guards were afraid of his sword.  If he expected Coran to be scared of him he was wrong.  He felt a hand on his shoulder and forced himself to be calm when Margery spun him around to face her.  She was a mix of anger and concern.
                  “Devon’s right, you have to control that temper of yours,” she admonished.
                  “Torvilin is going to be at the party tonight right?” Devon asked.
                  “Yes,” Margery answered trying to calm herself.
                  Devon smiled wickedly.  “It could be a fun night after all.” 
                  “Don’t you two do anything to ruin Katelyn’s birthday,” Margery said sternly as she glanced from one to the other.
                  “I was just considering a gift for the birthday girl.”  Devon turned his smile on Katelyn.  “You know, something she might enjoy.  Like Torvilin’s head stuck on the tip of a pike.”
                  “How considerate of you, Devon,” the raven haired girl gushed at him.  “That would be so sweet.”
                  “Katelyn!” Margery said shocked, then placed a hand to her sister’s shoulder and started to turn her away as a hint of amusement appeared on her face.  “If you two gentlemen will excuse us we need to get ready for tonight.”
                  “Already?” Devon asked them.  He got two very direct looks for a response.
                 
                  The man with the white hair wrapped the reins to his horse around a post stuck in the ground outside the dilapidated shack.  Orangish light from the setting sun broke through the trees to bathe the rotting planks.  Wood groaned dangerously when he stepped onto the porch causing something to go skittering away into the brush that had grown up wildly around the abandoned building.
                  “Are you sure this is the place, Naras?” The one-eyed man asked nervously.
                  “Don’t be such a baby Urik, of course I’m sure.”  Naras pushed the door inward.  It squeaked loudly as it swung open on rusty hinges.  “Give me a torch.”  He heard the sound of flint striking steel, then the whoosh and crackle of flame.  He took  the sputtering torch from Urik and entered the dark interior.  There was only one room and wherever the torch’s light shone he only saw pieces of furniture and scattered shards of crockery.  It was a voice from a corner covered in shadows that almost made him jump.              
                  “Did you get the information I wanted?” a man asked in a deep, rich