Read Online Ice Burns by Charity Ayres - Free Book Online
Authors: Charity Ayres
Tags: Epic Dark Fantas
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remaining heel of bread and gnawed on it like one of the hunting hounds did with the used soup bones the cook gave them occasionally. It was one of the best things the cook ever made, even if the cheese was more rind than edible.
On an average day, she would have long abandoned the books left for her to wander the estate or listen in on one of the many classes in the estate. Master had stopped having her attend classes several years ago. At the time she had assumed Master Dreys had done so because Chandra was ready to move into a more in-depth study required to be the apprentice. His general annoyance at her presence when she was in his study did not foster that belief.
When Chandra finished the last entry in the book, she tossed it on the floor and heaved a sigh. The book had been interesting, but useless in what she needed to do. There were entries about ceremonies but not how.
Chandra rubbed her palms roughly across her face and eyes. She stood again and stretched, though she hadn't sat for very long. There must be a key to calling her power, something that had been missing, but the problem lay in finding out what it was. If only she could borrow some of Master's books from his private library, she was certain she could find something of use. She paced and tried to decide the best way to get Andre to let her have books that she was otherwise not allowed. She didn't know any of the names to bluff her way through the request, so she would have to go into Master's study for herself. She thought hard about what excuses she could use and realized that no lie would get her where she needed to be.
Well then I guess I will have to play the bratty apprentice card, won't I?
Chandra nodded to herself. There was no other way to get Andre to do what she wanted short of demanding it. With her mirror, Chandra worked on making the same face Master made whenever someone displeased him. She lifted the edge of her mouth and pursed her lips, drawing them into a think pink line. Chandra looked at her reflection and narrowed her green eyes before lifting her chin. She wanted to look both irritated and bored as the Master often did. It was pretty good; she had to admit. Usually, she had to be with Master and demand something to get it, but this time, she needed to be a bit more of a ...
Snob? Brat? Horrible, rude child?
Chandra shrugged and put down the mirror. It was what everyone thought of her no matter what she did. The mask she had worn and the desired isolation had worked. Time to play upon their opinions and make it work for her. She took a deep breath, tugged at the hem of her shirt and brushed her hands down the rough linen trousers before walking to the door. She knocked three times, quickly and waited with her arms crossed.
The guard opened the door, and Andre was in a nearby chair reading a book.
"Did you not think to bring me more books, Andre?" Chandra said to the older man. Her voice came out sharp, and the commanding tone had him sitting upright stiffly, his face slack and eyes wide.
It took him a moment to remember that she was the hated apprentice and not someone who was normally able to order him around. His eyes shifted from surprised blue to narrowed steel.
"Well then, I guess I'll have to get them myself if you won't do your job," Chandra sneered at Andre and the guard, thrusting the books at the manservant as she stepped past both men into the hall.
"Stop," the guard had come to his senses. "Master Dreys said to keep you locked in your room, and Andre was to take care of your books and supplies."
"Well Master apparently left an incompetent in charge of taking care of the needs of his Apprentice," she hissed, leaning into the guard's face with her eyes narrowed. Both men flinched when she said "Apprentice" as though it were a swear word.
Chandra could feel her pulse jumping in her neck. She fought the urge to step away from the guard. The guard's eyes were wide and his face pale as though he were caught
On an average day, she would have long abandoned the books left for her to wander the estate or listen in on one of the many classes in the estate. Master had stopped having her attend classes several years ago. At the time she had assumed Master Dreys had done so because Chandra was ready to move into a more in-depth study required to be the apprentice. His general annoyance at her presence when she was in his study did not foster that belief.
When Chandra finished the last entry in the book, she tossed it on the floor and heaved a sigh. The book had been interesting, but useless in what she needed to do. There were entries about ceremonies but not how.
Chandra rubbed her palms roughly across her face and eyes. She stood again and stretched, though she hadn't sat for very long. There must be a key to calling her power, something that had been missing, but the problem lay in finding out what it was. If only she could borrow some of Master's books from his private library, she was certain she could find something of use. She paced and tried to decide the best way to get Andre to let her have books that she was otherwise not allowed. She didn't know any of the names to bluff her way through the request, so she would have to go into Master's study for herself. She thought hard about what excuses she could use and realized that no lie would get her where she needed to be.
Well then I guess I will have to play the bratty apprentice card, won't I?
Chandra nodded to herself. There was no other way to get Andre to do what she wanted short of demanding it. With her mirror, Chandra worked on making the same face Master made whenever someone displeased him. She lifted the edge of her mouth and pursed her lips, drawing them into a think pink line. Chandra looked at her reflection and narrowed her green eyes before lifting her chin. She wanted to look both irritated and bored as the Master often did. It was pretty good; she had to admit. Usually, she had to be with Master and demand something to get it, but this time, she needed to be a bit more of a ...
Snob? Brat? Horrible, rude child?
Chandra shrugged and put down the mirror. It was what everyone thought of her no matter what she did. The mask she had worn and the desired isolation had worked. Time to play upon their opinions and make it work for her. She took a deep breath, tugged at the hem of her shirt and brushed her hands down the rough linen trousers before walking to the door. She knocked three times, quickly and waited with her arms crossed.
The guard opened the door, and Andre was in a nearby chair reading a book.
"Did you not think to bring me more books, Andre?" Chandra said to the older man. Her voice came out sharp, and the commanding tone had him sitting upright stiffly, his face slack and eyes wide.
It took him a moment to remember that she was the hated apprentice and not someone who was normally able to order him around. His eyes shifted from surprised blue to narrowed steel.
"Well then, I guess I'll have to get them myself if you won't do your job," Chandra sneered at Andre and the guard, thrusting the books at the manservant as she stepped past both men into the hall.
"Stop," the guard had come to his senses. "Master Dreys said to keep you locked in your room, and Andre was to take care of your books and supplies."
"Well Master apparently left an incompetent in charge of taking care of the needs of his Apprentice," she hissed, leaning into the guard's face with her eyes narrowed. Both men flinched when she said "Apprentice" as though it were a swear word.
Chandra could feel her pulse jumping in her neck. She fought the urge to step away from the guard. The guard's eyes were wide and his face pale as though he were caught
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