Read Online Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima - Free Book Online Page B

gaze fixed on the wagon team.
    â€œLook at me, boy.”
    Jenna looked up at the blackbird. His eyes were liketwin coals set into his skull, or maybe more like marbles set over a straight nose and an almost lipless mouth. He was completely hairless—no brows or lashes, and his head was smooth as a billiard ball. He wore the signia of an officer.
    Scummer, Jenna thought. It’s Clermont.
    Marc Clermont was the commander of the King’s Guard in Delphi, the spider that maintained the king’s web of control here in the north. He was rumored to have a knack for torture. Once you came into Clermont’s hands, you would talk. And when you’d spilled everything, then you would die. Slowly.
    At least he’s not a mage, so he can’t spell me, to make me tell the truth. Jenna could always tell a mage—they had this peculiar glow about them, to her eyes, though others said they didn’t see it. Very few mages ever came to Delphi, and those who did were all in the army or the King’s Guard.
    Jenna suddenly realized that the commander had said something, and she’d missed it. “I’m—I’m sorry, sir. What was that?”
    â€œThere’s no reason to be frightened,” Clermont said with a smile. He put his hand on her shoulder. When she flinched, he tightened his grip. She didn’t like him touching her, but didn’t dare fight back. Now she was the one who was tempted to bolt blindly, without a plan.
    â€œWhat’s your name?” Clermont said.
    â€œMunroe, sir.” To Jenna’s surprise, the lie spilled rightout. So you could tell lies to the Breaker after all.
    â€œMunroe. That’s an unusual name.” His voice had an odd, soothing quality. Byram was staring at him, like a rabbit at a hawk. Jenna kicked his shin to bring him back to his senses.
    â€œTell the truth now—why are you really out here in the middle of the night?” Clermont said.
    She tried another lie. “We had to come late, ’cause we work in the mine in the daytime. And then there was nobody around, so we had to unload it our own selves. That made us late heading back.” Remembering Byram’s papers, she pulled them out and thrust them toward him. “Here’s our papers.”
    Clermont made no move to take them. “Doesn’t day shift in the mines start in just a few hours?”
    â€œThat’s why we’re in a hurry,” Jenna said. “Elsewise, we won’t get any sleep at all.”
    Clermont gave her a long, searching look, then released her shoulder, settling back into his saddle, frowning, as if he didn’t know what to make of her.
    â€œWhat about you?” Clermont said to Byram. “Do you have anything to say?”
    â€œNossir,” Byram croaked.
    Turning to the other blackbirds, Clermont said, “Search the wagon.”
    That didn’t take long, because there wasn’t much to see except Mick, huddled in a corner, ready to piss himself.Still, it seemed like a lifetime to Jenna, who sat, shoulders hunched, waiting for the blast that would signal the end of the world.
    Finally, the blackbirds jumped down from the wagon. “There’s nothing, sir,” one said.
    Clermont rubbed his chin, squinting at her like he was fascinated. “Your eyes,” he said, “are an unusual color. Like old gold, or candlelight through honey.” The way he said it gave her the crawls. She didn’t like him noticing anything about her. It made her glad she was dressed as a boy.
    â€œSir?” one of the blackbirds said. “You want to bring them along, and see what the garrison commander says?”
    Clermont hesitated, then shook his head. “No. We’ve wasted enough time here.” When Jenna still sat frozen, afraid to move, he snapped, “Are you deaf? Go on, then.” He waved them on down the road.
    Jenna loosened the reins and slapped them across the broad backs of the